Mastering Materialism Series

How To Cope with Life’s Struggles (Part 9)

MASTERING MATERIALISM

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mat 6:19-21)

Introduction: People drive to the mall in cars that they cannot afford,to spend money that they don’t have, to buy things that they don’t need, to impress people that they don’t like.

I. THE DEFINITION OF MATERIALISM.

A. Materialism is a theory: “the doctrine that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life.

·Materialists believe that comfort, pleasure, & wealth are the highest goals of life.

·Materialists are more concerned with material things than with spiritual things.

·As a theory, materialism can be taught: by overt instruction or neglect of the spiritual.

B. Materialism is an attitude.

·The temporal is more important than the eternal

·The world is more important than God

·“He who finishes with the most toys wins.”

II. THE VALUE OF THE MATERIAL.

A. Material things were created by God.

·(Gen 1:1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

·(Psa 24:1) The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

B. Material things are given as blessings from God.

·(Deu 28:8) The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

·(Deu 28:11) The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity--

·(Deu 28:12) The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.

·(1 Tim 6:17) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

C. Material things, while of value, are less important than spiritual things.

·(Mat 16:26) What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

·(2 Cor 4:18) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

D. Material things are earth bound.

·(Col 2:22) These are all destined to perish with use,

·(1 Tim 6:7) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

III. THE DANGER OR MATERIALISM.

A. Materialism can enslave.

·(Mat 6:24) "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

·(1 Tim 6:10) 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.

B. Materialism challenges commitment to Christ.

·(Mat 6:21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

C. Materialism fills one with anxiety.

·(Mat 6:31) So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’

D. Materialism brings judgment.

·(1 Tim 6:9) 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.

E. Materialism deceives.

·(Luke 12:19) And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."’

IV. OVERCOMING MATERIALISM.

A. Cultivate the grace of contentment.

·(1 Tim 6:8) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content…

·(Heb 13:5) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

B. Distinguish between the material and materialism.

·(Deu 8:17) You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,

C. Follow the example of victorious believers.

·(1 Cor 7:31) those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.