Laying up Treasures

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$18,000 per year: the amount Americans spend, per person, on nonessentials according to a survey by Ladder and OnePoll, as reported by Vox.

$1.45 trillion: the value of the global luxury goods market in 2022, according to a Bain & Co. report

4.7%: the increase in retail sales, year-over-year, from January 2022 to January 2023, per the U.S. Department of Commerce.

$3,768: the average cost of impulse buys individual Americans make each year, according to Ramsey Solutions.

72%: the increase in impulse spending since 2020, according to Ramsey Solutions’ State of Personal Finance study.

21%: the percentage of Americans who spend money on a self-storage unit in 2023, with 40% saying they use one because they don’t have enough space at home. Another 15% plan to use one in the future, according to reporting by StorageCafe.com.

11.3 million tons: the amount of clothing thrown away each year in the U.S., equal to 85% of all textiles, or 81.5 pounds of clothing per person, according to Earth.org.

Stop Scrolling, Start Budgeting

As Rachel Cruze of Ramsey Solutions wrote, since 66% of all impulse buys happen in bed on a smartphone, stop scrolling. Don’t mindlessly search Amazon or browse Pinterest when you’re tired and your defenses are down. It also helps not to store your credit or debit card information in shopping apps. Taking that extra step to get up and grab your credit card could make you more inclined to wait until morning, when you can really think about whether or not you need the item.

Quotes

“Because we lack a divine Center our need for security has led us into an insane attachment to things. We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. 'We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like'. Where planned obsolescence leaves off, psychological obsolescence takes over. We are made to feel ashamed to wear clothes or drive cars until they are worn out. The mass media have convinced us that to be out of step with fashion is to be out of step with reality. It is time we awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick. Until we see how unbalanced our culture has become at this point, we will not be able to deal with the mammon spirit within ourselves nor will we desire Christian simplicity.” ― Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

Sermon Slides

1. Material stuff is temporary, resources that are given and taken away by our Father, to mature us and grow our dependance on Him.

Philippians 4:10–13 (ESV)

God’s Provision

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

2. What we focus on, what we pay attention to, is ultimately what we love.

3. Money is a resource from God. When it becomes the vehicle that allows us to be like God, it becomes our master.

4. Jesus didn’t die to make us comfortable, middle class, Americans. Jesus died so that we can live in Him, and experience the Kingdom now.

Supporting Verses

Hebrews 13:5–7 (ESV)

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, 

“The Lord is my helper; 

I will not fear; 

what can man do to me?” 

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

1 Timothy 6:8–11 (ESV)

8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Luke 12:15–16 (ESV)

15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”