“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” — Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)
We live in a world driven by consumption. Advertisements tell us we need more to be happy—more clothes, more gadgets, more upgrades, more status. The consumer culture around us equates success with accumulation, convincing us that our worth is defined by what we own or how much we earn. But Jesus taught something radically different.
In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus warns against storing up earthly treasures. Not because material things are inherently evil, but because they are temporary. They decay, break, and can be stolen. Worse, they have the power to steal our hearts. When our focus is on acquiring and accumulating, we begin to serve our possessions instead of God. We become enslaved to the very things we thought would bring freedom.
Consumer culture doesn’t just affect our wallets, it also shapes our hearts. It feeds comparison, discontentment, and pride. It trains us to see people and relationships through the lens of usefulness and transaction. Even faith can be infected, tempting us to view God as a supplier of blessings rather than a Savior worthy of worship. Church becomes something to consume—what I like, what feeds me, what suits my preferences—rather than a community where I serve, grow, and give.
The danger of consumerism is not just in what we buy, but in how we live. When we make life about having rather than becoming, we miss the deeper joy of life with God. Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-12 that he learned to be content in every situation—not because he had everything, but because he had Christ.
The antidote to consumer culture is a generous, grateful, and content heart. It’s found in practicing simplicity, choosing gratitude over greed, and investing in eternal things—people, relationships, acts of love and justice, and time spent with God. As we shift our focus from what we can get to what we can give, we begin to reflect the heart of Christ.
May we remember that we are not defined by what we own, but by Whose we are. Let us resist the pull of consumption and instead live for the kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Journeying Together,
John
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