whats wrong with materialism

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noblenut

Junior Member
Nov 29, 2017
265
90
28
#1
i am a christian but i am also materialist, i feel there is nothing wrong with indulging in the pleasures of life. i buy and play games, watch movie and enjoy a lot of things. Jesus said seek first his kingdom then u will have as well. there is nothing i cannot give up for the kingdom but there is nothing i need to either. i feel everything is a gift of God and is for our benefit
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,173
113
#2
Oh ok but the there will come a time when God calls you to take up your cross and follow Him. JEsus suffering was such that he didnt spend the rest of his life playing games. He had some serious saving other peoples lives to do.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#3
hmm i am not sure you have the same definition of this word..


ma·te·ri·al·ism
/məˈtirēəˌlizəm/
noun
noun: materialism

  1. a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.
    "they hated the sinful materialism of the wicked city"
  2. PHILOSOPHY
    the doctrine that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.
    • the doctrine that consciousness and will are wholly due to material agency.
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
3,192
3,507
113
67
#4
i am a christian but i am also materialist, i feel there is nothing wrong with indulging in the pleasures of life. i buy and play games, watch movie and enjoy a lot of things. Jesus said seek first his kingdom then u will have as well. there is nothing i cannot give up for the kingdom but there is nothing i need to either. i feel everything is a gift of God and is for our benefit
Hi Noblenut, as you just pointed out, ~everything~ that we have is a gift from God, because everything belongs to Him (I believe that the Bible describes Him as, owning the cattle on a thousand hills, to make that very point, albeit a bit poetically ;)). So God (who needs nothing from us) receives no benefit from our giving .. but we do :) Giving (of our resources/time/etc.) is, of course, a blessing to others, but I believe that the principle blessing in giving is received by the "giver" in this particular case (in this "Kingdom" paradigm of ours).

Pastor Jack Hayford wrote an interesting book called, The Key To Everything. It has to do with how to best live the Christian life. If memory serves, I believe that book can be summarized with just one word. Do you have any idea what that word might be (IOW, what the "key to everything" in the Christian life is, summed up in just a single word) :unsure:

BTW, I didn't want this post to sound like an admonishment of some kind (even though I'm afraid that it does :(). I was just hoping to give you one or two thoughts that I've had over the last few years about this subject to consider.

The Bible does have a lot to say about some of this, and here is a very small part of that .. Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:7-10.

God bless you!

~Deut
p.s. - here is another, somewhat different thought to consider as well.


 

noblenut

Junior Member
Nov 29, 2017
265
90
28
#5
Oh ok but the there will come a time when God calls you to take up your cross and follow Him. JEsus suffering was such that he didnt spend the rest of his life playing games. He had some serious saving other peoples lives to do.
actually that's already happened, long story, now God does have good for me
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,173
113
#6
Ok then, but not really into isms i mean theres no rules that says you cant buy something or watch a movie. But not everything is beneficial. A lot of games and movies can be violent and destructive but then there are games and movies that are good and fun.

Bible even says this in 1 Corinthians 6:12

So not sure why you believe everything is a gift of God, everything is permissable or lawful but not everything is expedient or beneficial.


I'd just be wary you dont accept trojan horses into your life that's all. Dont be deceived. A lot of people are gluttons and like to eat absolutely everything too, but then end up with heart disease and diabetes, cos they dont knkw the difference between junk food and real food.
 

noblenut

Junior Member
Nov 29, 2017
265
90
28
#7
Ok then, but not really into isms i mean theres no rules that says you cant buy something or watch a movie. But not everything is beneficial. A lot of games and movies can be violent and destructive but then there are games and movies that are good and fun.

Bible even says this in 1 Corinthians 6:12

So not sure why you believe everything is a gift of God, everything is permissable or lawful but not everything is expedient or beneficial.


I'd just be wary you dont accept trojan horses into your life that's all. Dont be deceived. A lot of people are gluttons and like to eat absolutely everything too, but then end up with heart disease and diabetes, cos they dont knkw the difference between junk food and real food.
let me amend what i said then everything good is a gift of God and for our wellbeing
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,687
7,165
113
#8
Surely someone has pointed to this verse...

"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 ESV

I would love me a sweet, cozy cabin with great windows. So I get it. But when it comes to what He wants for us is a modest lifestyle, right?

I am not telling anyone what's right for them but I will share what the bible says about it.

I am so far from where I need to be in Him, but He is more than I need and He lives well within me.

Fun thread to discuss. I pray I haven't offended you brother. I pray that He is revealed in this and that we both honor His Holy Name. God Bless you and yours.
 

noblenut

Junior Member
Nov 29, 2017
265
90
28
#9
Surely someone has pointed to this verse...

"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 ESV

I would love me a sweet, cozy cabin with great windows. So I get it. But when it comes to what He wants for us is a modest lifestyle, right?

I am not telling anyone what's right for them but I will share what the bible says about it.

I am so far from where I need to be in Him, but He is more than I need and He lives well within me.

Fun thread to discuss. I pray I haven't offended you brother. I pray that He is revealed in this and that we both honor His Holy Name. God Bless you and yours.
i have many treasures in heaven, i always say we do not live for the world but we live in the world amd have to make the best of it, amen brother
 

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#10
1 Tim 6:6-8

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.


IMG_20190526_182744.png IMG_20190526_182836.png


There are many verses in the Bible about wanton pleasure seeking. Most of them speak about pleasure seeking as something that corrupts christians or make them forget about love for God. But God wants us to live a well balanced life and abundant life full of spiritual blessings of grace and joy.

