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- Apr 25, 2006
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Happy whatever... (1)
''...BE RELAXED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE...'' HEBREWS 13:5
It's amazing what boffins will do research on. Did you know that in 1900 someone did a survey and found out that the average Westerner wanted 27 different things, and considered 18 of them essential to happiness. 100 years later that survey was repeated and it was discovered that the average Westerner wants 500 different things, and considers 100 of them essential to happiness!
And our obsession with all this stuff carries a heavy price tag. The average family now spends a quarter of its income paying off debts. The crazy thing is that a generation ago your parents would probably measure themselves against the Joneses next door, but now you have to compete with the star on the screen or on the magazine cover! Jesus warns '"...Don't be greedy!
Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe"' (Luke 12:15 CEV). Be careful; as you stretch out for more, more, more, you risk losing the security that can only be found in God. It's really easy for a healthy interest in fashion to become an obsession about your looks, and it's equally easy for your computer hobby to become a desperate need to always have the latest release.
Listen: 'You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!' (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Greed has many faces but it speaks one language: the language of more - and it speaks in a sexy whisper that you'll find hard to resist. If you want to keep your peace and stop greed getting a hold on your life you might try memorizing those words from Isaiah.
written by Bob Gass
''...BE RELAXED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE...'' HEBREWS 13:5
It's amazing what boffins will do research on. Did you know that in 1900 someone did a survey and found out that the average Westerner wanted 27 different things, and considered 18 of them essential to happiness. 100 years later that survey was repeated and it was discovered that the average Westerner wants 500 different things, and considers 100 of them essential to happiness!
And our obsession with all this stuff carries a heavy price tag. The average family now spends a quarter of its income paying off debts. The crazy thing is that a generation ago your parents would probably measure themselves against the Joneses next door, but now you have to compete with the star on the screen or on the magazine cover! Jesus warns '"...Don't be greedy!
Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe"' (Luke 12:15 CEV). Be careful; as you stretch out for more, more, more, you risk losing the security that can only be found in God. It's really easy for a healthy interest in fashion to become an obsession about your looks, and it's equally easy for your computer hobby to become a desperate need to always have the latest release.
Listen: 'You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!' (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Greed has many faces but it speaks one language: the language of more - and it speaks in a sexy whisper that you'll find hard to resist. If you want to keep your peace and stop greed getting a hold on your life you might try memorizing those words from Isaiah.
written by Bob Gass
