The Curse of Materialism - The Idlewild Foundation

We live in a very materialistic world, nation, state and area. When you meet someone, one of the early questions asked is what the person does or did for a living. As soon as the answers are given, labels are attached and those labels include net worth. I am a retired attorney, so automatically I am identified as really wealthy (among other colorfully descriptive words, most very inaccurate).

It is interesting to watch the different reactions I get now when I identify myself as the Executive Director of a charitable foundation. It’s an entirely different reaction! No one expects me to be wealthy, but one common reaction is that many expect me to be asking for their money. Wrong again!

We identify people based upon our perception of their wealth. That is because we, as a people, are materialistic at heart.

We see the car a person is driving and we make a judgment from the year, model and appearance about how much money they have and what they are worth. That is because we are materialistic at heart. Just honestly react to the two pictures below.

We see how nicely dressed someone is (or poorly dressed) and we make an evaluation of their financial level. My wife and I used to take advantage of that when we were younger. There was a certain furniture store where the salespeople would almost fight to get at you if you looked wealthy. So, we dressed down and wore sloppy cut-offs and T-shirts. The behavior of the sales people was almost comical as they fought to have someone else “greet” us. That is because we are materialistic people at heart.

These examples demonstrate how wrong those evaluations often are. But that is only a very small reason why our materialistic society is sick. What else is wrong with being materialistic? A lot. Let’s look at that before we look into the cure.

Materialism recognized

Randy Alcorn said, “If we understand the dangers of materialism, it will help liberate us to experience the joys of Christ-centered stewardship.” That is true, but only if we can see it in ourselves, not just in others. It is easy to point the finger at someone else and say, “You need to change.” It is another matter altogether to see yourself honestly.

1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

In Biblical times, mirrors were polished metal and they gave poor reflections to people, unlike modern mirrors with their near perfect reflections. But even with the accurate reflection of modern mirrors, it remains difficult to objectively see our own inner problems, one of which is materialism. One good definition of materialism is from Dictionary.com:

The preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual or cultural values.
A shortened version of that definition is that materialism means that “money displaces God” or perhaps even more accurately, “money becomes god.”

What matters to a materialistic person?

Money, and not just a little or enough, but as much as possible.
Possessions, and again, not just enough but to an excess.
Comfort.
Pleasure.
The so-called good life.

Putting money and the momentary pleasures and comforts of today before God and eternity is a tragic mistake. One glance at the marital and medical lives of Hollywood stars confirms that money, even a lot of money, is more of a formula for dissatisfaction, misery and drug dependency than a formula for contentment and joy.

God has made it abundantly clear that we are to have no other gods before Him. Exodus 20:3. Anything that we can’t put down, anything that consistently keeps us away from worship and fellowship, anything that causes us to neglect His Word, is something that is being put before God – and has become a god.

Does that mean we can’t have and enjoy stuff?

Of course not. But if a person’s stuff starts to displace God and push aside spiritual values and principles, then there is a problem. Actually, there are several problems.

First, we have been told what the greatest commandment of all is. We are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:36-37 and Deuteronomy 6:4-6. It can hardly get and simpler or clearer than that. If our stuff starts to get in the way of loving God with all of our hearts, souls and minds and keeps us from sharing our faith (or obscures our faith so that we become poor witnesses), then our stuff is a serious problem; it may be stepping into a role as our idol.

Second, wealth can become “the world” to us. Satan tried to lie and say that “you can have it all.”

Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

How would most Americans respond to that challenge from satan? How would you respond? But we really can have all we need and want. To have that happen, our desires become conformed to His heart.

Psalm 37:4
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

When your delight is in Him and Him alone, you literally already have all that you want. Satan is a liar, John 8:44, and some of his greatest lies hide behind the supposed power and blessing of wealth. Instead, wealth is a temptation and a trap, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, and a curse for many people.

Third, our life belongs to God, not to our stuff. Jesus told a crowd or thousands who were listening to Him, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15. Of course, He was right in that declaration. We are called to be content with whatever our circumstances might be. Philippians 4:12-13.

Most people reading this already knew that materialism is a sin, a prevalent American sin. Knowing that is the easy part.

Materialism overcome

Now let’s go back to what Randy Alcorn said, “If we understand the dangers of materialism, it will help liberate us to experience the joys of Christ-centered stewardship.”

He was right when he said it and he remains right.

But how do we move from understanding the dangers of materialism to freeing ourselves from the grip of our stuff? After all, I know I shouldn’t eat fatty foods, load up on sugar and overeat – but still I have many bad moments.