Simple pleasures are not that bad. God still looks at the heart anyway.

"I ask God for all things that I might enjoy life; God gave me life that I might enjoy all things"


Prov 30:7-9

7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

John 10:10

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

James 5:5

You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

1 Tim 5:6

But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.

Luke 8:14

"The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
 

louis

Senior Member
Nov 1, 2017
1,102
86
48
#11
The love of material goods is idolatry.

Isaiah 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#12
Surely someone has pointed to this verse...

"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 ESV

I would love me a sweet, cozy cabin with great windows. So I get it. But when it comes to what He wants for us is a modest lifestyle, right?

I am not telling anyone what's right for them but I will share what the bible says about it.

I am so far from where I need to be in Him, but He is more than I need and He lives well within me.

Fun thread to discuss. I pray I haven't offended you brother. I pray that He is revealed in this and that we both honor His Holy Name. God Bless you and yours.
HAHAH I have 10 on almost 50 acres.... ;)
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
113
#13
1 Tim 6:6-8

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.


View attachment 198907 View attachment 198908


There are many verses in the Bible about wanton pleasure seeking. Most of them speak about pleasure seeking as something that corrupts christians or make them forget about love for God. But God wants us to live a well balanced life and abundant life full of spiritual blessings of grace and joy.

Simple pleasures are not that bad. God still looks at the heart anyway.

"I ask God for all things that I might enjoy life; God gave me life that I might enjoy all things"


Prov 30:7-9

7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

John 10:10

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

James 5:5

You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

1 Tim 5:6

But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.

Luke 8:14

"The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
I cannot see the opening slavo the words are too small...... cough cough ;)
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
113
#15
i am a christian but i am also materialist...
Materialists put material things above spiritual things, so you need to ask yourself if you are really a Materialist or not. Or whether you are really a Christian or not.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,173
113
#16
Every good gift comes from above, from the Father of lights, there is no shadow of his turning.

The thing is, God gives us SPIRITUAL gifts and these are the ones we are to covet, not the material ones.
If you are so focused on materialism, there is a danger you will miss out on the spiritual. There are many spiritual gifts God wants to give us.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say God gives us video games and movies. GOd does give us the holy spirit, and the gifts of the holy spirit. They are many different ones we are to use, not for our own pleasure, but to benefit others.

And they are FREE. Movies and video games you often have to pay for. So, what God charges now?
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,173
113
#17
On average a video game costs $60 and movie tickets anywhere from $8-$18. Far too expensive for many people to afford regularly.
 
Apr 15, 2017
2,867
653
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#18
i am a christian but i am also materialist, i feel there is nothing wrong with indulging in the pleasures of life. i buy and play games, watch movie and enjoy a lot of things. Jesus said seek first his kingdom then u will have as well. there is nothing i cannot give up for the kingdom but there is nothing i need to either. i feel everything is a gift of God and is for our benefit
Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and then all these things shall be added unto you is speaking of food, and clothing, which Jesus addressed it before saying this scripture, that if you do the will of God, and want His righteousness, and to represent goodness, then He will provide your needs.
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#19
i am a christian but i am also materialist, i feel there is nothing wrong with indulging in the pleasures of life. i buy and play games, watch movie and enjoy a lot of things. Jesus said seek first his kingdom then u will have as well. there is nothing i cannot give up for the kingdom but there is nothing i need to either. i feel everything is a gift of God and is for our benefit
Leviticus 19:13 You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 You may say in your heart, “The power and the strength of my hand has made this wealth for me.” But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Deuteronomy 24:12-15 If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God. You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns.

Deuteronomy 32:15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior.

Nehemiah 9:25-26 They captured fortified cities and a fertile land They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance So they ate, were filled and grew fat, and reveled in Your great goodness. "But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, And cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets who had admonished them So that they might return to You, And they committed great blasphemies.

Job 31:24-28 If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, If I have gloated because my wealth was great, And because my hand had secured so much; If I have looked at the sun when it shone or the moon going in splendor, And my heart became secretly enticed, And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.

Job 20:17-20 He does not look at the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and curds. He returns what he has attained and cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built. Because he knew no quiet within him, He does not retain anything he desires.

Psalm 52:6-7 The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, "Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire."

Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
Proverbs 13:7-8 One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat.
Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
Proverbs 15:6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, but trouble is in the income of the wicked.

Proverbs 18:11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.
Proverbs 18:23 The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.

Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Proverbs 28:11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 30:8-9 Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal and profane the name of my God.

Ecclesiastes_5:10–13 He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner

Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow's plea come before them.

Jeremiah 22:13 Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor's services without pay And does not give him his wages,

Jeremiah 49:4 How boastful you are about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O backsliding daughter who trusts in her treasures, saying, 'Who will come against me?'
Ezekiel 28:5 By your great wisdom, by your trade You have increased your riches and your heart is lifted up because of your riches
Hosea 13:6 As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me.
Micah 6:12 For the rich men of the city are full of violence, her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
Haggai 1:3-5 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways!
Malachi 3:5 Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts.
 

RickyZ

Senior Member
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
787
113
#20
Matthew 4:9-10 and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only’”.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Matthew 13:22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Matthew 19:21-22Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

Mark 4:19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 10:21-22 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Luke 6:20 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Luke 8:14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

Luke 12:13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 14: 12Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.13But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”15When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. 17When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’ 19Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, so I cannot come.’ 21The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’”

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth

Luke 16:19-21 Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores … 25 But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony

Luke 18:22-23 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
Luke 21:1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”