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The Curse of the Coke Bottle

Years ago, there was a movie (The Gods Must Be Crazy) about an isolated tribe in Africa who lived in peace and harmony together. They were happy with what little material things they possessed. One day that all changed when someone on a small plane, flying low over their village, threw out an empty coke bottle. One of the natives saw it land and picking it up was amazed at its hardness, shape and transparency. It was instantly the talk of the village. Many uses were found for it. One of its uses was for a rolling pin. It was far better and harder than anything they had in their village. Everyone wanted to use it. It didn’t take long before contention took place, something these villagers had never experienced before. Animosity towards the one possessing it came to the surface and caused angry words and fighting. What they were experiencing was the results of greed, envy and covetousness, something that had been completely foreign to their culture until that fateful day. It caused so much trouble and disharmony that one of the natives was chosen to take the bottle and “throw it off the edge of the earth,” which they believed possible. It was not until this bottle was gone from their lives that harmony returned to this village, though it was never quite the same as it had been prior to the coke bottle being dropped.

There is a lesson in this story that the world and even some Christians could take to heart. Materialism has become a curse to mankind. Possessions have become a god to many with envy and covetousness, jealousy and bitterness often being the end result. These seeds were first sown way back when Cain, jealous of his brother Abel’s accepted sacrifice over his own, envied and brooded over it until it became a bitter hatred filling his heart, ultimately giving birth to killing his brother, with seemingly no regrets.

Could this fiery dart from Satan, of envy over what others have, affect our thinking and choices? As in the case of those natives in Africa and with Cain, what started out very subtly, grew as it was nurtured in their minds until the selfish fruitage of envy, jealousy and strife took over.

What is the secret of overcoming such attacks from Satan? The Apostle Paul’s shares his secret in Philippians 4:11-14 where he says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of

you to share in my troubles.” This mindset has as its foundation acceptance and trust in God, which always results in peace of mind. He truly understood the concept of Romans 8:28: that God continually works all things together for the good of the Christian. Nothing happens to us that is not known and allowed by a loving Heavenly Father for our highest good.

Do we rejoice in the good fortunes of others? Do we thank God for what He has blessed us with without comparing what we have with others more affluent? The attitude of gratitude is all important in our Christian walk. Gratitude will put a spring into our step even when we are tired. Gratitude is made up of a lot of little things. Someone once wrote that there are:

Three Layers of Gratitude

The first level of gratitude is the familiar one: appreciation of the benefits received. This can range all the way from a simple “thank you” to the deep prayer of gratitude for the privilege of existence. There is usually, in such appreciation, an awareness that the benefit has not been earned – that it is a free gift. This layer could be called, Thankfulness Praising!

The second layer of gratitude is the heart’s desire to share God’s blessings. It brings excitement and exhilaration that comes from giving of self for the blessings of others and appreciation of each opportunity - Thankfulness Overflowing!

The third level of gratitude is by faith seeing eternal value and benefit in the trials, adversities, demands, and challenges of life. It is loving submission to all God’s providences. In every circumstance of life we can be thankful, “…for this is God’s will in Christ Jesus respecting you” (1 Thes. 5:18 Wey.) - Thankfulness Resting!

May we find our response to the Lord is all three layers of gratitude – not only for our Father’s good gifts in Christ, but for the Giver Himself – what He is and what He is to us.

E. Weeks