On Sunday Pedro talked about materialism (and how it affects prayer). I thought, “what do people with hardly anything need to hear about materialism?” This morning, reading Ecclesiastes, I realized something. You don’t need to have things to be materialistic.
“The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing.” 1:8b
I used to be thankful to the Paraguayans for showing me what materialism was and how bad it’s gotten in “developed” countries. Now I thank them for showing me what it really is: a desire, an attitude. It’s not having. People with money aren’t necessarily materialistic. If their lifestyle matches their income – if they live within their means – they’re not automatically materialistic. Poor (I use the term in more ways than one) people who look at things as a means to fulfillment are materialistic. That includes those with and without. Always wanting something else.
I’ve become materialistic in Paraguay. There are a lot of “comforts” I wish I had here, even though I have it “way better”(1) than a lot of people I know. I need to look at the apostle Paul and pray that God teaches me to quote him sincerely.
“…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”
-j
(1)I am beginning to find that the way I would describe things doesn’t really hold true anymore. What I write is showing me how narrow my perception of reality really is.
I'm Jason, and I like to write.