Desires to acquire material possessions...are they wrong?

[scoobydoo6v92]

If you bought a hybrid, you can probably lease a Porsche. That’s at least my case. However, I refuse to buy a new car, much less to lease one, and one which my whole family doesn’t fit in.

Having said that, it’s not that I can steer away from wanting anything. I buy more books than read, for instance. But buying a $10 book that’ll collect some dust until its read is not the same as paying upwards of $500 per month to lease a car, not to mention to fuel and to insure.

So, in the end, to me, it’s as I said before: I tone my wants down by bringing in their utilitarian aspect to the front. I requires some practice, but I at least have been able to keep on driving sedans.

Well my Father lets me use it. It is his. I only wish I could afford it. Scoob.

 

[Augustine]

I only wish I could afford it.

Why?

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

Why?

Because I would feel it would be mine. hard to explain.

 

[Augustine]

Because I would feel it would be mine. hard to explain.

Please, try. Why would that be important to you? I’m not trying to condemn you, just to provide you with an opportunity to understand this desire better by explaining to someone else.

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

Please, try. Why would that be important to you? I’m not trying to condemn you, just to provide you with an opportunity to understand this desire better by explaining to someone else.

First thing is when it is someone else’s there comes along rules. It don’t feel like I earned it. I feel like a failure that I don’t have the credit to purchase it on my own. I feel that I am a failure that I cannot afford a nice car. I think it sucks that I am not financially successful I am not talking millionaire status but I would like my house paid off and have a car that I earned paid off. It angers me when I see those news bites you see either on AOL or Yahoo. “teen millionaire lives in a 2.3 million dollar mansion” I can’t barely pay my monthly mortgage payments. I am having financial difficulty and jealousy is getting the better part of me lately. I am thankful that I my Father helped me get the car… just doesn’t feel the same as if I bought it myself. I get jealous when I see people younger than me, get success. when I am trying and seem to fall short. Scoob

 

[Henry_Cornejo]

I have a funny thought about our Faith. I used to crack a joke that to follow Christ makes one instantly rich. Well, it is not because one immediately acquire vast fortunes, rather, one realizes that many in his desires are not so important. We are poor when our resources hardly meet our desires. To follow Christ’s way, live simply and eventually frustrations will never consume you.

A word of caution: Being simple is not the same as mediocrity!

 

[Augustine]

Scoob,

Naturally, men yearn to be their own man, to be able to provide for himself and for his family. This is quite natural and there’s nothing sinful about it.

However, I can certainly relate to what you’re going through. In my early 20’s I made more than my father in his peak wage years, but less than 5 years later he was feeding my family. I now make more than him in his retired years, so I feed him and my mother. I’m in my early 40’s now and I’ve seen my income bounce between minimum wage and 6-figures a couple of times in my professional life.

I made mistakes that brought on some consequences, but this was more the exception than the rule. More often than not, things just happened and I could do nothing about them, like a tidal wave that comes and takes everything with it, be it a company closing down, financial markets hiccuping or political unrest (I’m an immigrant).

These vicissitudes taught me the old adage that only death and taxes are certain in this life. At one moment you may live affluently and at the next, depending on the charity of others. At one moment you may be richer than many, but poorer than some in the other. But it’s easy to forget that you are always richer than some and poorer than others at any moment of your life. Yet, all along, only one thing hasn’t changed: you. You keep on bearing the same name, you still see yourself through those changes, your life-line connecting the stations of life in time.

By this I mean that it’s important to not let your possessions determine who you are, for there lies only deceit. You are not defined by your financial difficulties just like wealth wouldn’t define you. After all, comfort cannot change you, only you can.

Just hang in there. Things will change, be patient, humble and thankful. You still have a roof over your head, food in the fridge and transportation. I’ve seen worst in my life and I’ve seen better too. You will see better too.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Desires for material things are not in themselves wrong.

They become wrong when they are disordered and the reasons for material possessions are driven by pride, i.e. people will see the nice car I have, and think highly of me.

The things the OP mentions have to do with having a hobby, which there is nothing wrong with.

After all, if we don’t purchase material things, people who make their living manufacturing them, will be out of work.

Inordinate desires are when we attack ourselves to things, and place more importance in them, than in God and other people.

