It's finally here! It's the new improved version. More features than ever, and it's better looking, too. You know you've got to have it. It will be the greatest thing you ever bought.

Until the next one comes out. Then you'll need it, plus all the attachments that go with it. If you don't get those, then you'll be hopelessly behind the times.

Keeping up with the Joneses isn't easy, is it?

In fact, it's a trap. The Bible is pretty blunt about the dangers:

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Jesus talked about people's faith being choked out by "the deceitfulness of wealth" (Matthew 13:22). He warned of the dangers of trying to serve God and money at the same time (Luke 16:13). And he said that it's harder for rich people to be saved (Mark 10:25).

How can we stop trying to get more stuff? Well, one way is to be happy with what we have. The best way to get what you want it to learn to want what you've got. The apostle Paul wrote:

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

It's easy to want what everyone else is getting. It's easy to want what's new and shiny, the latest fad we see in all of the commercials. But it's also very, very dangerous.

The best way to get what you want it to learn to want what you've got
God can help you learn to be happy with what you have. Let him teach you how contentment can free you from the slavery of materialism.

Come share your ideas at www.hopeforlife.org. Or drop me a line at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org.

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