How Much Do I Need?

How much “stuff” does a person really need? 

As we live in this materialistic world, it has convinced us that we need a whole bunch of “stuff” in order to survive when the real truth is you only need water, food, clothing and maybe shelter. 

I think of all that I have accumulated over the years. If I took inventory I am sure that I don’t need 98 percent of my “stuff” and that is probably a conservitive estimate. 

As diciples of Jesus we need to be careful not to be influenced by materialism. We follow a Savior that had “nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58) and refused an opportunity to possess “all the kingdoms of the world” (Matthew 4:9). 

Jesus taught that we need not worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear, but make seeing the kingdom of God and His righteousness our priority and God shall supply those life sustaining necessities to us. 

Our problem lies in that we believe a person who has only the basics of life is the poorest of poor and we pity them because of this percieved poverty. Yet that’s exactly the type of man that Jesus was. 

The Bible teaches that “contentment with godliness is great gain” (I Timothy 6:6) So the next time we think we may need a certain gadget, appliance, a new car, or even a house then take a moment and ask yourself, “Just how much do I really need?”