Do Our Possessions Possess Us?

I. Introduction: Mention working full-time job, finishing college, and raising a family. Just like many others hearing this lesson. My time is limited as well. Turn to James 2.

II. Becoming Minimalist Blog list

A. Sound familiar?

B. Material possessions and the American lifestyle poses a danger to our souls.

C. The danger is our possessions may possess us and our material blessings become a curse.

III. The deceit of materialism

A. In this context materialism is “a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.”

B. The world, and many Christians, consider materialism a respectable vice and perhaps an indication of responsibility and God’s favor.

1. Job’s friends considered his loss of wealth due to plunder and disaster a result of God’s punishment for some sin.
2. Even Christians can be guilty of this: James 2:1-9

C. If we are not wealthy, we may assume that we are not materialistic.

D. Key thought: Our actions, not our words, reveal a materialistic heart.

IV. How can Christians become ensnared?

A. This world worships wealth and the things and experiences it will buy

1. Advertisements and entertainment promote the “good life” of eating in expensive places, driving cars envied by others, living in Mc Mansions, having every electronic and comfort-bringing thing, constant entertainment, and recreation.
2. We can be impressed with material things and seduced into the lifestyle.

B. We start to measure our value using material standards.

1. Many tie their self-worth to wearing brand clothes, owning prestigious items, living in the right neighborhood, exotic vacations, and a life that others envy and that we can promote with pride on social media.
2. Or maybe we pride ourselves in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood, with a nice car or truck, an vacations in nice places. Materialism doesn’t demand extravagance or excessive wealth.
3. Possessions are not the problem; the problem is defining ourselves by our things or, more likely, what we think our things say to others about us.

C. We rate ourselves against others based on possessions and symbols of success

1. Ecclesiastes 4:4 – “Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.”
2. As far back as 1928, humorist Robert Quillen described Americanism as “Spending money you don’t have for things you don’t need to impress people you don’t like.”
3. As James 2 clearly stated, showing partiality to others based on their wealth or position in life does not reflect a spirit of God within us.

D. We should not measure or value our own life by our possessions, Luke 12:15: ““Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.””

V. Materialism leads to pride

A. Deuteronomy 8

1. Danger in the Promised Land would not be from external enemies but materialism and the pride that often accompanies possessions.
2. God blessed them with a bountiful land to take care of their needs so they could live lives as His special people that glorified Him.
3. If they glorified themselves because of their prosperous and comfortable lifestyle, their blessings would become a curse.

B. Pride can blind us to our true spiritual condition

1. Rich Young Ruler – (Summarize) Mark 10:21-26
2. Revelation 3:17-18 – To the lukewarm Laodicean church Jesus said, “‘For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

VI. Possessions can rob us of peace and contentment

A. Mark 4:18-19 – Worries inherent in a material lifestyle batter our faith through anxiety about this world. Cares choke the word.

B. Ecclesiastes 5:10-17

1. Soul is not satisfied: there is never enough.
   • Lifestyle expands and more income is needed
   • Every time a new toy comes out, when the new fashions arrive, he will not be satisfied with what he has.
2. As wealth increases, so do those who live from them.
   • Many friends and family may come out of the woodwork to ask for money, along with charities, political parties, and other groups.
   • He must pay people to manage his money, investments, houses, cars, etc., provide insurance, provide legal assistance, do taxes, etc.
3. He cannot sleep peacefully
   • He may lose money in the overnight markets.
   • He may lose sleep trying to think of new ways to earn and keep his money.
   • He must be wary of thieves and dangers to his wealth.
   • He must keep an eye on those who act trustworthy but may defraud him.

C. Wealth appears to provide stability but it is an unstable foundation

1. The Rich Fool, in Luke 12, trusted in wealth to give him a future, but God told him that his soul would be required that night.
2. Jesus taught how riches are vulnerable to many disasters, Matthew 6:19-20

D. The remedy for anxiety is trusting in God instead of riches, Matthew 6:21-34

VII. Materialism limits our ability to serve

A. Availability for God’s Work

1. Haggai 1:1-11 – Israel lived in luxury while the Lord’s house is in ruins
2. We no longer have a physical temple, but a spiritual temple, the church.
3. The Lord’s work requires time from each member to build it up, strengthen it, and carry out its mission. The church is all of us and requires all of us to work.
   • Ephesians 4:11-16 – building up the body
4. Are we too busy with our work, entertainment, hobbies, recreation, and maintaining our possessions so that we have little time for God’s work?
   • Do the Bible classes lack teachers, the public service lack participants, needy members lack calls, visits, meals, and assistance?
   • I remember an old preacher quote, “What would the church be like if every member was just like me?”

B. Do we give more attention to our career than to eternal work?

1. A person may choose a career that pays a very high salary but makes a high demand on the worker’s time taking him or her away from the family and opportunities to serve.
2. Kevin Clark works full-time as a lawyer but does much preaching describes one who places his career behind godly service: “Christian glass ceiling.”
   • Describes someone who does not accept certain promotions if they will interfere with his or her ability to serve.
   • It is a self-imposed restraint of ambition, sacrifice, for the kingdom.
3. We must manage our time and ambition to create availability to serve.

VIII. We must choose between serving God or our possessions

A. 1 John 2:15-17: Love of the world and the things in it displaces the love for God.

B. Matthew 6:24 – You cannot serve God and riches

C. When we choose to serve God, our possessions will be used to His glory

IX. Christians value heavenly treasures over earthly possessions

A. Hebrews 10:34 –Gladly endured plundering of possessions for eternal reward

B. Acts 4:32-35 – Selling possessions to help fellow Christians

C. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – Gave themselves to God, then gave their possessions

D. 1 John 3:16-18 – Open heart leads to generosity; love in deed not word

E. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 – We can use our possessions to glorify God

F. We do not have to sell our possessions: we can use our homes and cars in God’s service, open our lives to those who need help, provide friendship, teach a child.

G. Alfred Edersheim: “To the secular, nothing is spiritual; and to the spiritual, nothing is secular.”

X. Contentment brings peace and the highest quality of life

A. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

B. Philippians 4:10-13 – Contentment is learned

C. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 – it is a gift of God that brings great blessings

D. Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 – Enjoy what you have but it doesn’t give life meaning.

E. We do not define our value, other people’s worth, or compare one another using material measurements because we realize the emptiness of such valuations.

F. If your treasure is in heaven, you trust God to meet your needs, which brings peace, and delight in a wealth of blessings that money cannot buy.

XI. What will you choose?

A. Matthew 16:24-26 – Cross or the world’s treasures

B. You can’t carry the cross and the world. You much choose one.