Jim

 

[JReducation]

The secret is separating what I want from what I need. In a society that tries to tell us that we need everything from flat screen TVs to that perfect little black dress, even though you already have a closet full of clothes that you never wear, this can be a challenge.

I believe that facing the challenge is the virtue.

JR

 

[Shin]

People don’t understand how enslaved they are to things until they try to live without them.

 

[Lifeisawesome]

I only think it is wrong to desire a Lotus.

 

[Shin]

Heh. I wouldn’t necessarily say even that. Or hm, rather I wouldn’t say, it’s wrong to have one. The world would be less pretty if everyone had to drive ugly cars.

But I will say a saint is a person who, walking out of his house one day finding someone’s keyed his Lotus, says ‘Praise be to God.’

Can -you- do that?

 

[JReducation]

Heh. I wouldn’t necessarily say even that. Or hm, rather I wouldn’t say, it’s wrong to have one. The world would be less pretty if everyone had to drive ugly cars.

**But I will say a saint is a person who, walking out of his house one day finding someone’s keyed his Lotus, says ‘Praise be to God.’ **
Can -you- do that?

Bold is mine.

I’m not so sure about that. Saints were people who had a profound sense of justice. Someone destroying your property or anyone else’s property is a legitimate reason to be angry. I believe that they would not curse the person who did the damage, but I don’t think that they would be complacent either.

In one biography of Teresa of Avila carpenters were building a wall in one of her monasteries. When she saw the wall had faults to it, she became very angry and she told her vicar to tell them to tear down the wall and do the work over again. When the carpenters complained that they could not do the work in the amount of time left, because Teresa had a deadline to meet, her response was, “Well you’ll have to work all night. Won’t you?”

In another situation our holy father Francis went on a trip to visit the friars in another province. When he came back to his fraternity he found that the friars had turned one of the hermitages into a library. He was so upset that they had ruined the hermitage and introduced books into the house that he tore it down piece by piece and threw the pieces at the guilty friars.

Cardinal Cooke of New York invited the Missionaries of Charity to come to his diocese. Mother Teresa accepted. He gave them the convent of another religious community that had moved out. Mother was very upset because she had sent instructions ahead of how the house was to be set up. The Cardinal had ignored them. The house had carpeting, washer and dryer, and fans. The chapel had traditional chapel furniture with choir stalls and all. Mother ordered the sisters to tear out every piece of carpeting and they dumped it onto the side walk, along with the washer, dryer, the fans, and all the furnishings in the chapel. She never offered the Cardinal an apology or an excuse. As it turned out none of the property belonged to her congregation. It was all the property of the Archdiocese. Cardinal Cooke was rather upset about it.

Vincent de Paul walked into a hospital where the Daughters of Charity were tending to the sick. He noticed that a sister’s veil was getting in the way. He became very upset with the sister, because she did not take off the offending veil. He ordered the sisters to pin their veils up. That’s how their white veils evolved into the cornet. But St. Louise de Marillac records how St. Vincent gave the sister an earful. He then added to their statutes that they were not to wear veils ever again. To this day neither the Daughters of Charity nor the Sisters of Charity have ever worn the traditional religious veil.

St. Francis ordered our friars never to wear a crucifix on their habit because it got in the way of work. Franciscans have never worn crucifixes, except for Third Order Regular sisters. Even Secular Franciscans do not wear a crucifix.

Like this there are many stories of the indignation of the saints. Saints can be very tough people. One of their driving forces is their sense of justice and a sense of perfection in all things, not just interior perfection.
JR

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

I think it is wrong for someone to hold over one’;s head that they can afford a sport’s car or whatever and I can’t barely afford gas… It tends to anger me. or someone holds over your head how much money they have and yet I cannot pay the rent… Gets kinda frustrating and hateful. Scoob

 

[Shin]

Ahem. Are you -really- concerned about the keying for God’s sake, or for your own? REALLY???

 

[Augustine]

I think it is wrong for someone to hold over one’;s head that they can afford a sport’s car or whatever and I can’t barely afford gas… It tends to anger me. or someone holds over your head how much money they have and yet I cannot pay the rent… Gets kinda frustrating and hateful. Scoob

Envy is a capital sin which can easily lead to mortal sin by breaking commandment to not covet one’s neighbor’s goods.

