I’ve always been a person that hasn’t really been open to try new things. My parents have always told me that if it wasn’t for them introducing all the foods that I eat right now, I would probably still be eating porridge and salt and pepper chicken. Really? I’m that stubborn and not open to trying new foods? I thought I was. But they are my parents. And they do know my earlier years better than I do know mine. But it’s not just food as well. I know this, that every time there is a new gadget that’s on the market, like an iPad, blu-Ray player, or even a 3D TV, I always question ‘why?’ And I still do. Not that I have anything against people buying these things, but I’ve always had the mentality that if you don’t really need it, then you don’t buy it. It all comes back to the same question; do I need this item that I really want, or is it because of pressure to keep up with the trends? Maybe it’s just my ignorance getting in the way, maybe I will get a blu-ray player, 3D TV, and an iPad and iPhone soon, and perhaps I may sign up to facebook in the near future. But I really need to think about things first, because when you part with a certain amount of money and above, you need to be absolutely certain if whether you’re buying because you know this will enhance your life in a certain way; or you’re buying it, then being consumed by it, and then when the next advancement comes down the line, you’d buy that too.
We need to get to the heart of why we do what we do. What is our motivation behind our purchases; because we do purchase a lot these days. Every time I go to a JB-HiFi store, a Big W or K-Mart, everyone is there. The words ‘economic downturn’ doesn’t seem to phase those die-hards who maybe don’t even seem to care that our economy is in one of the most serious spirals compared to that of the Great Depression. Possibly because our society has been in the mentality for so long that the more we have, the more we are happy. That’s why we consume so much. We were made for much more than what the blu-ray player can fill. We are consuming in today’s age, more than we have ever before. The entertainment industry has benefited immensely from this time in history, when people wouldn’t think twice to hand over a wad of cash to pay for something that may be sitting on the shelf in a year’s time in favour of ‘the next best thing’. Are we really thinking before we purchase our items? What is God saying about all of this?
We were not made to consume like it’s no tomorrow. Rather, we need to step back from it all. Is purchasing this thing or that going to really enhance my life? Or am I trying to rationalise that it will? Perhaps I may sound like I’m from the stone age and I may need to keep up with technology sooner or later, but are we as a society trying to seek fulfilment in the things that we know for sure are going to let us down? There is a verse in Matthew that has struck me lately; Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:28-30). We need to come to Jesus for all that we need. The rest of these things are just things. Not to sound like I don’t value these technological advancements, I really do appreciate them. But I really need to understand that I don’t have to buy all these things. Even though I can, and I most probably will in the future, I don’t have to latch onto every new thing now. The issue is not necessarily the buying, it is the buying now! We are an instantaneous society. We want things now, and are ready to pay the cost, no matter what. Jesus is asking us to slow down, and reconsider everything, from our purchases, to our devotions, to our tv and movie watching, to our book reading, to our music listening. I’m just as much a culprit as everyone in society; looking at my music library right now, I have about 13,500 songs. And it’s gonna grow. But I need to ask the question, if all my consuming stopped, for whatever reason, will I still be content?
I am reluctant to buy new things, to try new things. But this is what I know. The Lord God came to shake things up. Jesus came to earth to shake our comfort zone, and He is indeed doing this today. If He is trying to shake up our spending habits and question why we buy the things that we do, then I need to be cool with that. We all need to realise that Jesus is our well, our source, and nothing else matters. Before I finish, let me pose a question. What things in our lives, spending-wise, that you need to think about, and ask the Lord to take control over? Are you like me, worried about anything that is new? Whatever we struggle with; God is stronger, strong enough to save us, again and again. Strong enough to hold us and say that everything is going to be good, that all our problems that we struggle with is nothing compared to what Jesus went through when He endured the cross. He went through the pain so that we didn’t have to. And with that, I’ll leave you with this; Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life. (Philippians 4:6-7).
Til next blog,
Jon.
No comments:
Post a Comment