Are You in Danger of Materialism?
The fire alarm rang like a siren in my apartment complex early Saturday morning, and I seriously considered staying in bed. But what if this was the one time there really was a fire? I knew I’d regret it.
Before heading out the door, I looked around my apartment. The sirens droned on and on. What if there really was a fire? What should I take with me? In that split second, I grabbed my wallet, a coat, and a water bottle. I guess hydration was particularly important to me that morning.
While everyone waited for the fire department to arrive, I contemplated not only what I had taken from my apartment but what I’d left behind. My apartment was full of my clothes, books, food, electronics, jewelry—even more, my car was still in the garage!
Yet all these things that I thought were meaningful and irreplaceable paled in comparison to the threat of fire and my life. It was the easiest, fastest way I’d ever parted with anything. But it also convicted me of the danger of materialism and revealed the condition of my heart.
I was hung up on stuff and unknowingly practicing materialism, and I wanted to be free of it. But how? Let’s start here.
1. Recognize the Danger of Materialism
Job lost all his possessions and his family. But instead of cursing God, Job said, “’Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”’ (Job 1:21 ESV).
Because Job was confident in God’s goodness, he didn’t question God when he lost everything. Instead, Job remembered that it was God who blessed him in the first place. Thus, despite his losses, Job’s relationship with God remained strong.
If there had been a fire in my apartment (there wasn’t, thankfully), I don’t know if I could have parted with my possessions as easily as Job. Would my material losses have prompted me to put up a barrier between myself and God? Sadly, I’ve seen it happen in other relationships of mine.
The danger of materialism is that it draws us away from communion with God and fellowship with other Christians. In addition to hindering our relationship with God, materialism can also distract us from our godly assignment.
2. Resist the Distraction of Materialism
Scraping carbon from the pipes of my car’s engine using dental appliances is not my idea of a fun Saturday afternoon. Neither are laundry, cleaning furniture, or tidying my rooms. Yet I admit, I spend a lot of time and energy maintaining my possessions. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says those things won’t matter in eternity.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21 ESV)
In pondering these verses, I’ve had to examine what my possessions mean to me. Are they what I want to spend my time and energy on when they don’t have eternal value? When, as Job says, I will take nothing with me when I die?
No. The danger of materialism is that our possessions can become distractions. Instead of having a heart turned toward God, we rely on our possessions and become consumed with gaining more, leaving no room for our eternal purpose. Paul discusses this in his letter to Timothy:
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Tim. 2:3-4 ESV)
God is neither pleased by what we own or how much we make, but—like Job—with the total surrender of our hearts to him. Because God is gracious, if we’ve fallen into materialism and self-reliance, we can turn to him for freedom from our possessions.
3. Change Your Perspective: What’s Important is Eternal
When I traveled to Europe a few years ago, I flew with budget airlines to save money and learned quickly how to do less with more. Dragging my belongings across a continent put into perspective what thingsI value and why I think I need them. When I look back on those travels, it’s not the stuff I remember. It’s the adventures, the experiences, and the people I met.
If someone asked me what to pack for a getaway, I’d change the subject and ask what adventures they want to have. In the same way, God commands us to focus our attention not on the material things of this world but on heavenly things.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26 ESV)
To live free from the danger of materialism, we must surrender our hearts to God and trust him to be our provider. By changing our perspective and focusing on pleasing God, we will see our possessions fade from shiny objects to not important. Then, we’ll be able to focus on building our treasures in heaven.
What do those treasures look like? They have eternal value, for example, strengthening our relationship with God and showing others his love. You won’t find these eternal treasures in an apartment complex, but God declares they will last even to the pearly gates of heaven.
is a business consultant in corporate America by day, Christian lifestyle blogger by night, and probably writing novels or traveling on the weekends. She likes to encourage young women professionals through the transition from college to the adult working world. Kara blogs at karajlovett.com.
Photograph © Ankush Minda, used with permission
