It’s been said, “We spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress who don’t care.” The United States is the most prosperous nation in the world, and materialism is so embedded in our culture that most Americans relate to materialism the way a fish relates to water—it’s so normal that it’s no longer noticeable. But materialism is demanding—because the more we have, the more we want. Instead of filling a vacuum, it creates one. How often have you checked one item of your wish list while three more took its place?
Although the United States is the wealthiest country in the world, most Americans are swimming in debt. This is a big deal because the book of Proverbs warns about excessive debt and its potential consequences. Solomon said,
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender (Prov. 22:7).
Working hard to provide the things we need is an excellent virtue. And many of us have experienced seasons in life when we had to work long hours simply to pay for basic necessities. But working to the point of exhaustion to pay for something we don’t need is the equivalent of forfeiting our life. What do I mean by that? Excessive debt eliminates freedom in regard to our work life and how we spend our time.
How many people do you know who would rather be in a different line of work but are forced to stay in jobs they hate because they need a higher salary? When you are tethered to a specific wage, and you spend your energy in the pursuit of materialism, you are forced to sacrifice other goals that are likely more important and longer-lasting.
Our possessions can and will vanish in an instant. That’s why Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
Obviously, it takes money to live. But it’s foolish to live for money. At its core, materialism is a spiritual issue. People are searching for awe in possessions that can only be found in a relationship with God. Money is neither good nor evil, but it becomes an idol when we pursue money more than God.
Questions To Ponder:
Are you prone to overspend when you are feeling down?
Do your search for your identity in your possessions rather than in your relationship with God?
Practically speaking, what would it look like to live below your means?
