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“He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live” ( Proverbs 15:27). How do these words of wisdom apply to a happy financial situation? Well there are many ways we can hurt our household by being greedy for gain. Sometimes in our lust for material things we can attempt to live beyond our means and put our family in a poor situation.
Advertisements can attempt to bribe us into needlessly spending money by offering peace and happiness in exchange for wasting the money God has given us on things we know we don’t even need. There is a whole a category of advertisements known as feel good ads that place the product in a setting to invoke positive emotions in order to make you associate the product with positive things that the product itself does not actually cause.
For example, when people are trying to sell beer they don’t show a depressed man whose wife just left him because of his addition as a selling point. Instead they surround the product use with friends and family enjoying themselves to suggest their product will help you improve your relationships with others when it can actually destroy relationships and life itself. The wise Jewish King Solomon warned “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
Of course commercials for alcoholic drinks are not the only ones that use this method. Many advertisements for products and services often try to subconsciously suggest those who use their items or services will have an enriched social life which no product in and of itself can bring. The key to not being greedy for gain is remember these words “And He [Yeshua] said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses’” (Luke 12:15).
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
When you are tempted so buy something you don’t need, stop and remember that this life is temporary; nothing we buy here will last, but what we do for others will. If you focus on the big picture -- it is easier not to indulge in your desire for instant gratification that will last only a moment -- you understand that you can have treasure that will last for eternity.
There is no need to spend recklessly, trying to fulfill your life with needless material things when God is the fulfillment of your life. God promises that there is more life to come that is better than anything you may waste money on here. When you are content to live humbly and invest in helping others, more than in buying material things to glorify self, you will make better financial choices now that can help you avoid a lot of debt and live a truly fulfilling life.
