Satan Hates Stuff
“Keep his mind on the inner life. He thinks his conversion is something inside him, and his attention is therefore chiefly turned at present to the states of his own mind—or rather to that very expurgated version of them which is all you should allow him to see. Encourage this” (The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, 2001, p11).
The above quote is a demon named Screwtape advising his nephew Wormwood on how to turn a certain man from the LORD.
Have you ever had a Christian tell you to focus on what’s inside you instead of on the externals? Or have you said that yourself?
Oddly enough, Screwtape presents this to Wormwood—not as good advice for a Christian—but as a tactic used against a Christian.
One of the easiest ways to turn distract a man from God is to make him focus on “spiritual” things. I’m not talking about things from the Holy Spirit, like love, joy, peace, etc., but non-physical things.
God loves stuff. He made it. And He called it good and very good.
Satan hates stuff, because it reminds him of God.
Idolatry doesn’t come from enjoying God’s gifts too much. Idolatry comes from not enjoying God’s gifts enough.
The fornicator doesn’t enjoy sex too much. The drunkard doesn’t enjoy alcohol too much. The glutton doesn’t enjoy food too much. The miser doesn’t enjoy riches too much.
They all enjoy them too little!
“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment” (Proverbs 18:1 NJKV).
Stop deceiving yourself by focusing on your inner life. Look around outside of you and start enjoying the people around you and the story God is telling in your life—and also all the stuff!
What do you think?
Joseph