The Single Most Powerful Antidote to our Consumer Culture
Every day of our lives, we are the unwitting recipients of countless messages designed to foster discontentment. And they work really well, convincing us that we need something more in order to be happy. In order to be worthy of love or respect.
According to one study, more than 60 percent of us always have something in mind that we look forward to buying. That’s what makes the following words seem so out of synch with our daily experience.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-8
What? Content with only food and clothing? Why, that’s downright un-American! Or so it seems. But do you know what else it is? It’s liberating.
Driving toward contentment
When I was working in corporate America, I would drive into the parking lot of my office building and pass lots of new cars. Driving my old car gave me frequent opportunities to practice contentment, and there were definitely days when I needed extra practice!
We could all use a little more practice giving thanks, especially when gratitude isn’t the first emotion on our heart or in our mind.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
What helped me was reminding myself why we were avoiding the temptation to buy a nicer car. Having a paid-off car gave us the financial freedom to build savings targeted toward being able to leave my corporate job one day to write and speak full-time—something my wife and I both felt was the direction God was leading us. The more I dwelled on that bigger purpose, the more thankful I felt.
In the process, I saw firsthand that gratitude drives contentment and serves as a powerful antidote to our culture’s constant encouragement to want something more.
Instead of always having something in mind that we look forward to buying, what if we always had something in mind that we were thankful for?
What are you thankful for? And if you really want to challenge yourself, think of something you own that you’re eager to replace. Try to find something about that to be thankful for. What comes to mind?
A note from Rick: Teaching our children to be content and resist consumer culture is one of the many things Matt Bell revealed in his new book, Trusted, as marketers intentionally target children as potential lifetime customers. “Children as young as three are feeling social pressure and understand that consumption of certain brands can help them through life.” (Trusted pg. 37 quoting Anna McAlister, lead researcher University of Wisconsin)
If you are interested in teaching your kids about God-honoring money management, I would encourage you to explore our Trusted resources.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6