Everyone likes to have nice things. A good car, a comfortable home, the latest model of whatever electronic device is top of your must-have list. All the things that blur the line between need and want tend to be a way of telling the rest of the world, “Hey! Look how successful I am!” There’s nothing wrong with liking, and having, lovely possessions, but when those possessions are the driving force behind who and what you are, it may be time to take an honest look at your priorities.
He who has the most toys wins
How do you measure success? For many people, it’s about material objects. It’s about having the finances to buy without concern. The truth is that as much as having things may be fun, the possessing of dream items doesn’t always bring the happiness we imagine. Even if what we have does make us happy, it’s a sobering thought that everything we accumulate in this life will one day be left behind. We can’t take anything with us, and ultimately he who has the most toys, still dies. When was the last time you saw a gravestone with a list of the individual’s possessions on it?
Where is your treasure?
The Bible tells us that our heart longs to be where our treasure is. If your heart is constantly focused on what you have and getting more of the same, it’s a pretty good indication that you are owned by the things you possess. Greed is a destructive emotion and will never be satisfied – if anything it is fed by the acquisition of material goods and the desire for more just grows with each new thing. Sadly, you may even find that the things you thought would make you happy, just make you more dissatisfied, and leave you looking for the next thing to add to your list of personal effects.
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Worth more than gold
The Bible warns us not to waste our lives in pursuit of things that will only bring a hollow and fleeting happiness. Things you can hold can also be taken from you. Only one thing can hold centre stage in your life; if the things you own fill that position there isn’t room for anything else to be your primary focus. You can either serve your need to acquire more material goods, or you can choose to find a treasure that is richer and more valuable than anything you can buy from a store, and which will last beyond this life.