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consumerism

Do you have things, or do they have you?

March 5, 2021March 5, 2021 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Do you have things, or do they have you? When we “have” things, we own them. We control them. But when things “have” us, they own us. They control us. Consider the man in Mark 10:21-22: “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and … Continue reading Do you have things, or do they have you?

The poor emperor and rich beggar

February 12, 2021February 11, 2021 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Maybe it’s human nature to focus more on what we don’t have than on what we do. We turn on our TVs or go online and get bombarded about what we should have (but don’t) or what cool things other people are doing (but we aren’t). And then a pandemic comes—and stays!—and we don’t get … Continue reading The poor emperor and rich beggar

Being a spiritual billionaire

September 9, 2019September 8, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Something that robs us of our contentment is always being reminded of what others have (but we don’t). It has to do with envy, which Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung describes as “feeling bitter when others have it better.”* Can you relate? Come on, be honest. We can sometimes feel bitter when think other people have better … Continue reading Being a spiritual billionaire

The furniture of our lives

August 30, 2019August 29, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

This is what Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Recently I was reading a word by John Chrysostom that is over 1600 years old. It’s a beautiful commentary on … Continue reading The furniture of our lives

The Rat Race

July 10, 2019July 9, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

There's a section from a children’s book called Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH which is an insightful commentary on  1 Timothy 6:6-8 which says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we … Continue reading The Rat Race

God the errand boy?

May 28, 2019May 27, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Some people think that God exists for them, and not the other way around. In effect, their brain says, “I refuse to acknowledge and serve God, but I insist that he acknowledge and serve me.” I remember talking to someone who didn’t believe in God, learn about God, or follow God. But when something bad … Continue reading God the errand boy?

Greed is living like God is a liar

May 30, 2018May 29, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

In the book “Money: A User’s Manual” Bob and Rusty Russell report that in 1900 the average person wanted 72 different things and considered 18 of them essential. Someone repeated the study more recently. The average person wanted 500 things and considered 100 of them essential! And do you know what? I get it. I’m … Continue reading Greed is living like God is a liar

Less is more

May 29, 2018May 27, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Welcome to the world of Bigger-Better-More! "You want it! You deserve it! Go for it!" (Even if you can't afford it.) It's easy to get sucked in, isn't it? But unfortunately, drinking the Kool-Aid of instant gratification draws us into a lifestyle of living beyond our means... which actually COMPLICATES our lives. Here’s why. As … Continue reading Less is more

The right things or the wrong things?

April 13, 2018April 12, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

We all want things. But what kinds of things do you spend your time and energy wanting? Exodus 20:17 says, “You shall not covet…” It’s a command against obsessing about things you don’t have. After all, if you keep mentally drooling after other people’s things, it undermines your belief that God can and will provide … Continue reading The right things or the wrong things?

The gold is in the giving

April 7, 2018April 6, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

I was recently talking with someone about how we live in a “consumer culture,” and about how deeply that kind of thinking has burrowed its way into our hearts and minds. It’s hard to escape. We consume. Products, plastics, food, ideas, even people sometimes. We spend our days being battered by advertisements and promotions which … Continue reading The gold is in the giving

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