Materialism

I have this thing about losing things or forgetting things that extremely annoys me. Like if I lose something and just can't figure out where it is or where it should be it in a way eats at me. Its almost as if I can't rest until I find that item no matter its importance. Just a few weeks ago I lost something quite important to me, but in reality doesn't have too much importance.

This experience made me think about how we live in a world now days of materialism. The world is always saying that stuff is what enriches your life and makes it better. I personally don't like being told that I really don't need the latest and best thing out there because I'm one of those people who desires to have the best or almost best. Those times when I got my new iPod or camera and they come out with a new better version a few months later always annoyed me because I want the new version, but I don't have the money to spend on it and I should be learning to be happy with the good version I have.

All this needing of the best though is quite unhealthy. If I'm obsessed with having these possessions and it takes up much of my thinking time I'm sure there is some sort of "idol" worship going on. The main question to ask regarding your desire to own things is will this benefit those around me, my family, and my spiritual walk with God? Yes there are things we need for ourselves, but when it comes to materialism that is when the things are no longer necessary to us.

The item I lost a few weeks ago I still haven't found and that fact still annoys me a little. However, when I think about it does it really matter? The question we should be asking ourselves is does this item really make that much of a important difference in my life?

The point I'm trying to make here is that stuff is just stuff. Stuff can get torn, stained, lost, and messed up just like our soul. Are we trying to find our stuff that was lost or messed up? Or are we focused more on things that really matter like letting Jesus patch, clean, and fix our messed up souls? Are we more worried about getting back in-touch with what we lost or do we want to get back in touch with God. Are we stuck in materialism that keeps us from seeing what is really actually profoundly important?