Materialism Challenge Part 1

For the past year or so God had continually brought up a part of my life that needed to be changed. I have always felt some sort of conviction towards materialism and wanting to live a "simplistic" lifestyle. Most times I can find a way to ignore these convictions out of fear and lack of faith. But over the past year, God has deepened this conviction to new heights. I am not fully ready to discuss what exactly this will me for our family this next year until a few things finalize, but I want to start by just writing about the idea of living a minimalist lifestyle for God's Glory.

I grew up in a household that pretty much got what we want, when we wanted it. Once Tim and I got married obviously this mindset had to change. Although Tim & I have never been "rich" according to the culture around us, we have been so blessed in ways that can only be explained by God.

Over the past year, I have struggled with questions. When I read God's word I see one thing about money and materialism, but then I look at the culture, even the Christian culture, around me and see something completely different. Where is the line in having a savings account for emergencies, and trusting that if an emergency does arise, that God will provide? Where is the line between what we "need" and what we want? The world around us SCREAMS out telling us all the things that we need to have to free up time, energy, money, and even space. I wonder how many of the gadgets we have in our home are true needs instead of luxury. I have battle with these and MANY more questions over the past year, and everyday God seems to bring about a new conviction on the issue.

I write this not for praise for myself and not for attention, but just to question. Question the culture around us. I question how Biblical our Christian culture is in regards to our possessions. I believe that God may not call every Christian to give up everything and give it to the poor, but I do believe that we need to be listening. Listening to God and not the world. We need to be ready. Ready to give it all up if indeed that is what God asks of us. Are you listening? Are you ready?

I wonder how our culture, even our Christian culture around us would react if we did give it all up. Many would say it is unwise financially, many would say that our motive are not pure, and many more would call us irresponsible for not having a plan to make it by.

When I take a step back, and look at Tim & my life as believers, I question. I question how we can live in such comfort when there are millions of people dying from starvation around the world. There are so many people hurting even here in the United States from poverty. Even in our own neighborhood on Rockingham Drive in Normal, there are people hurting. How can it ever be okay for Tim and I to sit back in our comfortable life when God has called us to bring Him to the ends of the earth. If thousands of people are going to die just today alone because they do not have the bare essentials of food to survive, how can I as a Christian sit back in my comfortable life and just do nothing, change nothing.

I can't.

Join me on this journey as I blog about the changes God wants to do in our family's life and the sacrifices He is going to call us to, ALL for HIS GLORY.