 

[brigid12]

Now, not to make a stupid comment or anything, but I can agree with and understand what you and several other individuals are saying on this thread.

Overall, though, should I try to eliminate these desires for material possessions in my head? Because I do desire to own various things for hobby purposes, but I get the feeling from your post and others that this is something to be avoided.

What should I do?

Rather than try to avoid thoughts (which our culture and even spiritual warfare can make a difference to - along with our blood sugar level, tiredness, etc.) how about just talking more to Our Lord? Before you buy things, pray quickly and quietly to Him for assistance (read Exodus and Leviticus to find out just how tiny are His concerns!). He may want you to have more enjoyment (like a hobby would give) or He may feel that this is not a time that it is right for you to buy that particular thing or that your money would be better spent in other areas.

 

[JReducation]

Rather than try to avoid thoughts (which our culture and even spiritual warfare can make a difference to - along with our blood sugar level, tiredness, etc.) how about just talking more to Our Lord? Before you buy things, pray quickly and quietly to Him for assistance (read Exodus and Leviticus to find out just how tiny are His concerns!). He may want you to have more enjoyment (like a hobby would give) or He may feel that this is not a time that it is right for you to buy that particular thing or that your money would be better spent in other areas.

I’m going to piggy back on what Brigid so nicely said. We have to take our desires to prayer. We have to separate between things that are healthy for us and things that serve no purpose other than the satisfaction of having them.

I don’t see anything wrong with hobbies as long as one limits them to a number that is manageable, affordable and that does not take time and money away from more important needs.

For example, there was a long discussion among Franciscan Friars about playing golf. For many people this is a very relazing sport. For other going to the gym is equally relaxing.

The friars opted for going to the gym because you can find a gym at local community centers, universities, many schools. It is not a sport that is an expensive one. Playing golf is expensive. Between the gym and golf, both serve the same purpose. They are relaxing and enjoyable, as are other sports.

I guess I’m trying to say is that if there are two hobbies that offer us the same distraction from the stresses of daily life and one is more in keeping with simplicity and material detachment than the other, then go for the less expensive one. The important thing is the distraction and the entertainment, which everyone needs once in a while. It is not important to have the most expensive distraction or entertainment all the time. They can be a special treat once or twice a year. There is nothing wrong with that either. But when it becomes a “MUST HAVE”, then you have a problem.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

Envy is a capital sin which can easily lead to mortal sin by breaking commandment to not covet one’s neighbor’s goods.

I agree. But right now if I lose my home, I will be out on the street.OF COURSE!!! no on gives a damn!! I am trying to trust and pray and all that. But so far the phone still rings everyday (and it isn’t the sweepstakes telling me I’ve won) and I am getting deeper and deeper into the hole and I am getting pretty sick and tired!!!. Of course if I were a bank or an auto maker or with the UAW of course I wouldn’t be worried. I am starting to give up hope. And when you are in this situation (I know I am not the only one) it is hard to once and a while think Gee I wonder what it would feel like to not only worry, But be able to buy something like a Mercedes or a BMW. All I am hoping for is to keep my damn house. SO yes it is very disheartening. Hope it gets better I don’t know. Scoob.

 

[brigid12]

Envy is a capital sin which can easily lead to mortal sin by breaking commandment to not covet one’s neighbor’s goods.

I agree. But right now if I lose my home, I will be out on the street.OF COURSE!!! no on gives a damn!! I am trying to trust and pray and all that. But so far the phone still rings everyday (and it isn’t the sweepstakes telling me I’ve won) and I am getting deeper and deeper into the hole and I am getting pretty sick and tired!!!. Of course if I were a bank or an auto maker or with the UAW of course I wouldn’t be worried. I am starting to give up hope. And when you are in this situation (I know I am not the only one) it is hard to once and a while think Gee I wonder what it would feel like to not only worry, But be able to buy something like a Mercedes or a BMW. All I am hoping for is to keep my damn house. SO yes it is very disheartening. Hope it gets better I don’t know. Scoob.

Might I let you know of what a priest recently said to me, since selling a house is even pretty unlikely in this economy (if you wanted)? Anyway, since I’m long-time unemployed and am living on family charity my own concerns were somewhat similar to yours and he told me, “When you get back on your feet, just don’t forget about Our Lord”.
Makes it pretty simple, huh? Hope it helps you as it did me!