The Threat of Materialism to the Home

Defining materialism…

• Physical matter only…or, primary…reality

• Concept that life’s highest value to be achieved in material well-being

• Pre-occupation or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual

Popular writers on subject…

• Randy Alcorn calls it AFFLUENZA

• Tim Kasser: “Vast numbers of us have been seduced into believing that having more wealth and material possessions is essential to a good life. We have swallowed the idea that, to be well, one first must be well off.”

Materialism’s fruits

• Growth of gambling

• Upsurge in bankruptcies

• Divorce crisis

• Infidelity

• Epidemic of sleep disorders

• Pitiful giving patterns

• Engrossed by the grossly material

Materialism’s fruits

• Creation of a new class of orphans

• Murder of unborn babies

• Euthanasia

• Pandemic of depression/ other ills

• Hectic hysteria

• Upsurge in compulsive buying

• The Disneyland gospel

We are afflicted…despite Bible warnings

• Materialism major ‘talking point’ of Jesus• Bible says more about money and

possessions than heaven and hell• Something on subject throughout Bible• Twice as many verses on this subject as

on faith and prayer combined• Perhaps 1/5 of all Jesus is recorded to

have said is on this topic

Remember what Jesus said

• Parable of rich fool—Luke 12

• Rich man and Lazarus—Luke 16

• Sermon on the mount

• Can I be just a little materialistic?

• No real conflict between provision of material and spiritual needs

In Bible, you hear Jesus…

• Call the materialist a FOOL

• Declare materialistic attitudes incompatible with citizenship in kingdom

• Define materialism as a ‘heart’ fixed on the wrong goals and objectives

• Debunk popular myth of self-dependence…call for dependence on God

Ecclesiastes:A Case Study in Materialism• Solomon…wealthier than even Bill

Gates…found materialism VANITY

• He explored…mirth, pleasure, fine dining, beautiful houses, numerous servants, big business, large bank accounts, collectibles, musical entertainments, power, position and prestige…like no one else could

Materialism and the church

• Mega-churches are case studies in blending materialism and ‘religion’

• ‘Hot-tub religion’• Look at how some

brethren dress for worship, etc. and see affect on US

Families who ignore Bible teaching do so at own peril

• Can we be rich and faithful? Yes, but…

• Possessions not primary problem but our ‘desires’

• Poor people afflicted by greed also

• We must learn to ‘deny self’

• ‘Do not love the world or things of the world…’

How do we avoid the trap?

• Put kingdom first

• We must work but not just await manna

• Choose to walk ‘according to Spirit’

• Teach children from early age

• We ALL want a good life—but we must make a CHOICE as to how that will truly be obtained

Matthew 16:26

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains th whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”