The Great Danger of Materialism

Photo by Karolina Grabowska

I have always loved having my own things. My family can attest to how protective I was since childhood of my possessions and how obsessive I was with saving my money (to spend on more possessions). I now realize that my materialist tendency is contrary to my call as a Christian with an eternal purpose. In fact, it is a passionate pursuit of the world and the things in it, whether it be nice clothing, the newest technology, or money. Of course, it is not a mystery to me how I got here. Not only do I have sinful inclinations, but we are bombarded with messages and advertisements in first world culture, telling us that we need this or that. Perhaps we feel the societal pressures to have a certain number in the bank account so that we can live in luxury. Yet, these are messages that do not draw us closer to Christ. The great danger of materialism is that it makes riches more important in our lives than God, turning possessions into an idol.

The Warnings Against Love of Money and Possessions

With how obsessed our world is about material wealth, it is no surprise that there are many verses in the Bible that warn against making material gain an idol. This is not a problem limited to Western civilization, but it is a problem all humans have faced for thousands of years. In the words of Jesus, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). This warning is not just a wise proverb, it is a protection against one of the greatest corrupting sources known to humanity, as explained in 1 Timothy:

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

Notice that it does not say “those who are rich fall into temptation…” but it starts with a desire. Those who desire riches, those who love money, those who covet, will fall into this trap that leads to “all kinds of evils.” Materials themselves are not what is evil. These warnings are for anyone, rich or poor, who seeks money and possessions for happiness and identity.

What Happens When We Make Material Wealth an Idol?

If it is not the materials themselves but the desire that is wrong, how will yearning for wealth lead us into a void of darkness and temptation? One of the most convicting passages for me regarding possessions is Proverbs 30:8-9, where the writer prays to God to “give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” The writer is asking God to provide him with what he needs, especially so that he would not be tempted to commit a crime, but he is also praying that God would not give him too much, that he would not be given “riches.” The reason that he asks God not to give him such indulgence is because his life will appear so abundant with wealth and possessions that he will forget his urgent need to depend on God. The lie of covetousness, yearning for what we do not have, is that once we get that certain number in our account, that new car, our lives will be better. However, this leads to discontentment as we base our lives on what we own rather than on our identity in Christ.

When stuffing ourselves in riches or simply longing for more riches, we cannot also seek God at the same time. Jesus says that, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). It might seem obvious to say that we shouldn’t be greedy or jealous of others, yet how easily it can sneak into our lives undetected. I know that I often catch myself thinking that I can find contentment in God and money (or new clothes or more things) but in reality, I am lowering God by holding anything equal to pursuing Him (not to mention if I hold anything above Him). There were many times in college that I spent a lot of time worrying about what I could afford on my tight budget. When my mind is filled with wanting, well, “stuff,” I should not be surprised to find myself forgetting to pray to God, having less desire to read His word, and forfeiting good works such as giving generously to those in need. As scripture wisely says, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf” (Proverbs 11:28). Under the hand of serving our riches, our faith will wither, but in pursuing righteousness, our faith will thrive.

How Should We View Riches and Possessions?

I am certainly not an expert on this topic. In fact, it is perhaps one of my biggest personal struggles (loving materials, that is), but the Bible is an expert on materialism and has taught me how to view money/possessions as Christ views it.

First, we must remember that materials are fleeting. Just as they fade, so does our use of them. At the same time, it is important to remember that our true treasure is eternal and unfading because our greatest treasure is Christ. I personally know the temptation to hoard whatever riches and possessions I have out of fear that I will lose them and my identity with them. Yet Jesus says:

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew.6:19-21)

We are not called to live this life seeing how much wealth and possessions we can attain. Let us not put our trust in having certain indulgences or various possessions. Instead, let us build our lives on Christ, who never fades nor changes, remembering that our ultimate end is eternal life with Him.

Second, we are merely stewards of our possessions - God is the ultimate possessor of all things. He gives us material gifts so that we can glorify His name and further His kingdom rather than create a kingdom of our own. 1 Timothy explains how we must steward our money:

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Did you catch the first part of this passage? What we do with our materials reflects where our trust is. If our trust is in our wealth, there is no way we will be willing to give that away for God’s glory! But if our trust is ultimately in God, knowing that He is the One who gives and takes away, then we are free to give what we have for His glory rather than our own. I will confess that it took a long time in my Christian life to give tithe. I held back from the church for so long because I viewed my money as something that was meant for me. Once I realized my money is meant for the glory of God, my spending habits changed dramatically (albeit, still a working progress).

Third, be grateful with what you have, and learn to be content in all circumstances. There is greater gain than wealth and possessions, according to 1 Timothy: “Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-9). God has provided us with exactly what we need to fulfill our purpose on earth. Whether it is little or much, we are to be content and not spend time yearning for what we do not have. It is wrong to make possessions into idols - into things that are part of our identity. But it is not wrong to enjoy using our possessions, or appreciating basic necessities, especially if we do so to the glory of God. However, God does not just provide for us materially, for we are commanded to “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’” (Hebrews 13:5). The ultimate reason that we are to be content is because God is with us. He will not forsake us. He provides for us in every way eternally and spiritually. And if we have God as our Father and Friend, do we not have something greater than anything the world can offer?

Finally, do not let anything, especially riches, prevent you from seeking God. I believe that this is the greatest danger in desiring riches. Although I am not rich, I still fall into this trap. Rather than setting my mind on the world and its possessions, I am to set my mind on Something much greater:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

As discussed earlier, we cannot serve two masters, and likewise, we cannot set our mind fully on two things at the same time. “Set your minds” means to seek, to pursue in your thoughts, heart, and actions. Why does the Bible tell us to set our minds on Christ? It is because we have died to the world and our life is Christ. This is amazing! Dear friends, what loss do we have, what greater gain could we possibly obtain, if our entire life is already secured in Christ Jesus? Whenever I feel distanced from God, it is often because I am seeking things other than Him. Let us not set our mind on the fleeting things of earth but on our God who is our purpose.

Perhaps you are like me and realize that possessions have become your life rather than being content with your eternal inheritance in Christ. With repentance comes help from God and healing in our relationship with Him. Turn from the world with all its riches and run to Christ. His arms are wide open, and He is far, far greater.