THE TRAGEDY OF MATERIALISM

TRAGEDIES OF MATERIALISM Materialism is a state in which an individual becomes so obsessed with possessions, money and comfort at the expense of spirituality. From my close analysis of the African continent, I have discovered that one of the greatest enemies of her growth and development is materialism and the second is like unto it, absence of contentment among the leaders and many followers. So many people think they are on earth just to live large and acquire everything they can acquire. People measure success today by how many cars, houses, lands, etc they have. If success to you is about how much you have acquired, then you are of all men most miserable. That is why an individual can afford to use public funds to acquire a vehicle of about 60 million when some of her close neighbours and may be family members can barely afford two square meals per day. You hear stories of an individual buying a wrist watch of 11 million naira just to show class. We hear of people who choose to buy things in places where it is sold ten times the actual price. Wasting money just to show that they belong to a higher class. I think it is madness. True success and greatness is measured in the impact made on your generation. Any man with so much possession without impact is a poor man. Do not envy such. Beloved, it is not wrong to have the good things of life. At least the scriptures say, ‘’He became poor that we might become rich’’. But if your quest for possessions becomes an obsession to a point that it erodes your spirituality and conscience, then you are heading for a disaster either in this world or the world to come. Jesus said, Beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things he possesses’’. (Luke 12:15) FEATURES OF MATERIALISTIC PEOPLE - They are never content with what they have. - They always want to have the latest things. They always want the latest cars, clothes, jewelleries, chains, electronics etc no matter the cost. They just want to be current. - They always compare themselves with others in terms of possession. Don’t forget, the bible says, ‘’ Those who compare themselves with others are not wise.’’(2cor 10:12). - They are covetous people. - They buy expensive things at the expense of needy family members and other people around them. - They take crucial destiny decisions all the time based on the monetary or materialistic gains. A materialistic person will pick a job that is unfavourable to his spiritual development. - Materialistic people believe we are just here to look for money. - They may be poor now but at their level, they desire or go for things above their means. THE TRAGEDIES 1. Materialistic people cannot make generational impact. This is because most of them are not truly selfless. No matter how hard they try to impart their world with what they have, they do it far below their capacity. 2. Materialistic people cannot transform society. Woe betides a people whose leaders are materialistic. They will use the resources of the public for their personal comfort. 3. Materialistic people are closer to the devil than God because the devil is the ‘oga’ of materialism. He told Jesus during the temptation to bow to him (devil) and get material things. Jesus refused. The devil could easily attack materialistic with some ailments traceable to their connection to material things. Some people get sick and even die because of perishing possessions. 4. Materialistic people are heading for a godless eternity in the world to come. Jesus says, ‘It is easier for a Carmel to pass through the eyes of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’’ Mind you, the man Jesus was talking to was a materialistic man. He was so attached to his possessions that he could not obey Jesus. I think Jesus was actually referring to his attachment to what he had. I don’t think God wants His children to be poor. In fact I personally believe it is our heritage as God’s children to have in abundance in order to be a blessing massively to our world. You can’t say you are blessed and yet begging bread. What God does not like is materialism. (Read Matthew 19:16-23) As I mentioned earlier, there are poor people that also fall into this category because many of them are materialistic at heart. They first of all are covetous. Always wishing they had money to live glamorously. They would criticize materialistic people because they don’t have money yet. If you give some of them good money, the original content of their heart will find expression. They may end up being worse than the people they criticized. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE. GOD BLESS YOU.