Materialism

[Leafy Green Vegetables]

Before becoming a Christian I prided myself on needing few thing in my life....a minimalist if you will. This lifestyle, I find to be supported by God in such passages as Luke 12 33-34:

[ QUOTE ]
33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

[/ QUOTE ]

This my sound funny, but I recently purchased a lap top for school and an iPod and after having these things for a few weeks I feel very materialistic. To be honest, I feel this way when I purchase anything (other than supps and food LOL).

Anyways, I was just curious as to how far one should go to limit the things in you life? Are my feelings justified? Can it be Biblically supported that it is ok to buy things for fun every once in a while?

[kokokolo]

Are my feelings justified? yes. everyone is a little materialistic. And I often feel the same.

[War5475]

Well My personal way of looking at it. Is does what i buy benifit me or my family? Does what i buy Keep me from God or doing what God wants me too? Does buying somthing require me to work harder longer hours therby takeing valuable time God could be useing?

If i end up on the wrong side of these questions i usually dont buy it. I dont remember ever buying somthing like that. But im sure i have somewhere and just dont remember.

I dont mean things like toothpast or a music cd. The toothpast helps my whitnessing. and the music helps me stay in a good mood to do Gods work. /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

When a material possesion Owns you. Thats when its a problem. If your takeing all your time to Clean it, Maintain it, pay for it. It is controlling your time. and thats not a good thing, because its takeing precious time away form your relationship with God.

/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[l0stsheep]

Hey man,

Just the fact that you are asking if you are materialistic makes me think that you aren't. I don't think a really materialistic person would ponder if they are selfish. Your laptop you said you need for school, so I don't think there's a reason why you should feel guilty here. With the ipod...maybe.

The Bible never says being wealthy is a bad thing. Having money is not bad, its the love of money. Like Jesus said, you can't serve two masters, both money and God. So, I guess just everytime you buy something, you should just ask if you are serving yourself(or money) or are you serving God.

So, maybe the ipod wasn't serving God. But then again, maybe it COULD be. If you have itunes, there are so many great podcasts from Pastors and Churches around the world that you can download and listen to anywhere. Also, it will help you transport worship music if you are going places. Listening to such things in the car, while studying or working out...The possibilities are endless.

So, I think the fact that you are asking if you are materialistic means you aren't. And next time, just ask if something is for the good of God's Kingdom. And don't feel so guilty. God doesn't want you to enjoy life? /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[tarheelsykes]

hey bro,
to be wary of your motives is always important, because you can't serve two gods, we know this to be true. So as long as the Lord is your focus, then materialism is not a problem. As my wife posed it to me one time, would you give up that computer and ipod to see someone accept Christ, or to help some in need.
the other thing we have to be careful with, is making sure we never feel guilty for the things the Lord provides for us. Sometimes out of obedience, we are given the chance to be well off financially. As long as this is done morally and ethically, and again done to the glory of the Lord, there is nothing to fell bad about. It isn't what you have, its your focus that matters

[William Ustav]

Nah /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

You aren't required to go out in and live deep in the mountains eating only white raddish and sleeping under trees. Because after all, that's what we need to survive.

When it comes to extreme materialism however, it's a totally different matter.

What's important is your heart and your attitude, and as already pointed out, you seem to have a good version of both, so don't worry /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Adam Knowlden]

[ QUOTE ]
but I recently purchased a lap top for school and an iPod and after having these things for a few weeks I feel very materialistic.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do not think that is being materialistic. Materialistic is idolatry. Making "things" more important to you than God.

There is nothing wrong with wanting things, so long as the motive is Godly and you are content with what you have.

When material becomes the driving force in your life, you have a problem.

For example, my Ipod helps me focus in the gym. For example, the gym I work out at is full of young women who don't wear much clothing. I find without my ipod its much easier to get distracted and lust. But with it I can "enter my own world" and not get distracted. Also the songs are Christian, so it edifies me.

So the ipod is being used for a godly purpose to aid me in staying pure. I'm also content with the ipod and am not obsessed with it.

Now if I was not happy with my ipod and had to keep updating with the latest gadgets and living outside of my means that would consitute being a bad stewart with my money and unthankful for what I have.

Its a balance, really. Between contentment with what you have and not letting things become the center of your life.

Lost sheep is right on. Its not money that is evil, its the love of money that is evil.

<font color="red"> 1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
</font>

<font color="red"> Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
</font>

[War5475]

Hears an easy way to looking at it.

DO you defined happyness as haveing and Escalade sitting on 24's in the front yard. At least a 6000 squar foot hourse. The finest clothes on your back, and Bling on your chest wrists and mouth.

Ok if you answerd no to all of these questions your prolly pretty good.

but i really wanted to live deep in the mountains eating only white raddish and sleeping under trees.

but Will said i cant.... /forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif so i wont....

[Leafy Green Vegetables]

Awesome replies guys. I will post a formal reply this evening after I finish some homework. Thanks!

[kokokolo]

I tend to think no amount of money would make me happier, the only way it could maybe , is by making me healthier, better food, and giving me more time to sleep instead of working.

[Adam Knowlden]

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but Will said i cant.... so i wont....

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Should we change your name to mountain man? /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[psaturn]

Jbagger,

You can use your laptop and the iPod to the glory of God.

You can place the best bible study materials right on the laptop.

If you have a Windows Laptop, get the Bibleworks Hermeneutika Bible software. You can also download Bible Sword which is totally free.

If it is the Mac , Accordance for Mac has resources worthy of a theologian going to Harvard or Princeton. Mac also has the free download MacSword.

Then you can do your Bible studies, word studies on the fly!

With the iPod, you can load Bible on Audio or CD and even put Bible texts on it and link with audio if you desire.

Like Old School said, you can put worship music it and voilá. You can buy microphone and then you can start recording sermons in church, and boy can you listen to your favorite pastors and preachers anytime you want to !

Me, I use the iPods to show folks the pictures of my trip to Israel and pictures of our evangelistic endeavor in Mexico and locally...

[Adam Knowlden]

Great ideas Psaturn!

[William Ustav]

[ QUOTE ]


but i really wanted to live deep in the mountains eating only white raddish and sleeping under trees.

but Will said i cant.... /forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif so i wont....

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure you can /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif Maybe we can do it together? /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif