The more material things we have the more we want and the greedier we become . Why do people depend on material things for happiness ? We should be donating our money to charity or volunteering to serve other people instead of buying things we don't need ! Happiness does not lie in owning things . Material things aren't the most important things in life .
2007-01-29 07:53:42 · 10 answers · asked by Prissy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Exactly, but we are human and God put us on this earth, so we need some things to survive on this earth. You need shelter, clothes, food, water, to survive. That means most of us have to go in debt to buy a house or pay rent, we have to get a job which takes 40 plus hours a week away from our families, we need to buy clothes and groceries. We are only human, so we buy furniture to sit on, beds to sleep in, dressers to put our clothes in, tables to put our food on, toys for our children, lawn mowers to mow our grass, pictures for our walls and things to make our house a home, then we want a tv to watch something on instead of going out and spending more, then our kids want the latest fad, then.......it goes on and on in a vicious cycle. I am a Christian and would never want to be classified as "materialistic", but here I find myself feeling that way! I don't want it to be so, but it seems this is the way it is to survive nowadays. I think there's a balance between having things and things having us. When things come before God and family, then there's a problem. I don't think God minds if we are living in this world and trying to survive without letting our families suffer or be homeless. I do agree with you that too many people are trying to keep up with the Jones' and see who can have the most toys. It's sad.
2007-01-29 08:06:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with your views on donating to charities. But, material things make our lives easier. We need to have our material needs met in the form of shelter and food. Beyond that, while I don't believe we can buy happiness, I believe material possessions DO make our lives more comfortable. Having enough money to pay your bills just makes life easier. I'm not saying we need 24K gold faucets and 5,000 square foot houses with 4 car garages, but having the funds to own material things does make like easier. The trick is, at what cost? If you literally have to sell your soul to the devil in order to have the material things you want in life, what have you gained?
I like having material things in life, but I also find it deeply rewarding to give to others who are less fortunate. There are fewer things in life more sad than someone with great material wealth and an empty soul. You can't buy compassion.
2007-01-29 08:09:07 · answer #2 · answered by loveblue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's weird how humans are so naturally competitive. It seems most animals are though, you know that survival of the fittest mentality. Greed too of course, we tend to always put ourselves first. I like to think if I became rich I'd give all that I really didn't need away, I admit I don't do enough now, but I barely break even after bills, rent and food. But at least I'm not hung up on material things.
2007-01-29 08:01:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes, it seems like material possessions and obtaining them are addictive. You believe that if you could only possess this, you would finally be happy. Then, after you obtain it, the newness wears off and you need something else to make you happy.
I find that spiritual happiness is the only thing that fulfills.
2007-01-29 08:04:09 · answer #4 · answered by paulsamuel33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The quest for material goods is natural. Animals fight for territory and food in order to survive. Humans strive for material goods for the same reasons.
If everyone gave up the task of trying to attain comfort, we would all die. Sounds like you have been listening to a Marxist preacher or professor.
In order for you to go to the bathroom in comfort, someone has to make a toilet. That person makes the toilet in order to feed their family. If the toilet maker decided to be purely altruistic and give the toilet away for humanitarian reasons, he would soon go out of business and his family of toilet makers would starve, there wouldn't be anymore toilets. That would leave us with a big mess to clean up.
There is nothing wrong with striving for material goods.
2007-01-29 08:01:47 · answer #5 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are quite right. In fact, our material things have increased dramatically in the last 100 years, but happiness has actually fallen.
Probably because we watch too much TV.
2007-01-29 07:59:39 · answer #6 · answered by Morey000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People grasp and attach to "stuff" because they believe it brings them happiness. All anybody or any animal wants in life is to be safe, comfortable and happy and people mistakenly believe that some things will bring them happiness. It's definitely obvious to you and I and anyone else who isn't attached to things, but not everybody understands the ultimate nature of "stuff".
_()_
2007-01-29 08:10:27 · answer #7 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that depends on the social class(religion has a lot to do) you are your rich expect your sin to be avarice, same with middle class(varying from high to low middle class). your poor expect your sin to be gluttony. the 7 sins tells a lot. ahora one thing is sin another is (oversin.). its like star wars dark side and light side. light side are sinful its not an exaggeration so big compared to the dark side. oversin is what john lennon did that marriage with a rich girl. the other beatles are not as sinful.
2015-10-05 00:15:00 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are on a level far above most. Peace.
2007-01-29 07:57:17 · answer #9 · answered by Ryoudan 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Human nature I guess.
2007-01-29 07:58:45 · answer #10 · answered by Kerilyn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