We live in a world of things. It is so easy to desire and collect wealth and possessions. There’s a humorous saying that says, “The only difference between a boy and a man is the price of his toys.” But why do we desire things? Why do we seem drawn to possess clothes, cars, electronic equipment, whatever our addiction seems to crave? Over 310 million consumers purchased items from Amazon in 2022 profiting the company nearly 514 billion dollars. Similar numbers were also reported for top online retailers like American Eagle Outfitters (4.27b), eBay (9.8b), Shopify (2.8b), and others. So why are Americans addicted to owning “things”?
There is excitement in owning things. Things bring fulfillment, at least for the moment. And herein lies the problem with acquiring things…the excitement soon wears off. What we thought would bring life-long happiness instead provides only momentary gratification. Having the newest and best will eventually only be replaced with a newer model with more desirable features.
Permanent happiness can never be found in securing things because happiness found in things will always be temporary. This leads to always wanting more. When asked, “How much money is enough?” John D. Rockefeller once answered, “Just a little bit more!” At the time Rockefeller’s net worth was equal to 1% of the entire U.S. economy. He owned 90% of all the oil and gas industry in America, and yet he required even more to find fulfillment. Cathy and I have an acquaintance whose wife continually buys things she does not need or use. Their house is full of unopened items she just “had to have” the moment she bought them. There is a popular television show based on folks who hoard and fill their house with unnecessary things…things they thought would bring fulfillment when they acquired them but then needed something new to provide the same fix.
So why don’t money and possessions provide happiness? Because they can easily distract us from the important parts of life like pursuing goals, developing lasting relationships, providing a sense of self-worth, or discovering meaning in our lives. No matter how much money we have or things we’ve acquired, it never feels like enough, and never will, because we can never fill an emotional need with a tangible object. Some try to fill life’s meaning with partying, alcohol, drugs, money, sex, career, etc. But since fulfillment and happiness are spiritual needs, they can only be permanently filled by Jesus.
We all find ourselves searching for gratification. Money and things help meet that need temporarily. Jesus can meet those permanently. Philippians 4:19 says, “God…will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” But notice this applies only to needs. We first must distinguish between our needs and our wants. A need is something essential in fulfilling our purpose and meaning. This includes food, clothing, shelter, and anything specifically required to fulfill God’s personal calling on our lives. Matthew 6:33 promises, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” A want, in contrast, is a desire designed for our pleasure and enjoyment. However, a want is not necessarily bad. Psalm 37:4 asks us to “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” God is not against pleasure and fulfillment. Sometimes our desires align perfectly with God’s, “who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment” (1 Ti 6:17).
It is easy to disregard spiritual matters when everything (money and things) seems to be going well in our lives. This often is the result of viewing a relationship with Jesus as a supplement to our lives rather than a primary motivator. Too often we treat Jesus as an “add-on,” an appendage, to our lives. He becomes simply another one of the many separate parts of the whole – job, house, family, car, Jesus, friend, bank account, etc. The problem with this attitude is that Jesus refuses to be just part of our lives; he requires first place in our lives. He declares, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter” (Mt 7:21). Again, he says, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Mt 16:24, Lk 9:23, Mk 8:34). Obedience seems to be another identifying characteristic of a Christ follower – “You are my friends if you do what I command” (Jn 15:14). And the Apostle John says, “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, ‘I know God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth” (1 Jn 2:3-4).
Concerning the acquiring of things and following him, Jesus told a wealthy man, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Lk 18:22). In Jesus mind, he cannot be just another possession in our lives. He must be the number one, all-encompassing Lord of our lives. In fact, he wants to be lord of all, including our things, or he will not be lord at all. Jesus is not satisfied with being our friend. He demands to be our Lord, master, ruler, and chief. Our relationship with him must be based on his daily rule in our lives. “I am the vine; you are the branches…Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned” (Jn 15:5-6). To fail to surrender control of our thoughts, our desires, our things, and our will to Jesus disqualifies us from calling ourselves a believer.
In 1905 American short story author O. Henry, wrote a story titled The Gift of the Magi. In this story, Jim and Della are a young married couple deeply in love and want to express that love by giving each other the perfect Christmas gift. However, when the holiday arrives, circumstances have caused them to have no money to purchase those special gifts. The only valuable things they have are the most precious things they possess. Della has beautiful long, shiny brown hair and Jim treasures the gold watch that had been his father’s and grandfather’s. Each has chosen the perfect gift for the other. Jim has selected a special collection of combs and brushes Della could use in grooming her beautiful hair that hung well below her knees. Della had chosen a gold chain to protect Jim’s watch from falling as he constantly checked the time throughout the day. But, alas, neither has sufficient funds to purchase their special choices.
There is only one thing to do. Through tears Della watches her hair fall to the floor as it is removed to collect the $20 the wigmaker has offered. This is exactly the amount she needs to purchase that special chain for Jim’s watch. She comes home and fixes the remaining tufts the best she can, awaiting Jim’s return from work. When he arrives, he stands in amazement as he stares at her new look. He then shows her the comb/brush set he had purchased for her. But the thrill of giving him that special gift that cost her so much is still thrilling. She places the chain into his hand. He takes her into his arms and explains that he sold his watch to purchase the comb set.
Jim and Della are the perfect illustration of the value of things versus the value of love. Love can cause us to give up the most important possessions in our lives. This is exactly what Jesus asks us to do. Our love for him must exceed our love for things. The Apostle Paul describes the relationship between our love for Jesus and our love for things: “You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price” (1 Co 6:20). God paid a great price to own us, the life of his son. So, our things are really his things.
There will be times in your life when you will desire to own and enjoy things and make a lot of money. Desires are not wrong if you surrender your will concerning them each day to Jesus. Money and things are his gifts to you to be used for his kingdom. How are you doing?