God has been speaking to me all week during this "Thanksgiving" break about greed and the overwhelming need Americans have to chase the demon I call "Materialism."
When I checked, there are close to 50 verses in the Bible about greed.....50.......God knew it was and would always be an issue. My mother used to love to misquote one verse and say, "Money is the root of all evil." When I was old enough to know better, I corrected her: "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil......" (1 Timothy 6:10). Make no mistake, money can and is used for good; however, God warns us of letting it become our god.
As each and every Thanksgiving, I woke to the same old story in the online news: (the link will not work, so I removed it.) Anyway, in West Virginia two men fought over a parking space at Walmart; one pulled a gun and one was slashed to the bone.
When I read these articles, this verse screams at me: Proverbs 28:25..."A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts the Lord will be enriched." Re the above article: Brandishing guns and cutting people to the bone OVER STUFF?????? This is how far our society has plummeted?? I don't do Black Friday. Years ago I attempted it once but never even left the car when I saw the lines. There is NOTHING I WANT that badly to venture into this insanity that looms today.
Hebrews 13:5 reminds us, "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"
Contentment.....what does this mean? Be satisfied with what you have. I do not need the next bigger, better gadget, or "toy". We as a nation have become enslaved by tech companies such as Apple and Microsoft. Truly, when I think about it: Their CEOs have got to be laughing at us.....laughing at us all the way to the bank.
This week as I have mulled this over, I have taken steps, albeit small ones, to do my part to avoid this trap. I have de-cluttered, taking things to the dump and giving things away. I have also started to question every purchase. I am not obsessing, but I am asking myself, "Do I need this?"
Do yourself a favor, for one week ask yourself the same question: "Do I need this?" You may be surprised at how freeing that can be. ......and at your answer.
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