God's Blessing is not a Curse

From Politics & Evangelical Theology :

"Material minimalism is common, and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. But in the final analysis it is extremely dishonoring to God. What parent gives their children only the bare necessities? Do they not delight in going above and beyond, exceeding expectations, being extravagantly generous? In this we are not superior to God: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11) Material minimalism views God’s lavish generosity with contempt, something unworthy of him. And we are on very dangerous ground when we call God’s blessing a curse; indeed, Jesus actually called it an “unforgivable sin” to attribute to the Devil God’s work (Matthew 12:31-32). We should be wary of people whose first knee-jerk reaction to extravagance is grumbling and griping:

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’ [....]
‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. (John 12:5-7)

An apt reply, applicable to covetous Wall Street Occupiers raging against the “1%” and evangelical guilt-manipulators alike."

 

Brian Mattson