Materialistic

[Jun_Canada]

What does it mean to be materialistic?
Is a person materialistic if a person needs something for like school or business related...ex...printer, comp etc?
Or is a person materialitic if he/she craves something...ex..collecting things?
Sounds like a stupid q but I would like to know
Thank you!
God Bless

 

[fishstix]

It is fine to need material things. After all, food is a material thing and we would die if we didn't get it on a regular basis. Material things can start to become a problem if they begin to control us though - for example if we have trouble sleeping because we're worrying that someone might steal our car. They can also be a problem if we start to think we need stuff when we really only want it - such as people who "need" a fancy sports car. I'm not saying it's wrong in and of itself to want stuff, just that it's a problem if we start to confuse wants and needs. And if we start to put material things ahead of God then that's certainly a problem.

Probably almost every single person in North America could be described as "materialistic" in the eyes of people in other countries who barely have enough food to eat. But I think the main thing is more what our attitude towards stuff is, especially as compared with our attitude towards God.

 

[Rafael]

Materialism can be seen by advertisements designed to appeal to our desires to have everything we see - lust.
As you have spoken, there is nothing wrong with taking care of needs. The scripture tells us that if we love and delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart, so yes, there are special things God gives those that love Him, but I don't really know if they are material, but they could be. The point is: God gets first place in our lives, over materialistic desires.

Ps 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

1Jo 2:15 Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.
16 For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world.

 

[rogsr]

One thing to add to Raphe's great response....

I always gauge my own materialism against what I actually need...

It's resonable for me to need a computer for school/work.
It's resonable for me to need a nice home for my family.
It's resonable for me to need a nice vehicle for transportation.

It's not resonable for me to need the fastest computer money can buy when what I have works great still.
It's not resonable for me to but a million dollar home when a two hundred thousand dollar one will do.(exagerated to make a point)
It's not resonable for me to but a beemer when I could have gotten a honda.

This is just how I handle my own self-examination..but I still fail sometimes..I just bought a flat panel monitor for my computer...but it does help me keep it to a min.

peace-

 

[whatseekye]

There is a proverb about how the love of money is the root of all evil. Paul talks about this:

1 Timothy 6
10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Notice that the saying is "THE LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil", and not just "Money is a root of all kinds of evil". The important thing is that we understand that money and possessions can be tools for our Christian life here, but we should never love money or things. There is a big difference. Paul says that the love of money can actually cause a person to drift away from the faith. That's interesting!

 

[HumbleBee]

Matthew 6:19-21, 24 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...No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

 

[Johnnz]

There are two meanings

1. Physical matter is all that there is and and that psychological states such as emotions, reason, thought, and desire will eventually be explained as physical functions.

2. Possessions and wealth are valued above all other values.

Christians do not accept 1) & Jesus had a lot to say about making possessions teh focus of our lives.

John
NZ

 

[silentpoet]

I think it can be a problem when as mentioned above material goods come between you and god. Also more time is consumed with thoughts of those goods.

For example, there is nothing wrong with having a good computer or fancy home theater system. However if you are consumed by thoughts of it, then it is not healthy. I will confess myself. Currently I am considering a couple of projects. One is a new computer. There is some good and some bad in that. In part I want to have a computer in which no part has ever had anything to do with porn as I feel my current computer has been contaminated and if I start fresh I will be doing good. Overall I would say that is a good thing. However God may have other plans for my money. ANd it would be foolish to spend 3000 dollars buying a new system when I could build a pretty good one for 1000. There is less good in my desire for a plasma tv. I see less glory to God and more selfish entertainment. However another Christian could in good conscience decide to purchase a plasma tv. But for me the desire is more self centered.

 

[12volt_man]

What does it mean to be materialistic?
Is a person materialistic if a person needs something for like school or business related...ex...printer, comp etc?
Or is a person materialitic if he/she craves something...ex..collecting things?
Sounds like a stupid q but I would like to know
Thank you!
God Bless

There's nothing wrong with having nice things as long as the nice things don't have you.

Simply put, materialism (from a Christian perspective) is when you value things more than you value God.

 

[SonOfThunder]

if you had a house full of everything you wanted would you give it up to follow Jesus?

Hard question, whats the answer?

James