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Christians & Consumerism

A Godly Response

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We all have our boxes?

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Consumerism is Growing

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Consumerism is Growing

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Consumerism is Seductive

Consumerism is Growing

A big part of the reason is that C is Seductive – Brain science on Dopamine aspects of Consuming – addictive and powerfully attractive to us

Numerous scientific studies characterize excessive consumption as behavioral addiction. With psychological and biological parallels to substance use disorders. CBD is Compulsive Buying Disorder.

Factors in addictiveness:

Neurobiological – dopamine surges. Particualarly in the anticipation phase. Encourages repetition

The brain changes to adapt to behavior over time… lessens the brains ability to ‘apply the brakes’ during a spending urge.

Phychological drivers

Emotional regulation

Ritualitic, compulsive acts

Tolerance and withdrawal - buy more frequently, spend more, for same emotional high and withdrawal symptoms when not shopping.

1 in 20 experience compulsive buying behavior at some point in their lives

Digital – online shopping – anonymity, and constant availability, escalates the challenge

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Consumerism is Seductive

Consumerism is Growing

Consumerism Feeds an Appetite

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Consumerism is Seductive

Consumerism is Growing

Consumerism Feeds an Appetite

What appetite does it feed?

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But…

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John 17: 14 – 16

¹⁴I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.^[^a^] ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Romans 12: 1 - 2

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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But…

Christians are not of the world

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So how should we live?

WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT FROM US REGARDING CONSUMERISM?

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Let’s look at scripture

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Rich Young Ruler Matt 19 – 16-24

Eccl 2

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Let’s look at scripture

“the cares of the world” Matt 13:22
“the children of this world” Luke 16:8
“the god of this age” II Cor 4:4
“..past… walked according to the age of this world” Eph 2:2
“for Demas, in love with this present world, has forsaken me” II Tim 4:10

Or

“indeed bears fruit and yields” Matt 13:23
“You cannot love God and Money” Luke 16:13
“The light of the knowledge of the glory of God” II Cor 4:6
“immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us” Eph 2:7
“My times are in Your hand” Ps 31:14-16

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So what does God expect from us regarding consumerism?

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Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

(Col 3:2-3 NASB)

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Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

(1Jn 2:15-17 NASB)

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He wants us to choose Him over things.�

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So, How do we do this?��How do we live in a way that chooses God over things?

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Choosing God over Things

Recognize our own weakness

The oldest trick in the book

Idolatry
Gen 3

Open our eyes to the world’s tricks

James 4:4
Eph 4:14

The Process in Gen 3 – 1 the serpent was crafty; be like God… the temptation; Verse 6&7 verbs saw, delight, desired, took, ate, gave, ate.

V 10 to God “I was afraid and hid”

ph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Eph 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

(Jas 4:3-7 NASB)

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Choosing God over Things

Seek Contentment

Philippians 4: 11-12
Where is contentment found?

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Choosing God over Things

Seek Contentment

Philippians 4: 11-12
Where is contentment found?
Heb 13:5 In God
“Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole of man” Eccl 12:13

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Choosing God over Things

Seek Contentment

Philippians 4: 11-12
Where is contentment found?
Heb 13:5 In God
“Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole of man” Eccl 12:13
Find “Enough” – it’s less than you think

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Choosing God over Things

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Practice Discipline

II Tim 1:7
In the little things
Every “Yes” to stuff it a “No” to something else
“Choose” Joshua 24:15

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Choosing God over Things

Replace excessive consumption with contribution

Jeremiah 29: 4-7

"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 'Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 'Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. 'Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.'

(Jer 29:4-7 NASB)

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Choosing God over Things

Be Humble

James 4:7

Stay in the fight

with God on your side Heb 13:5
Exercise your Faith

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace.

Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

(Jas 4:3-7 NASB)

Heb 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

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Choosing God over Things

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Pray

John 17:14-16 - “Avoid the evil one”
Daily bread from God – Matt 6: 9-13

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed is thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The answer is "no" to "spiritual bread" but also no to simply "daily bread." The Greek word ἐπιούσιον is admittedly unique. The NAB understands it to mean "for tomorrow" and NABRE says "future." This fits with the conclusion of this section of the Sermon:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them... 34 Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself...

A translation along those lines might read:

Give tomorrow's bread to us each day.

Not that I would propose this to replace the traditional reading but the implication is that God is asked to provide our bread, and we will not worry each day about how to obtain it.

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Choosing God over Things

Recognize your own weakness

Seek Contentment in God

Practice Discipline

Replace consumption with contribution

Be Humble

Stay in the Fight

Pray

The Process in Gen 3 – 1 the serpent was crafty; be like God… the temptation; Verse 6&7 verbs saw, delight, desired, took, ate, gave, ate.

V 10 to God “I was afraid and hid”

ph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Eph 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

(Jas 4:3-7 NASB)

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Thank you!��Critical Feedback is appreciated.

MARK HESTER

HESTERJOHNMARK@GMAIL.COM

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Christians & Consumerism

A Godly Response