"Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them" (Proverbs 24:1). "For everything that is in the world--the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance--is not from the Father but is from the world" (1 John 2:16).
Many ideals communicated from television, movies and music these days promote a drive for the extravagant - in cars, homes, clothing and all the trimmings. Including even taking evil or unscrupulous methods to obtain them. This can leave the common person forming a greed for these things they simply cannot obtain.
But beyond the Hollywood portrayals, people also get roped into trying to keep up with or trying to impress those around them. What they don't see beneath the surface is all of the stress and hardship those others are having trying to pay their bills by keeping up with the people they are looking at. You may see the nice things another person has and think that it's good, but you may not want to trade places with them if you could see their monthly bills.
This hardship has brought down many who are the ones originally being glorified. The numbers of professional athletes, movie stars, musicians and the previously wealthy that have declared bankruptcy are amazing. It is because they never learned to manage what they had before and then became subject to their own greedy desire. Ecclesiastes 5 sums it up well - "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income."
It is written in Proverbs 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." We may have grown up concerned we won't be accepted if our clothes didn't measure up, then we may carry that into adult life with all the other things that follow.
We have been a debt-free household for many years, but I will share with you that my wife and I bought used cars that are still in use and beyond 10 years old, we occasionally buy quality second-hand clothing, and we frequently use coupons when dining out. It can be the snare referred to in Proverbs 29 above, or our own pride that prevents us from making certain choices that can keep us from overspending.
Take with you these beautiful excerpts from Psalms 37 to be an encouragement in staying on the right path that God has for you:
-I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken
-Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him
-Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land
May God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
