“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” Ecclesiastes 5:10
So many articles, self-help advice, and “experts” will tell you how to be happy. Often they are trying to sell something or push their methods onto their viewers. Over time, we can start to adopt the mindset that if I have this or if I can just have that, then I will finally be happy, but…
If buying more things worked, it would have worked by now.
If getting a nicer car, a bigger house, and expensive clothes worked, it would have worked by now.
If getting promotions, acclaim and fame worked, it would have worked by now.
Materialism is the belief that one does not hold value unless one holds possessions. Some even become so obsessed with the next new ticket item that they go into debt or steal to have it. If you are compromising morals to have something (even if all your “friends” will be so impressed), it's not worth it.
There is a reason why the Bible warns its readers against materialism because the high and sense of accomplishment only lasts for so long until you need to obtain the next thing to keep being happy. It's a never-ending dangerous cycle that can destroy someone's contentment. It can also cause one to look at what they do have with an ungrateful lens. Suddenly, my house, clothes, and vacations aren’t good enough, and my bank account balance is meaningless unless others know how much is in it, and I have to prove how much is in it by what I buy.
I want to point out the difference between choosing to work hard to provide for your family and choosing to work hard for the approval of others. It's not unbiblical to have nice things; it's unbiblical to believe those nice things will complete you.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
What that verse means is that what we can see now, such as money, possessions, and awards, all of that fades away into nothing when we die. Someone else will inherit the money, your possessions will be split up, and your awards will gather dust or be thrown into a landfill. But what remains is our soul. Our soul is eternal, so it should therefore be our main focus when it comes to our priorities.
So how can we prioritize our souls?
Make God first: When you wake up, read a devotion or pray instead of checking social media first thing.
Give to God: Physically show you are putting him first by giving to the kingdom in some way.
Serve: Find ways to serve him by using the talents and interests he gave you!
Resist: When you find yourself tempted to buy something you don't need or have the money for, give yourself a day to sleep on it. If you still want it or decide it's worth budgeting for, then go for it.
Control impulses: If you are tempted to look at things you shouldn't or say something that could be harmful, give yourself a moment to pray, call a friend, or even leave the environment you’re in. A change of scenery can do a lot of good.
Say Goodbye: It may be time to say goodbye to toxic relationships, unhealthy habits, and poor mindsets. Don't be afraid to set boundaries this year.
Grace: Understand that you and those around you are going to mess up, but that is not the end of the story. You can become new at any time with the power and strength that comes from Christ.
Materialism dose does not have to define you; take a breath, look around at all that God has blessed you with, and realize that the only thing that will ever complete you is a personal relationship with God because if possessions had the power to complete you, they would have completed you by now.