A Prayer About Materialism

When I see the allure of possessions

DEAR LORD,

It feels like an all-out assault. Ubiquitous advertisements urge me to own the latest, greatest, super, advanced, upgraded, cool, and desirable material thing. Whether on the Internet, television, radio, or smart phone, in newspapers and magazines, or on billboards and flyers, I am continually barraged with sales pitches for a wide variety of “must-have” products: cars, phones, clothes, computers/notebooks, home furnishings, appliances, jewelry, tools. I can easily dismiss or ignore many of these plugs, but some get through and pull me in. I know from experience that none of these highly touted things last; they soon decay, rust, break, or become obsolete. Yet still I am tempted, especially when my friends and coworkers show off their latest purchases. Please keep me from materialism, Lord, thinking that the latest gift or purchase will make me happy or fulfilled. I want to keep my priorities straight and to be a good steward, using and spending my resources wisely and for your Kingdom.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Colossians 3:2-4