Today I came across a new friends blog, which led me to her husbands blog...
Just like her blog, his blog was very, very interesting, direct, to the point, & made complete sense & was very insightful & encouraging!
Well a few things he mentioned  got me thinking about how sad & materialistic this world has become. 

 It is like people have no restraint when it comes to spending/buying/possessing material things. 
What ever peoples  lil' hearts desire... they must HAVE IT!! 
We can compare materialism to a drug addiction if you really think about it. 
Just For EXAMPLE: A married business man is just bord with his life    He "WANTS" something more & thinks there is something out there that will make him more popular, give him a more important image, more confidence, more success, more popular.. (ect)
If he could find ALL these things he thinks it would make him a HAPPIER MAN!!! 
SO.....in his persuit for happiness, success, & an "IMAGE"....(ect.) He looks all around finding all kinds of things the world has to offer,  Just so he can better what he calls "his dull life".
He decides that a, seemingly innocent, very popular "drug" will help him to be happier, successful, confident, & most importantly boost his self image! 
After all, He saw how it made everyone else popular & accepted, confident,  & how they were popular & had a "good image"... 
Unfortunatly 6mos later  he is addicted. To to him he WANTS, NEEDS & must  have these particular "drugs" in which to be happy, uphold his "image" & just to survive. So he spends all that time and $$$ on these "drugs" to maintain HIS personal degree of happiness & new confident status. 
Meanwhile in his selfish state, He never realizes or considers what is being taken away from his family, love, happiness, joy, stable environment, a leader in the home, food off of the table due to his "addiction".  He is sooo self absorbed the does not notice how much he has been neglecting his family!
So the destructive cycle continues..... One day these specific "drugs" are not keeping him happy, popular, confident, (ect.) Something is wrong he thinks... So he move on to more higher priced, destructive "drugs".. & so the cycle NEVER ENDS.
Same thing with materialism, Instead of "DRUG" put the words, HUGE glamorous house, high priced luxury/sports car, designer clothes, overpriced jewelry, all sorts of stuff that people think they "NEED" All this materialism...in which to make ones self feel, important, sucessful, popular, happy.. (ect.)

I know it is an odd comparison.. but think about it..
It is not far off.  How Materialistic People have become!
They WANT & must have the NEWEST car = to keep their "IMAGE" with friends or co-workers.
They WANT & mush have the latest fashions = to keep up with their "click" of "high up"  so called important friends.
They WANT & must have the BIGGEST & most glamorous house = to impress friends, family & co-workers. ( even though they may realize that they  only use 1/4 of their home for living in & it is big enough to house 1/2 the block!!!)
THE LIST GOES ON & ON.
American family's today are sooo in debt these days all because of WANTS & desires for material things ~ Or.~  As the good ol' saying goes "to keep up with the "Jones's" 

I know ALOT of people (coworkers) who put themselves further into debt EVERY YEAR! All because they WANT, &  think they NEED to have a new car every year! When there was absolutly nothing wrong with the car they just got rid of! 
Some WANT & NEED new furniture EVERY YEAR when furniture they have is practically Brand New!!! They don't even stay home long enough to use the stuff they have..all because they are out aquiring the "NEWEST  &  most Impressive material goods!"   
People spend, spend, spend, just to impress.
It becomes a rediculous/petty competition!
They are sooo Self Absorbed & so "into" what their "image" is that they are missing out on sooo much God has to offer for them, family time, & just enjoying the simple things in life.

I blame most of it on todays Society.. It has raised people to not know the difference between:  what it is to NEED & what it is to WANT.

However, Part of the Blame can be placed on parents too.. Children follow by example.. If ma & pa are out to impress everyone, & have to have the "NEWEST" stuff.. The child is also going to think that These are NEEDS that they must also aquire in life.

I hope you all see my point.. I tend to ramble on & on.

To WANT- is to be without that which contributes to comfort or is desired.

To NEED- is to be without that which is essential to existence or to our purposes.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL & thanks for reading My Thoughts &  Rants!

Shannon