The uncluttered life-How important are things?

God has really been working on me about this. I grew up having my needs provided. We never had everything we wanted but we always had enough. Often times if I wanted a certain item I would have to pay for it myself, either with money I got for a birthday, working a side job, or any way I could get a little coin. I always struggled with flaming money. It burned a hole in my pocket before it hit the bottom. There were so many cool things I "needed".

I have a quote on my wall in my office that says, " The secret of happiness is not the enlargement of our means, but the limitation of our desires."

While a great saying, it is very hard to live out. We have so many things. Junk really. And we live in a society that tells us we need more. I find myself thinking, "If I just had that flat panel TV I would be fine. I wouldn't need anything else. That's all I really want." The wiser more experienced side of me knows that the TV would not be the end all. There will always be something else.

The problem most people deal with is getting the TV even though they can't afford it. That's not my problem anymore since we no longer use credit cards and only finance our house and car. My issue is, how important is that TV and does God want me to have it to enjoy?

I am working through coming to a position on this. God does satisfy our mouths with good things the Bible says. I believe though that there are two questions to ask before purchasing and item. 1. Will it pull me away from my walk with Christ and 2. can the money I would use be used better somewhere else. The hardest part for me is that last one. Why? Selfishness. Which leads me to the next post.

Addendum

I wanted to add this since it is Christmas time and to save another post.

Raina and I have been discussing whether or not to teach our boys about Santa Claus. I have a lot of wonderful memories about the anticipation of getting up Christmas morning (getting up really means getting out of bed since I really didn't sleep) and going to the living room to see what Santa had left. Raina on the other hand did not grow up with "Santa".

I never felt angry, upset or hurt when I found out Santa was just a story. Other kids may have but I did not. My memories were good memories and though I did not realize it at the time my parents always gave me gifts that were better than "Santa" and never over emphasized his role. In addition we always spent a great deal of time focused on the Birth of Christ. So my following statements do not come from anything but a positive experience.

I have for some time thought about Santa and whether or not I would lead my children to believe in a man who knows everything I do, sees me when I'm sleeping and when I am awake and knows if I have been bad or good so I should please him... hey wait a minute that guy has a lot of attributes that I have been taught that God has. I find out that this Santa guy was just a made up story based on a guy how did good things for people many generations ago. That also sounds like another person I was told about. Jesus. He was a good guy right? Well if Santa isn't real shouldn't I wonder about those other two that seem to have similar Characteristics?

Whether that thought would ever occur to a child, I can't say. It did not come to my mind, but the devil can use anything and am I willing to take that chance?

Many would say Santa is harmless. Others would say he is the spawn of Satan (hey that spelling is close to santa) but I feel Santa is a great story that has become a replacement for the truth. In that way he IS being used by Satan. Many times if Satan can distract us he is just as satisfied as if he wrecked our lives.

Here is the tie in with the "simple life". I believe that in some ways Santa and Christmas has not been the only factor, but has most definitely contributed to my desire for "things". I'm sure this could be said for many people. Christmas to me meant getting and receiving. I know full well that selfishness is part of the sinful flesh and nature we already have, I am submitting though that Christmas, the one time a year more than any other when we should be focused on the gift of our Saviour, the opposite is the case; we promote the already inner struggle against materialism.

So will Connor and his brother be taught about Santa? Absolutely! Just not that he is real. They will also learn that it truly is better to give than to receive. I think that this year is a good time to start!!!