While reading Indeed this morning, the second story spoke upon living a materialistic lifestyle and it really opened my eyes. Now while I have never really been a materialistic person, there are some things in my life I could have gotten by without having. We as a nation are so driven by wants and how an object can improve our lives, but could it really? Doesn't God speak on how no object should be treated above him? In the Indeed the writer also spoke on how so many people around the world, even within America are living in poverty and are simply please when they receive one slice of bread and a little water to help them survive for the day. We are so centered around having Ipods, cell phones and ect (which yes I do also have; guilty), but do you ever sit back and think about how blessed you are to have those objects, those possessions?
It is important for us to think about what is truly needed in our lives and how we can help others who struggle just to get by. I have had the opportunity to experience the necessity of budgeting due to being a college student and a large company in my town getting in trouble leaving my mother without a job. My mom could have gotten another job easily, she had many offers, but she chose to use her time differently by joining hospice and speaking about God, taking the head deaconess position in my hometown church and becoming a youth leader. She is touching lives and making a difference. She is fine with having to sort out bills to assure she has enough because God is taking care of her just as God will take care of us if we just take the time to do as he wants of us.
I'm not suggesting that you need to cut out everything in life that makes you happy. You work for what you receive and it is good to treat yourself once in a while, but it is also such a blessed feeling when you know you have helped someone who is less fortunate. Give your time to others, help those who have not found the Lord, Our Father and give others a chance to live. Some of us do not even have the fundings to give and if that is so, give your time, give your love and simply show you care. Don't get stuck in this material world we have made. Look back to the beginning days when they had nothing, but they were okay because they had faith in Jesus and Our Father that they were taken care of.
We will be taken care of, Believe.