I am quite disturbed by a trend I have noticed among many people my age (20-30) or even older. It seems that we oftentimes feel we must have what our parents have – house, new cars, boat, etc. – immediately. We fail to realize that our parents have worked a lifetime for their belongings, but we have just begun. Thus, we see more people being irresponsible with their money and time.
I propose that this is the direct result of a combination of two main things. First, marketing is geared to make us feel that we need MORE. Think about commercials, billboards, magazines, etc. that you have heard or seen lately. Behind the glitz and glamour is the sometimes subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) message, “You need more!”
Secondly, we have failed to listen to the voice of Scripture which teaches a contrary message to the above. Scripture repeatedly admonishes, “Be content with what you have.” Hebrews 13.5 states (TNIV), “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” We focus so much on the love of money part, but I rarely hear a focus on being content with what you have. The passage does not say, “If you have all of your needs met, be content with what you have.” Or “If you own your home and you have a good job, then be content with what you have.” This passage just urges us to be content with whatever it is that we have, whether lack or abundance.
Don’t get me wrong – I think planning a future is vital in order for a family to thrive. What I am concerned about here is this commercially-driven attitude that if I do not have the latest and greatest, then I need more. This is an attitude that places possessions and economic security above devotion to Christ. This is the attitude of the rich man in Mark 10 who was not willing to give up everything he had for his Savior.
I do not want to wake up one morning and find that I have turned into that man. Instead, I want to be like Paul, who says in Philippians 4:12-13 (TNIV), “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 all this through him who gives me strength.” And, Paul backed up this claim with a life containing many trials, where he was imprisoned and martyred for Christ.
So, I pray that we will learn to live the simple life — a life unhindered by the drive of always needing more to be content. My question to us all is how do we do this? What steps have you taken to ensure that your family recognizes that serving Christ is always more important than financial security? What should this look like, not only in our families, but in our church community?
Blessings,
Dee
Facebook
Twitter
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
glad to see you’ve got it up and going again. John john(Quote)
John,
Thanks so much. It was disheartening to see everything vanish right before our eyes, but we are slowly recovering things. Hope to have much more up soon.
D Dee(Quote)
All things work to the good…
I really hope this is the end of your troubles for a while at least. How is the brother in law?
As far as this post goes, it hits very close to home. Most of our kids have displayed the same thing. I believe one of the main reasons, other than pure laziness, that our kids do not want to work a job and have a boss, is that they have seen me and their grandfather do pretty well while being self employed. They fail to look at the many years of working for someone else that we both did to get to the place where we could be our own boss.
And I know they are jealous of what we have. I myself deal with “stuff” issues. I am trying to listen to God but you are so right about marketing and advertising. Before I even get something unboxed, there is a new, bigger, better, faster, etc. out there for me to convince myself I need.
I have been having more and more visions of a simpler, more Godly life. Envying groups like the Amish.
I do not think we have to go that far but to try to answer the how, I look to myself. The more I dig into the subject of God, the more I spend time in my relationship with God, the more I grow into Christlikeness, the more I see myself less involved in the “stuff” of this world.
Otherwise, I have no clue.
Great post and anxiously await more.
Love you both Sonny(Quote)
Dee,
I really liked this post. It has really hit home with me. My children are like Sonny mentioned. They had a house (with the payment), cars, etc. when they were only 19 or 20 years old. It was almost too much for them to handle that quick. I worked 40 years for what I have, and lately found out that I didn’t need half of it
I have lost several very close family members over the past eight years; seven to be exact. I’m not whinning, but making a point. I personally had to sort through their whole life’s possessions and thought to myself many times…..”What in the world did they keep this for”. I now have begun “cleaning out my basement” and ridding myself of all the “stuff” I have accumulated over the past 40 years. Things I haven’t touched in years and much that I had even forgotten I had. You know, important stuff like 200 beanie babies and 300 albums in the closet.
I want a simplier life now that I have retired. Don’t get me wrong. I am thankful for all that God has blessed me with. But most of that “stuff” were things I wanted for convenience or to keep up with the Smiths. I now want to keep my life simple. I love being able to work on projects at church and enjoy my family more. I enjoy sitting at the park with my grandangels way better that hanging out at the mall. That’s the things I think God wanted to bless me with.
Glad you two are back home. I have missed you.
Love and Peace,
Connie
P.S. Do you know anyone that needs 100 purses
Connie(Quote)
Sonny,
I, too, have been having visions of a simpler life. Shannon and I are young and still have so much to learn, but I do not want to be in the position that I cannot help someone in need because I am tied down paying for all the stuff I want. And, your advice is good — the more time we spend in the presence of God, the less valuable “stuff” seems.
And Connie,
I liked when you said that you spent 40 years working for what you have and now realize that you haven’t needed half of it. That has been my concern with my generation. I am afraid that we will wake up in 20 or 30 years and realize that we have wasted in our time in working two or three jobs for the stuff we own when we could have done with less and spent more time with our families. As far as the purses — I don’t need 100 of them, but I do give them as rewards to the girls in my class on Wednesday night. So, if you would like to donate some you do not use, I am sure they would love them!
