Nice Things

 

As Christians we are not called to live like paupers. Enjoying beauty, fragrances, jewelry,  and the finer things is not a sin! God made us for paradise, and so we are naturally drawn to what sparkles, and is pleasing to the senses. The issue is coveting, wanting something to the point you’ll harm another person or imperil your own soul in a Faustian way. Our Lord Jesus tells us to store up treasure in heaven, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:19-21), but he also wore such a fine tunic the Romans refused to tear it, “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, 

 “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,” (John 19:23-24), which means it was made of such quality it would be like one of high end brands of clothing today. Jesus also was anointed by a woman with super expensive perfume of nard, “Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.  For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. [Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her,” (Matthew 26:6-13), basically the Chanel of those times, and He did not rebuke her. 

The niceties are not evil. It is the state of our heart, that like the apostle Paul said we are content no matter what, “I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency andenough to spare or going without and being in want.” (Philippians 4:12). Prada, Dior, Valentino, Tiffany & Co, H Stern, Louie Vatoune, and etc are not bad. You can enjoy high end stuff as a Christian, just do not covet it and love it to the point that it becomes something you would sin to acquire. Keep Jesus your first love, Christ then Chanel, and all will be well. Amen.