On Greed

It's happening again.  I'm reading way too many blogs, which promote buying way too many products.  You need these items for a vignette, just some things you've picked up from spending countless hours scouring flea markets and antique stores.  This color is now in, and this lighting fixture.  You don't want your house to look dated, do you?

What's wrong with being dated, if you like that look?  Save your money.  Give it away.  There's nothing wrong with nice things, or buying things you can afford.  But where's your focus?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  Bu store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV version).

Where is your heart?  If you spend a lot of time looking at beautiful things, and then feeling like you have to have them, beware.  Change your focus. 

The Bible talks about money a lot.  Jesus said that the love of money is the root of all evil.  Envy is classified by Roman Catholics as one of the seven deadly sins.  When I envy I hyper-focus on that particular thing, person or lifestyle.  It takes my attention off of God and all the incredible blessings He has given me.  I forget to be grateful because I'm too busy yearning for what I don't have.

I sometimes think it would be nice to live a life like Martha Stewart.  No worries about money, buying anything she wants.  She has three houses and an apartment in Manhattan.  She had to build a storage building to house some of her many collections.  But with possessions comes responsibility to care for them.  The more you have, the greater the devastation should you lose them.  I wouldn't want those headaches.

Over and over again history shows us that people living beyond their means spells disaster.  The trick is finding that happy medium.

. . . give me neither poverty nor riches!  Give me just enough to satisfy my needs (Proverbs 30:8, NLT version) .

May satisfying our needs be enough.