Gimme Gimme, My Name is Jimmy
Freedom from debt is a great thing, but there’s other things you must be free from first! Materialism and consumerism are global issues that permeate our daily lives.
This has been such a great walk down Memory Lane! It has caused us to pause and see God’s work in us, His faithfulness and guidance every step of our debt free journey. Thanks for asking about this, and thanks for reading!
We’ve mentioned how contentment was a key factor in our paradigm shift towards freedom. Today I want to share what God taught us about material possessions.
A little background (because we all have one, right?):
I grew up in Guatemala, a developing nation where “nice stuff” was king. It had to be the Real McCoy, too! No knock offs allowed! But it’s also the type of place where you bring your own toilet paper to a public bathroom because it’s just not provided.
AND, you were always looking over your shoulder so as not to get robbed (of your nice stuff… not the toilet paper). All to say, this doesn’t foster a very generous spirit: Once you get your nice stuff, GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE!
Brad, on the other hand, always had nice stuff growing up and didn’t realize what he had. He made a ton of money at his business as a teenager and spent allllll of it on nice stuff, ’cause that’s what you do with money, right? Both of these, in very different ways, had a materialistic focus.
I’ll just bottom line it for ya: Our stuff should not define our value.
We live in a world where wealth is king and it defines your position in society. STATUS comes from a Latin word that means “to stand”… and we figure out where you stand base on your nice stuff.
Now, we may live in this world, but we are not of it. That is the point we will forever be making throughout our chats. But it is so hard to remember the laws of our world when we’re constantly bombarded with THIS world’s messages.
So, what is God’s design? As citizens of Heaven, how do we operate?
Our STATUS was defined by God Himself:
He purchased us with the the most valuable thing in the Universe: the blood of His only begotten Son. He then brought us into His Kingdom as His dear children, and it has pleased Him to give us the Kingdom.
Why, then, do we feel the need to prove our standing in this world with more non-essential plastic items that are designed with planned obsolescence and are meant to enslave us and keep us dependent upon this world system? (Take a deep breath!)
Now, here’s what we’re not saying:
Only workaholics work hard.
If you have a savings plan, you’re not trusting God.
Don’t invest.
Having fun is ungodly.
The Scriptures clearly tell us the opposite (click to see references):
Work Hard.
Take care of your family.
Leave an inheritance for your future generations.
God wants us to enjoy life.
AND might I add:
Be Generous.
How can we do any of this without money and without stuff?
The point is: material possessions are a tool we use for our own sustenance and enjoyment AND for blessing others. We don’t chase them, draw value from them, or allow them to define our standing. Anytime. Anywhere. Period.
[reminder]What defines your status right now? What is God showing you about how He defines your standing?[/reminder]