Start with the Word of God.

1 Timothy 6:17-18
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Look at it this way. One common use for excess cash is for it to be invested for retirement. God agrees! And He has the ultimate retirement plan for you, all stated in Matthew 6:19-21 and in the next verse.

1 Timothy 6:19
19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

However, certainly many who read this think they are not rich.

If they know Jesus as their Savior and lay up treasures in heaven, they are rich indeed!

Anyone able to read this on a computer, tablet or phone is rich, having access to technology that far exceeds anything existing anytime in history before the late 20th century. Anyone with a car (a motorized chariot), living in an air conditioned and heated home (something Solomon would have given an enormous fortune to have), with running water and access to medical care is fabulously wealthy.

Just look at the typical grocery store or food market in America.

That is enormous wealth in the minds of many throughout the world.

No, the truth is that Americans are wealthy in opportunity and in finances, with very few exceptions. So, instead of using excuses, look for God’s desire for you. That is a wealth that far exceeds financial wealth. That is what true riches are.

Start with an examination of your own heart

You have to start here and start with prayerful honesty.

2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

We are warned repeatedly in the Bible against greed. See Proverbs 15:27, for example. We are warned against greed and the power of wealth to entrap us because we are weak. Luke 12:15. But when we admit our weakness and turn to Jesus for strength, we can find joy, contentment and life. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.

On who and what do you rely? Are you “in the faith” or into money. Is prayer your first or your last resort? Do you turn to God only after your efforts fail?

Consider what the difference is between “need” and “want”

God never says He will gives us the desires of our greedy hearts, but He does tell us that if we align our hearts with His, He will then give us the desires of our hearts – that is because our desires will be for what we need, not what we want.

Psalm 37:4
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

A heart that delights in the Lord is not one that is self-involved and filled with greed and the desire for personal wealth and luxury. Instead, that heart wants what God wants, whatever that may be, and that is to help those in great need. See God’s Heart for the Poor.

Make a choice to obey or not

In the end, it comes down to one fact, you have a choice.

“Choose the way of life. Choose the way of love. Choose the way of caring. Choose the way of goodness. It’s up to you. It’s your choice.”
Leo Buscaglia, U. S. psychologist, author and educator

Ultimately, your life will be the sum of the choices you make, as Albert Camus, French novelist and essayist, noted. Make wise ones.

Anticipate and enjoy the rewards

God has promised blessings to those who choose wisely. Matthew 5:10 and Galatians 6:8. Those blessings are not necessarily financial, but they are as certain as all of God’s promises. God addressed this:

Numbers 23:19
19 God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?

He has said he will never leave us or forsake us, Hebrews 13:5, and He will be there for those who trust in Him and who wait for Him.

Isaiah 40:30-31
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Philippians 4:19
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Now you can start to enjoy the benefit of living free from the grasp of materialism.

Enjoy being generous

It is God’s desire that you share the blessings He has given you.

2 Corinthians 9:11.
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

You have so that you can give, be generous, and share and so He can get the glory. If you are uncertain or uncomfortable about this new generosity idea, that’s okay, start small. But even as you start small, make it intentional and meaningful. Give to a cause God has placed on your heart. What breaks your heart? Follow God’s heart. There are many opportunities in our troubled world.

Psalm 146:5-9
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.
6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,
8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

The oppressed, the impoverished, the hungry, those in jail (and their families), the sick, the blind and handicapped, etc. are all on God’s heart.
If it is hard to find a way to get started, give up something to create room in your budget. Give up that Starbucks special coffee for a week, eat in and save the expense of an expected night out, or any other normal or expected expense you can avoid. Lent is an example, even if a flawed one, of giving up what is desired. Lent is a preparation for Easter and the celebration of the sacrifice of Jesus through prayer, repentance, and denial of self. Then take that money and give it where it is needed most. Later, you may notice that God wants that prayer, repentance and denial of self 24×7, 365.

Jim Elliott was right when he said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Matthew 6:19-20
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

You cannot serve two masters. Matthew 6:24. There can be only one. Chose for yourselves this day who you will serve. Joshua 24:14-15.

About the Author

John Campbell has retired from a 40-year legal practice as a trial attorney in Tampa. He has served in multiple volunteer roles at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, where he met Jesus. He began serving as the Executive Director of the Idlewild Foundation in 2016. He has been married to the love of his life, Mona Puckett Campbell, since 1972.