It was so good to hear from you both and to see you at church today. Shannon and I have missed you all.
Love you,
D Dee(Quote)
Just thought of something else to use as an example. I had an 8GB mp3 player that was recently stolen from me. The way I was just a little while ago made me want the biggest I could get. 8GB was it. When I started looking for a replacement, I saw some with 16 and even more for the same price I paid originally. Then I got to thinking and am asking myself “just how many songs can I listen too in any given time session”
We all must change and realize, like Connie mentioned, we just simply don’t have any need or even a way to use most of what we convince ourselves we need.
A friend from way back asked me why I bought magazine subscriptions, which I used to alot. His philosophy was that “one” good book on any subject was all most of us need.
It changed the way I looked at my needs, as far as information goes, to stay on top of everything. Still have a long way to go though.
I’ll stop now because the thoughts are coming faster than I can type. Which means this should have been a post instead of a comment.
I see Shannon found the emoticons.
Love you both Sonny(Quote)
Sonny,
I agree — more is not always better! And, you should write a post on the subject. I, like you, still have a long way to go. I don’t know many women who wouldn’t love to have a shopping spree — but is it worth it? (And the answer to this question may be different at various times in one’s life.)
I don’t think having “things” is wrong, but there should be a balance between our stuff and the money (and time) we give to God. I have heard it said that if you look at someone’s checkbook register (or these days online statement), you can discover what his/her true priorities are.
Dee Dee Mimbs(Quote)
Dee,
First of all, thanks for the post–it is exactly the kind of subject matter that Christians (particularly in America) need to be considering, discussing and then acting upon. I, like you, Connie and Sonny have for a long time struggled with the desire of a more simple and Kingdom effective life, eventhough I’m not sure I know what that really means. Is it living in Mayberry with Andy and Barney (rocking back and forth for hours on the front porch)? Or, perhaps like Sonny mentioned, living in an Amish-like community with few of the “amenities” of life and therefore not being tempted by the allures of life?
Since my relatively reluctant entry into the stage of life called ADULTHOOD, I have found it to be very disconcerting that I see myself as being generally discontent with where I am, eventhough I feel pretty good about where I am heading (heaven). I recently heard Jentzen Franklin refer to the complexity of Abraham’s life journey. He said that when Abraham received his call from God he knew where he was (Ur) but he didn’t know where he was going (the Promised Land). Yet, when God called him again (this time to sacrifice Isaac) he knew where he was going–to Mt. Moriah which he could see in the distance, but he didn’t know where he was (in other words, he didn’t understand why God had brought him to this place in life).
Perhaps the key to contentment is not found in a simplicity of circumstances or lifestyle but rather in the simplicity of our faith in God and his ability to fill our lives with meaning and purpose. I firmly believe that we desire the stuff of this world because we have not yet fully recognized the value of our relationship with God and all that he brings to our lives (he daily loads us with his benefits). I am not saying that we are not saved, nor am I saying that we do not love God. I am saying that a more simple lifestyle will not lead us to the place we want to be in God–only a simple and abiding faith in God can do that. Abraham understood this and was willing to sacrifice what he valued most in life (Isaac), in order to please God. Moses understood this and was willing to forsake Pharoah’s riches and in its place suffer along with the people of God.
I’m sorry if I have rambled on to long–with the emphasis being on the word rambled. I am 53 years old and have longed most of my life for what seemed to be impossible to achieve–contentment and simplicity. If I just had this or that; if this thing or that would just stop affecting my life in negative ways; or if this plan would only come to fruition then my life would be complete. Even as a Christian, I have found myself looking at the external forces, whether positive or negative, as being helps or hindrances to achieving my goal. When in fact, the life of faith found within one’s relationship with God is the only governing force which can produce the fruits of contentment and peace or wholeness. I guess this means I won’t be moving to Mayberry or Amish country anytime soon.
Mike Mike Ward(Quote)
Bro. Mike,
Thanks so much for your comments. I agree wholeheartedly that the simplicity of life and contentment that we all need can only be found in recognizing how great God is and how valuable his relationship is to us. If we will prize him as the most important person/thing in our life, then the “simple life” will be the natural one.
We love you guys and miss you,
Dee Dee Mimbs(Quote)
This is so true. That is why a lot of young people get into financial trouble when they first get married. People of all ages have similar troubles too. When you walk into a store, it is so easy to want stuff, especially in the holiday season. We have to be content with what we have. We must trust our finances with the Lord and know that we are most blessed with salvation (and not just material things).
Love you
Sherry Mimbs(Quote)
Mrs. Sherry,
It is hard, especially in the holiday season, to refrain from spending too much on stuff that is unnecessary. But, in trusting our finances to God, it is our responsibility to be careful with the money with which he has entrusted us.
Thanks so much for all of your thoughts, they are a blessing to us.
Love you
,
Dee Dee Mimbs(Quote)
{ 1 trackback }