It scares me to think how much money I’ve spent at Best Buy over the course of my life.
Really, to know how much I’ve spent, all I need to do is look at my shelves of DVDs, video games, Blu-rays, video game consoles, CDs and even HD-DVDs. Those shelves are a constant reminder of a problem that I have. My problem is that I like to have the newest and greatest items even if I can’t afford them.
I used to go into Best Buy at least once a week if not more. Sometimes I would go in for a purpose, to pick up a new CD or movie. Other times I would just go in and walk the aisles, keeping my eyes peeled for the next purchase that would feed my insatiable materialism. It didn’t matter that I didn’t have the cash to feed that materialism because I could put it on my credit card. I could feed my need without having to worry about it.
That was my pattern for a few years. Feeding my materialism and adding to my nerdclinations with box sets of Battlestar Galactica and video games that I still haven’t played. My materialism took shape in the form of electronic media and Best Buy was my place of worship. There was a sense of anticipation as I walked up and down the aisles at Best Buy, which climaxed in the rush I received as I swiped my credit card to complete my transaction.
But all the anticipation and all the excitement has given way to the sobering reality of credit card debt and the realization of my own brokenness.
I wasn’t created to find satisfaction in electronic media.
I wasn’t created to find a rush in spending money I didn’t have.
I wasn’t created to find myself bowing down to the gods of materialism at the altar of Best Buy.
No. I was created to find satisfaction in Christ, to find a rush in serving his kingdom and to find myself bowing before his throne, offering everything I have including my money. When all my money was going to Best Buy, there wasn’t very much left for God.
By God’s grace, though, things have changed. I still want to buy stuff but I don’t. And even though I now live within walking distance of Best Buy, I hardly go there at all. I wish my life was free of the consequences I wrought upon myself but they have taught me a valuable lesson:
Sometimes the best bet is avoiding Best Buy.
How do you deal with materialism?
Leave a Comment