Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. Philippians 4:11 (MSG)

New Stuff – Present Series – Part 1

Go to PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3  |  PART 4  |  PART 5

My six-year-old son turns seven in November. He can’t wait. Literally.

Almost daily, he brings me pictures and ideas of toys and parties and presents he wants. It’s mostly about the presents. He’s nuts about Lego, and he's told me of at least 30 different sets that he simply “MUST HAVE” for his birthday.

He is an amazing kid, with a keen sensitivity and endless curiosity. He also really likes getting new stuff.

This insatiable desire within him to want new stuff all the time is a reflection of his communities (and my) obsession with consumerism. We want ‘more' all the time. Instead of thinking of it as a ‘want,' we think of it as a ‘need.’ My son says to me, “Mum, I NEED this Lego…” (sounds familiar… I say the same about shoes).

Need?

My son gets easily bored with his toys. He has so many. Because of his numerous options, his ability to enjoy the few that he loves amidst the sea of all that he has, is impaired. It’s a matter of not being able to see the trees for the forrest. And it limits his creativity. In his book, “Clutter Free with Kids,” Joshua Becker wrote:

“Embracing a life content with fewer possessions has modeled for them [kids] the important truths that personal belongings are not the key to happiness, that security is found in their character, and that the pursuit of happiness runs a different road than the pursuit of possessions.”

Consumerism destroys our contentment and sense of presence. It distracts us from real “need” all around us and within us.

Do we need stuff? Absolutely! It’s not wrong to buy new things. Do I buy my son Lego? Yep, I still buy him (too much) Lego. (work in progress, right?)

But there’s buying a new TV cos the old one broke, and buying a new TV cos the one you bought 6 months ago is now out-dated.

Our addiction to consumerism, our need for more and new stuff, robs us of our presence. It distracts us from being right here right now. It steals our peace and joy and sends us on endless quests to accumulate more, compare and judge.

Paul wrote to his friends in Phillippi:

“Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” (Phil 4:11-13 MSG).

I’m learning “presence” over “presents,” so I can teach my son the same. I don’t want to be distracted from the beauty that is all around me because I have to go to the store to buy the new thing that I don’t have yet. I want to stop thinking that I’m inferior simply because I don’t have what other people have. I don’t want to be judged by what I wear, or don’t wear. And I don’t want my son to value his life according to how many boxes of Lego he has (or doesn’t have).

I want to be present. I want to be here in this moment and suck the marrow out of it. I want to be present to God’s presence and have him present to me.

Your turn! Have you got wants you disguise as needs? Leave us your comments below.

Go to Part 2 – The Water »

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