Walking Therein

Jennie Chancey on Materialism and Stewardship

5:52 PM, Tuesday, July 11, 2006 .. Posted in Oh LORD, Help Me Live Biblically .. 6 comments .. Link

   In looking at blogs and other ladies' websites, I again came across a site Ladies Against Feminism.
   This article is from Nov 28, 2003, and, as most issues like materialism are, it is still relevant today. It may be more releveant today and become increasingly more relevant as we near the Final Days, because men will be lovers of themselves moreso as that day approaches.
     You know, we take classes and read books and just cannot get our flesh under control. My Mom, who is visiting from New Mexico this week, was telling me of a friends' home she housesat for a few weeks ago. Her friend told her she could use any closet, just put her clothes anywhere. Yeah.... Mom couldn't find room in any of the 3-4 closets to put a few pieces of clothing. Now, I am not picking on this friend, because we each have 'closets to clean' and some of them are in the form of bookshelves or kitchen drawers, etc.
    What I am saying is that this article is a lesson for each and every American I know, including yours truly! I am also saying that as Bible-Believing Followers of the One True God, we have the answer to materialism and stewardship in our midst. We are in America, after all... where Bibles are readily-available, and most of us have several in our homes.
     Sometimes, we just need that swift kick in the seat to get an understanding of who is (should be) in charge and why.

   So, here are a few tidbits and the link to the article:

Materialism vs. Stewardship Part I: Living in a Material World
By Mrs. Chancey
Nov 28, 2003, 15:53
   ~ You know that we are living in a material world ~ And I am a material girl.... ~ Madonna, 1984

    We westerners live in a culture of stuff. From every side come invitations to buy the “new, improved” this or the “must-have” that. Our radios blare advertising at obnoxious decibels, using descriptives so overblown—“Sale of the century!” “All-time greatest!” “Never before and never again!”—that the very word “hype” has just about lost its meaning. Billboards, television screens, magazine and newspaper pages, Internet banner ads, “spam,” and junk mail all clamor for our attention—and our pocket money. Advertising has become so ubiquitous that it almost blends into the rest of the scenery, becoming so much background noise. So the advertisers ratchet up the volume, titillate us with fleshy models, and seek more innovative ways to woo us.
   Perhaps never before in history has a nation been so abundantly blessed with material things as America has been in the past century. Kingdoms have risen and fallen, attaining glorious heights of wealth and power, but America surely stands out for sheer decadence and physical comfort. Yet it was not ever thus. Wealth doesn’t evolve or magically appear. It is built over time by individuals and societies devoted to hard work (yes, there are crooks, but they don’t generate wealth—they only co-opt it dishonestly). It is built upon principles and precepts that are usually held tightly by the first generation, then (if not passed down) taken for granted by the second and misunderstood or abused by the third and fourth. Ultimately, it is God who gives wealth, as Deuteronomy 8:18 states: “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” This is repeated later by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:19: “As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God.”
   Defining Materialism Wealth is not inherently evil, and money is not the root of all evil (“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” – I Tim. 6:10, emphasis mine). However, just as wealth can be used for good, it can also become a source of pain, grief, separation, and even death. This is where materialism comes in.
   The Fast Food Economy vs. the Home-centered Economy    In this environment, the stability of the home was absolutely key. No family member—from the youngest to the most advanced in years—was considered unnecessary or a hindrance. In particular, the woman of the house was more than an ornament or a “ministering angel”—she was the co-regent of the family estate and a steward in a very real sense.
   Where Does Consumerism Come From?   A consumerist culture ultimately consumes itself. It cannot survive long-term, because it is artificially inflated and built upon debt. We are currently living off the capital of our forebears—capital that was created by hard work, stable homes, saving, thrift, and biblical charity. But the blessings we now enjoy will not last long. God does not bless people who break His laws by encouraging indebtedness and who advance themselves at their neighbor’s expense.
   Who Is to Blame? “People who are enslaved to the present, thinking only of immediate gratification, are seduced by advertising into buying the latest doodads and baubles. Their ethic is not one of saving, investment, and generous giving, but of consumption.

PART II can be found at:
Materialism vs. Stewardship Part II: Faithful Stewardship
By J Chancey
May 20, 2004, 14:39

If you are interested in Cleaning Out Your Proverbial Closets, while Cleaning Out Your Heart, take the CHCHC!

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*Waves hello*

5:33 PM, Wednesday, July 12, 2006 .. Posted by mandygrace
Hi! I like reading your blog, along with JocelynDixon’s and SuperAngel’s. LAF is one of my favorite sites to visit. So many good articles. On my blog a couple days ago I posted a link to an interview on sermonaudio.com with Jennie Chancey. It's really good. :-)

~Mandy

I am here with you on this one, Sweet Sister in Christ (0;

3:48 PM, Thursday, July 13, 2006 .. Posted by Canadagirl
I have worked real hard in the last 5 years to linit the bumbardance of media and consumer commercials. We are very limited on tv, almost no radio, no magazines, pick and choose what we are listening to and reading. We are also trying to be other focused ( for example
Bibles for the Poor and knitting/crocheting for the blanket ministry- spredding God's money around ) and Godly focused with our money. So the more we do this the better life is. It is sad about the consumer society we are in in North America today. It is alot of fluff and will be blown away one day.
Thanks for your comment on " Modesty". I love the link you gave and I am going to try to sew more, lol. I need to learn alot. Sewing is not natural to me. I am a better knitter.

In Him,
-Canadagirl

heir ye heir ye ...

12:51 PM, Friday, July 14, 2006 .. Posted by Canadagirl
New contest at Canadagirls blog !!!!
Spread the word if you can ! (0;
In Him,
-Canadagirl

Thanks for stopping by...

1:43 PM, Friday, July 14, 2006 .. Posted by ThreeLittleLadies
I think we have a lot of common interests: simplicity, healthy eating, kids, etc...I've only got half the number of kids you have... literally. 3 with one on the way!

Thank you for your nice comment on my blog!

1:53 AM, Saturday, July 15, 2006 .. Posted by MrsIncredible
I agree with this article, it is a constant struggle around my home to fight "stuffitis". And I must admit, we cave in to the fast food life far more than I would like. Something good to think about.
We have a lot in common, especially that I am a CM Consultant, too! I just had a crop tonight and I am all jazzed up and can't sleep, so I am up blogging! Are you going to Showcase this year, and if so, which wave? Maybe we could meet up if you are going!
Can I add you to my friends list?
Jen

<i>Untitled Comment</i>

10:07 PM, Sunday, May 27, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous
Some people just can't read.... the post, the words in the post...
The warning that
*Anonymous, argumentative comments will be deleted.*

There is always something that will cause someone to pick out something that wasn't even the crux of the post and point it out and tell you what a weirdo or hypocrite you are... and, it's the people who don't even know you who do this.
Yes, hypocrisy... it's worth getting your facts for to accuse anyone of. That *and* the whole gossip thing.
Hypocrites don't usually say that "yours truly" is included in who the lesson is for.

"As for Ms. Chancey"...
Thanks for the warning, but I cannot in good conscience leave your comment on here, due to the fact that "I don't know your fruits" - except for the argumentative, anonymous commenting, that is.

Anonymous commenters, can't live with them, might as well delete them... or edit, in this case.

Sincerely, Jacque (editing the comment left by anonymous, as this is my blog.)

Edited by JacqueDixonSoulRestES on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 7:33 PM

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