A New Way of Seeing: Consumerism
Speaker: Pastor Pierre du Plessis
Read: Genesis 3:4-6; Matthew 6:3, 10, 19 -21, 33; Romans 12:2; Philippians 3:10; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 3:5
We hear vast amounts of information that can form the way we view the world, the way we live and conduct ourselves. These external voices and perspectives from our world can creep into our lives and corrupt our world view without our awareness. The tactics of the world are shrewd and clever and can deceive us just as Adam and Eve were deceived in the garden and were convinced that God was withholding something that would make them happier. If not careful, our minds can likewise be shifted to one of consumerism, whereby we believe that we are what we own, and that not owning certain things cause discontentment. We then strive for autonomy, self-sufficiency, engage in transactional relationships, and seek happiness as our ultimate goal. As Christians, we are citizens of heaven, and not this world. God is to be the One we seek after. His intent is not necessarily that we be happy, but instead be a reflection of Him and ambassadors for him. We must be careful not to allow the world to shape our lives, but rather find contentment in knowing that He is the object of our happiness and the source of our fulfillment and joy.
GROUP QUESTIONS:
1. What resonated with you as you listened to this sermon and reviewed it?
2. What are the things that influence or contribute to your happiness?
3. What do you think is the correlation between happiness and contentment?
4. It was said that the poison of consumerism is to remind us of what we do not have. What are some examples of tactics used to direct this poison at us, thereby causing
discontentment with our possessions or our lives?
5. What are ways we can defeat the trap of consumerism and instead express contentment?
6. What does it mean to engage in a transactional relationship?
7. Read Matthew 6:33, 19-21 and 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and Hebrews 3:5. From these scriptures, what is God’s message to us?
