The Greed of American Consumerism

I came across this on Facebook this morning:

God has been speaking to me all week during this "Thanksgiving" break about greed and the overwhelming need Americans have to chase the demon I call "Materialism."

When I checked, there are close to 50 verses in the Bible about greed.....50.......God knew it was and would always be an issue.  My mother used to love to misquote one verse and say, "Money is the root of all evil."  When I was old enough to know better, I corrected her:  "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil......" (1 Timothy 6:10).  Make no mistake, money can and is used for good; however, God warns us of letting it become our god. 

As each and every Thanksgiving, I woke to the same old story in the online news: (the link will not work, so I removed it.)  Anyway, in West Virginia two men fought over a parking space at Walmart; one pulled a gun and one was slashed to the bone.

When I read these articles, this verse screams at me:  Proverbs 28:25..."A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts the Lord will be enriched."   Re the above article:  Brandishing guns and cutting people to the bone OVER STUFF??????  This is how far our society has plummeted??  I don't do Black Friday.  Years ago I attempted it once but never even left the car when I saw the lines.  There is NOTHING I WANT that badly to venture into this insanity that looms today.

Hebrews 13:5 reminds us, "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"

Contentment.....what does this mean?  Be satisfied with what you have.  I do not need the next bigger, better gadget, or "toy".  We as a nation have become enslaved by tech companies such as Apple and Microsoft.  Truly, when I think about it:  Their CEOs have got to be laughing at us.....laughing at us all the way to the bank.

This week as I have mulled this over, I have taken steps, albeit small ones, to do my part to avoid this trap.  I have de-cluttered, taking things to the dump and giving things away.  I have also started to question every purchase.  I am not obsessing, but I am asking myself, "Do I need this?" 

Do yourself a favor, for one week ask yourself the same question:  "Do I need this?"  You may be surprised at how freeing that can be. ......and at your answer.

Chiseling Granite

God is working on me in these few days I have off for Thanksgiving.  There is much He is teaching me, but for now I will share one thing.....my selfishness.  It is not that I don't like to do for others, but I like to hang on to "things" that are sentimental.  I have a special Scottish wool blanket my father brought from that country  when he was working there for the US government in the late 80s.  Because I have cats, I did not want them to ruin it with their hair; thus, it has been packed away in my cedar chest since.  ...... Hear me:  it has not been used.  So, the other day when I was visiting my shut-in as I do every Sunday, she asked if I had any blankets.  No, she was not begging.  I had told her I was de cluttering for Goodwill, so she simply asked if I had extras.  Immediately I thought of some throws we had left over from last winter's homeless drive.....then, God reminded me of that blanket.

Back and forth we wrestled.  Me:  "But, God, it is special.  My dad gave it to me."

God:  "So?  You don't use it.  Priscilla needs  it."

You get my drift.  On and on this went until this morning.  It now sits packed, ready to go with her feast this afternoon.

Do not get caught up with "things".  You can't  take them with you when you die.  They are mere hay and stubble.