“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

Has the bondage that we face in this time in history, in this age of technology, reached such a deep place that we stand before God and with “innocence,” shrug, and say “when Lord?”

No longer is it just coveting your neighbour’s stuff (house, car, boat, wife,) but with the constant pressure of advertising and marketing we now are coveting “stuff” from across the world and even across the generations? We see someone drive by on the highway in a flashy car and think “I want one of those.”

Have we as a people have become so self-absorbed that we are oblivious to those around us who are in need. Have we have become so jaded that we line up to spend $80/month on a phone that we “need” but cannot find a $20/month to give a person who has no home.

Slavery is an interesting state especially when that slavery meets all the “creature comforts.” Why is it that we can fill our churches with concerts and events but our ministries to the hungry,thirsty,stranger,poor,sick,or imprisoned are constantly pleading for resources; either people or dollars. Could it be that we are in such bondage to the current “appetite gods” that we simply cannot fathom serving anything different?

According to studies done by anti-slavery groups, there are currently more slaves today than at any time in history! Three quarters are female and over half are children. It is believed that there are around 27 million people in slavery right now. Furthermore, this number does not include people who are not technically slaves but are in a form of servitude tantamount to slavery. This is sometimes called “unfree labor”.

Put in the context we are talking about today I would put that 27 Million at a much higher number. Don’t get discouraged – You can affect the trend.

Jesus said “where your heart is there your treasure will be also” Am I ever glad Jesus is the saviour of hearts!

There are three things that release the shackles of stuff

1. Believe – That Jesus is the one and only great emancipator, that He has the power to set the prisoner free in fact that is why He came to earth
2. Receive – the power to overcome the temptations of this world from God’s provision of the Holy Spirit
3. Conceive – Renew your mind by the power of the bible – it is the written instructions for living a life here on earth.