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| Life Is About Stuff -- Modern Make Believe #3 |
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6:8 but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
How much stuff do we need so that we have enough stuff? Our closets, basements, and garages are overflowing with stuff, but still we can’t get enough. So we call a charity to bring a truck and pick up our “old” stuff so that we will have room for more new stuff. Or we rent a storage unit (sometimes three or four) and stuff it full of the stuff we don’t have room for in our over-stuffed house.
I work for a charity that collects and processes donations of stuff. The quantity and quality of the stuff that comes through is amazing – tons and tons of really nice stuff, some of it brand new.
As a society, we are awash in stuff and yet we still buy more: the latest fashion, the next new thing. Even our landfills are bulging, yet we are not satisfied. More! More! We have to have more stuff!
Well, if the accumulation of stuff hasn’t made Americans the happiest people in history (and it hasn’t), it should be obvious to everyone that stuff is not the answer that creates a life of personal peace and fulfillment. And yet, we continue to grasp for more stuff.
Our human desire for stuff can never be satisfied — the more the desire is fed, the more it grows. Our hope for satisfaction comes in learning to control and limit our desire for stuff. Paul of Tarsus put it this way: “Having food and clothing, let us be content.”
Long-term satisfaction does not come from stuff, but from inner contentment. Contentment can be achieved by working to change our focus from acquiring more stuff to:
1) Helping other people. As we begin to help others (face to face, not just in writing checks) and personally give some of our stuff to them, it begins to break our stuff obsession.
2) Achieving inner victory. Instead of trying to satisfy insecurities and inner pain with new material things, begin to overcome them by using mental, emotional, and spiritual resources. When you win the inner victory, the longing for stuff will no longer consume you.
3) Begin to accumulate wisdom on how to live a happy and fulfilling life. Since stuff hasn’t made you extremely happy, why not try wisdom? Begin to read great non-fiction books about how to live a mentally and emotionally rewarding life. Collect uplifting quotations. Feed on wisdom day and night. Stuff has led you on a wild goose chase, but wisdom will lead you to peace, joy, and contentment. |
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| To add a comment to "Life Is About Stuff -- Modern Make Believe #3" |
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| August 28, 2008 |
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| Great Blog Steve... |
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| August 28, 2008 |
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"Stuff has led you on a wild goose chase, but wisdom will lead you to peace, joy, and contentment."
YOU READ MY MAIL. I am choosing to be content with where I am at and with what I have. I will take your advice and feed on wisdom. Wisdom is the supreme thing. |
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| August 28, 2008 |
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| I belive in a small word ( JOY) J, For Jesus first, O, for others second. Y, for yourself last if you follow these words you should not have things you dont need. Follow Jesus first Give to others second and allways consider yourself last I belive this and follow these words . God will give you what you need |
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| August 28, 2008 |
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I too am tired of "Stuff". I have never been a materialistic person because "Stuff" offers no affection, love, hugs etc. Replacing it with Wisdom...Awesome
God Bless |
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| August 28, 2008 |
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| The real scoop on stuff is not what you possess but what really possesses you. The rich young ruler couldn't commit to Christ because he had lots of stuff. Truth is the stuff had him, just like Elvis Pressley said once as a reason for not being a christian. Too many people depend on me for a pay check and serving Jesus won't draw a crowd. |
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| August 28, 2008 |
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| Hey this is "GOOD STUFF" Nice Blog :0) |
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| August 29, 2008 |
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| This was really nice Steve...Good information ;o) |
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