BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

In a conversation with a friend of mine, he made memorable comment. “Chasing a list of things is also part of life when we reach our 40’s and we look back to examine our accomplishments”. He made an obvious reference to the “rat race” we are in when life becomes tedious and people feel trapped in unsatisfying jobs and strained personal relationships. Our society gives us false expectations to reach.  Years ago, a popular expression was “Keeping up with the Joneses". This expression illustrated the pursuit of material possessions as the goal in life. Who has the most possessions is the winner so to speak. Our consumer culture is promoted by the media to buy material goods to be happy. For example, to buy an expensive car (status symbol) is a way to look important.

Studies confirm that buying material things don't make us happy. After a short period, the novelty wears off.
The biblical phrase that I highlighted in my Bible years ago is Hebrews 13:5. 
Hebrews 13:5, ESV: "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you."
From time to time I recall that verse when “money is tight” or someone else drives by in an expensive car.

Living within your means takes discipline. I recall an older colleague of mine whose famous expression was “save your money”. Another colleague, who practiced 10% tithing with his Seventh Adventist Church, said he was more prosperous financially as a result. I was a young teacher, married with four children, working two jobs to pay the bills at the time.
Recently I remember a quote by Msgr. Pedone when he and I had a conversation about cars. He said in effect that cars get you from point A to point B. This is good advice when a car salesman tries to persuade buyers to get all the extra gadgets or a more expensive model.
I jokingly told a friend that I drove an 11 years old car because people wouldn’t be jealous when I drove by them. I said that in jest but there’s truth in that statement.

I’m reminded that Jesus identifies with the poor and offers us a series of parables as a guide for living. For example, the rich man went away sad when Jesus told him to give away all his possessions to be perfect.
I saw a social media video clip of a man who gave money to homeless people living on the sidewalks of California. Then he secretly videotaped their reactions. The video spotlighted one homeless man who immediately went to a nearby food store and purchased groceries to bring to another area where a makeshift tent was erected and other homeless people were staying. So even though this man had very little for himself, he thought of the others in the same predicament and shared with them what he had.
Jesus identifies with the poor as a lesson for all of us who are not in want of basic needs.

The age of entitlement is a harsh reality for those who are not used to working. I’m thinking of college students whose parents have paid all their expenses. One of my hobbies is to investigate my ancestors who were immigrants. The history of our country is the influx of immigrants who through hard work and sacrifice raised their families to try to make life easier for their children. One of my daughters paid me a compliment by stating in effect, Dad one of the greatest gifts you taught us at a young age was the value of work.  All my children had odd jobs as youngsters and are contributors to society as taxpayers today. 

A personal incident that occurred early in my marriage dealt with my wife’s aunt. Before we were married my wife’s mother died and some of her belongings came with us to our apartment such as and end table that decorated the foyer. When I came home from work one day my wife was upset. She said that her aunt came to the apartment and took that end table stating that she believed it was for her. I was amazed that someone would actually come to another person’s home and take a table. I remembered this woman wearing a lot of jewelry when we gathered at family events. My wife felt hurt that her mother’s table, now a keepsake, would be taken away by her aunt. Years later my wife and I went to her funeral. The irony of the situation was that she died in a house fire that burned up household items including that table.

Greed is a danger and the social media persuades viewers to buy things they don’t need and to worship false idols like rock or Hollywood stars. I’m thinking of the reality program called Keeping Up With The Kardashians that illustrates the opulent lifestyle of the rich and famous. Tom Brady and his super model wife live a luxurious lifestyle captivating the dreams of the common person.

Years ago I read a book called The Hidden Persuaders by Vance Packard who described some of the strategies used by the advertising world to persuade people into buying products.  For example, supermarkets place their dairy dept. in the back of the building so customers would have to walk past aisles of products before getting to their gallon of milk. 
Getting people to become dissatisfied with what they have became the goal of advertisers. As a result, financial planners are needed to help people manage their monies and get out of credit card debt.  Our consumer culture is based on a throw away mentality.

The throwaway society that we live in now has moral implications. Taking care of planet earth is becoming a priority with our help such as using reusable shopping bags, planting a tree, buying a hybrid or electric car instead of a gas guzzling SUV vehicle.
We are called to be good stewards of the earth by caring for the environment as God’s creation.
As *World Vision's core value states, 'We are stewards of God's creation'…. The Scriptures tell us that humans are a work of God, created in the image of God. Humans find their origins in the soil of the earth and in the breath of God. (Gen. 2:7)
*World Vision International is an Evangelical Christian humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization.