Crushing Fear – Day 35 – Materialism

Richness is not how much you have but how little you need.

— Unknown —
DSC_0184

Street vendors in Savannah Georgia…simple and happy.

A weakness I have in my armor comes in the form of being attracted to “things” I don’t need.

The devil loves to separate us from God through the use of false idols often coming in the form of possessions and material things.

It’s one thing wasting money on things we don’t need, and it is another thing wasting money we don’t have on things we don’t need.

The devil’s goal is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and he tries his best to steal our money by convincing us to spend more than we make.

Credit cards have allowed us to purchase what we cannot afford today, pay it off at twice the price in five to ten years and throw our purchase away or quit using it in two years??!!  The devil has got to be laughing all the way to the bank over this type of behavior…yet it’s become the “norm” for most Americans.

Why do we buy things we don’t need?  More times than not, it is about filling an empty space in our soul.  Buying something for self-gratification purposes gives us a high and for some serves as a means of escape.  Whenever we do something to get high and/or escape, we are flirting with addiction…I write from experience.

God’s high is permanent and He is always willing to fill our empty space if we seek Him.

If you struggle with buying things you don’t need with money you don’t have while creating debt you don’t want, try asking Him to step into the hole you are trying to fill.

All “cheap highs” end up being very expensive in the end.

1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love the Father is not in him.  (NIV)

Reflection:

What beliefs, thoughts and actions cause you to struggle with materialism?

Additional Scripture to read and reflect upon:  Hebrews 13:5, 1 John 2:16-17, 1 Timothy 6:9-10

P.E.A.C.E.

Jay@EagleLaunch.com

Leave a Reply