In-Thing

At Athens Paul had many opportunities to debate with Epicurean (pleasure seeking) and Stoic (indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain) philosophers. Some of the famous philosophers whose school of thought that the Athenians followed were Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato (5th and 4th century BC). When Paul tried to present the gospel message to them they were surprised but indifferent to the message. They were far too absorbed in spending their time discussing the latest philosophies and thoughts that were prevalent and emerging in the world at that time.

Do you have any idols or what the idols personify in your life? Any that prevent you from coming close to the living God? Does your pursuit for wisdom, work, wealth, and war draw you away from God? Are you leading a life that is seeking only the pleasures that life has to offer?

Are we so absorbed in our own lives that we have lost touch with the needs of the poor and needy? Have we forgotten the words of Paul that says, Christ became poor so that we may become rich in Him (2 Corinthians 8:9). Is our faith shallow or deep? The idols we worship are lifeless, while our God is a life giving God. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly(John 10:7-11)."