“We must shift America from a needs culture to a desires culture. People must be trained to desire, to want new things, even before the old have been entirely consumed. We must shape a new mentality: Man’s desires must overshadow his needs.” - Paul Mazur (Lehman Bros) “Our enormously productive economy demands that we make CONSUMPTION OUR WAY OF LIFE; that we convert the buying & use of goods into rituals; that we seek our spiritual satisfactions, our ego satisfactions in consumption. The measure of social status, of social acceptance, of prestige, is now to be found in our consumptive patterns. The very meaning and significance of our lives today expressed in consumptive terms. The greater the pressures upon the individual to conform to safe and accepted social standards; the more does he tend to express his aspirations and his individuality in terms of what he wears, drives, eats, his home, his car, his pattern of food, his hobbies – we need things consumed; burned up; worn out; replaced and discarded at an ever increasing pace. We need to have people eat, drink, dress,ride, live with ever more complicated and therefore constantly more expensive consumption.” – 1955 Journal of Retailing We aren’t as ‘free-thinking’ as we think we are. We are being sold another gospel. What is the real Gospel or real ‘Good News’? John 14:27 NTE - ‘I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my own peace. I don’t give gifts in the way the world does. Don’t let your hearts be troubled; don’t be fearful.’ Jesus: “The life you’ve always wanted is fully available to you now, right where you are, through Me—You have full, complete access to God the Father’s loving presence - peace, contentment, security, fulfillment, wholeness – shalom; nothing is standing between you and the life that is truly life.” Unfortunately, we’ve bought into a different picture of the good life and a different way to get it… It’s the GOSPEL of “I HAVE therefore I AM.” We consume things & then things consume our heart So, what’s the answer? SIMPLICITY Luke 12:15-21 VOICE – “You’d better be on your guard against any type of greed, for a person’s life is not about having a lot of possessions.” (then, beginning another parable) “A wealthy man owned some land that produced a huge harvest. He often thought to himself, “I have a problem here. I don’t have anywhere to store all my crops. What should I do? I know! I’ll tear down my small barns and build even bigger ones, and then I’ll have plenty of storage space for my grain and all my other goods. Then I’ll be able to say to myself, ‘I have it made! I can relax and take it easy for years! So I’ll just sit back, eat, drink, and have a good time!’ Then God interrupted the man’s conversation with himself. “Excuse Me, Mr. Brilliant, but your time has come. Tonight you will die. Now who will enjoy everything you’ve earned and saved?” This is how it will be for people who accumulate huge assets for themselves but have no assets in relation to God. Luke 12:29-32 VOICE – “Don’t reduce your life to the pursuit of food and drink; don’t let your mind be filled with anxiety. People of the world who don’t know God pursue these things, but you have a Father caring for you, a Father who knows all your needs. Since you don’t need to worry—about security and safety, about food and clothing—then pursue God’s kingdom first and foremost, and these other things will come to you as well. My little flock, don’t be afraid. God is your Father, and your Father’s great joy is to give you His kingdom. What is at the centre of my life? What does it mean to ‘seek first God’s Kingdom’? Will you join in this EXPERIMENT over the summer… Some questions to consider: “Is there anything I’m holding onto with a closed fist vs an open hand?” Consider the things you feel most anxious about parting with: What might it feel like to let go of that? Spend time this week thinking about: What is really at the CENTRE of my life? Say these words: “I HAVE ENOUGH.”