Here’s one from the archives, with some edits. April 2015. It focuses on one particular manifestation of sin, not to equate sin and materialism.
Long will I climb
the mountain sublime,
that poisonous rock
of more and more stock
while angels above
are telling of love
that’s greater than ought
than long life has bought.
Long will I glance
the heavenly chance,
the only way right,
it’s clear in my sight –
yet backward I strive,
thinking I’m alive,
on a course of my own
where I’m on the throne.
Long will I ask
the impossible task
of turning around
to the holiest ground
where God himself stands
worshiped by these hands.
The turning is true
and he cleans me anew.
Long will I pray
with thanks for the day
when I first understood
that I’ll never be good,
but there’s goodness for free
‘cos he traded with me
for a substantial loss,
my sin on his cross.
Joe Spring writes 