Philosopher Socrates used to wander in the Athenian market and wonder: “How many things there are which I do not want!” He would often remind himself how perfectly happy he is living without them. Today, entering a mall, one could say, like him, how many things there are that a person could easily live without. Advertisements are bombarded with the idea that life without certain products or goods is meaningless. Shopping could become an addiction to merchandise either in malls or in online shopping platforms. The Lord Jesus Christ taught that the essentials of humans are food to survive and clothes to cover the body. (I Timothy 6:8-10)
Decision to buy: There are three aspects to consider to make a decision to buy a gadget or any goods. First, is it needed? Without an absolute need, there is no need to buy. Is it possible to live without that? As Socrates said, we can live happily without many things sold in the market. Second, is it an essential aspect of life? Third, does it have functional value, or just cosmetic value?
Warning not to buy: Here are some warnings. First, the decision to purchase is not based on desires or emotional choices. Instead of applying their mind and making a decision based on reason, they just impulsively buy. Second, it is not for building an image or to show off. Whenever a phone is upgraded, some people want to buy it just to show the world that they can afford it. They may not have used all the functionalities of the existing phone, but they want to buy the latest one. Third, it is not for luxury. Simplicity is a mark of a follower of Christ. One who lives in pleasure and luxury is a living dead. (I Timothy 5:6) Fourth, it is not driven by the never-enough syndrome. Some people do not have the discipline of saying: ‘It is enough.’ They do not have a spiritual discipline of contentment. Paul writes that godliness with contentment is a great gain. (I Timothy 6: 6)
Am I a steward of God-given resources, including money?