Marriage and Materialism - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

New Life COTR Wednesday August 8, 2007
BUILDING AND MARRIAGE THAT ROCKS
“Marriage and Materialism”

INTRODUCTION: Last week we talked about Marriage and Money. Money, if not handled correctly can cause much stress in a marriage. While it is God’s plan for money to be a blessing for many it is a curse. One of the leading causes of divorce in America is money problems.
Matthew 6:24(NIV)- “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.”
The managing editor of money magazine summed up a study his magazine did concluding that money has become the number one obsession in America. Money has become the new sex in this country.
Tonight we’re going to talk about “MARRIAGE AND MATERIALISM.”
Television and advertising convinces us that we need it all and Master Card promises us that we can have it all.
To many Christians have left their FIRST LOVE and are having a love affair with the world.
A gentleman was wearing a T-Shirt that said “ALL I WANT IS MORE.” This is a symbol of a very serious situation not only in America but in the CHURCH as well.
Luke 12:15- “Then He said to them, Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
From time to time we all struggle with MATERIALISM. We must learn to balance success and significance.
What are our real priorities in life? WE ALL WANT MORE!
Many believe that when we get more things it will make us happier. The truth is more possessions has nothing to do with true happiness.
We get more things thinking it will make us happy when all along it puts us in bondage! It causes an inner conflict! WHY?
“YOU CAN’T SERVE TWO MASTERS.” You cannot be caught up in the secular rat race and serve God at the same time!
John Stott: “We cannot maintain a good life of extravagance and a good conscience simultaneously. One or the other has to be sacrificed. Either we reduce our affluence by giving generously and helping those in need or we keep our affluence and smother our conscience. We have to choose between man and God!”
He’s not saying we have to make ourselves poor and give everything away! He’s saying that we must be generous givers in order not to smother our conscience. We need to have open hands and open heart.
IT’S NOT ABOUT LIVING IN A HUT, IT’S ABOUT THE HEART!

What is MATERIALISM?
1. Webster’s Dictionary- materialism is a pre-occupation with or a tendency to seek after or stress material rather than spiritual things.
2. Thorndike and Barnhart Jr. Dictionary- a person who cares too much for the things of this world and neglects spiritual things.
A Materialist is a person who is preoccupied with the things of this world.
Mark 4:13-20- Turn and Read
The following scripture is a picture Jesus paints of a Materialist.
Luke 12:15-21(NIV)- (Also Read from the Message Translation)
The storing up of things is not evil. It’s when you store up things and you are not rich toward God. That’s the issue. Going after possessions but you’re not rich toward God!
Materialism is not POSSESSION, but OBSESSION. Wanting things more than you want God.
Here’s a good balance. Do you put more energy into getting more of God or more of the world?
Materialism is a matter of the HEART not the wallet. Materialism is not determined by how much or little you have. It’s a matter of the heart.
Howard Hedrix- “Materialism has nothing to do with the amount. It has everything to do with the attitude.
1Timothy 6:17,18- “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. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
Paul didn’t tell the rich to get rid of all their wealth or tell them to feel guilty about their wealth. He said to be generous with your wealth and not to put your hope in the wealth.
Putting your hope in the wealth is materialism.
Are you more afraid of loosing your house than your walk with God? Are you more afraid of loosing your savings account than your walk with God? If so your securities are in the wrong place.

SEVEN WARNING SIGNALS
There is no formula to determine what and what is not materialism. It is between the person and God. The line is different for everybody. We can get into a dangerous area of a judgmental spirit or pious attitude if we have some kind of formula. Materialism is not about a dollar amount. It is about the heart.
There are seven warning signals of Materialism:
1. When you go from managing your money to being anxious over it.
2. When envy and jealousy creep into your life. (You get upset when someone gets a new car).
3. When you loose appreciation for what God has already given you.
4. When you loose the joy of cheerful giving.
5. When you seek things more than God.
6. When you think that things will make you happy.
7. When enough is never enough.

THE CURE FOR MATERIALISM
Contentment is the only scriptural cure for Materialism!
Six steps toward contentment
1. Meditate on scripture. Psalm 1, Philippians 4:12,13, Matthew 6
2. List your assets and regularly express gratitude.
3. Reflect on what really makes you happy.
4. Make a wish list on paper and tell God what you want. (But be willing to live without). This gives you permission to be real. This gives you space to be honest with your humanity.
5. Don’t rush major purchases.
6. Decide how much is enough before you get it. You decide what your lifestyle is going to be before you get there. When you get there stop and give the rest to God. .
CONCLUSION: Contentment is the secret of inward peace. It remembers the stark truth that we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. Our enemy is not possessions but excess.
2Corinthians 9:6-11(NIV) Turn and Read