Mod. 4 DB Question 2: Too Much Stuff Of course we have too much stuff.

Americans cannot seem to get its fill with stuff. Capitalism cannot exist without scarcity, so convincing people that they are doing without when they do not have something is the way advertising works. Advertising makes people feel that they have to have it to: be attractive, be healthy, be smart, be cool, etc It is disgusting, but I have fallen for the scam many times. Overconsumption is a huge issue, and is reiterated over and over in Sleeths text (Sleeth, 2007). He downsized to a smaller house the size of his old doctors houses garage. He began growing al his own food and storing to the point that when guests come, he does not have to run to the grocery store, but already has what he needs to entertain. I do see how over consumption is killing our planet, and distracting us from the true needs in life. Wanting and longing does keep us from just being. Be still and know that I am God, is what we are asked to do when we see the devastation that is surrounding us. The God of Jacob is our refuge (Psa 46:10-11, KJV). I do not think that we can save the earth, but God can. He has made it clear that he will create a new earth and this one will pass away (Rev 21:1, KJV). Does this mean that we live as a monger of this earths system? No, I do not think so, according to Romans 12:2 which commands that we conform not to the patterns of this world. This verse says that we are to be renewed in our thinking, and Sleeth certainly was. However, not all will heed to the call here, and I am not even sure if all are called. That being said, He, the Father, has made a way out. If we could stay and change this world, then why would He make an escape and have to create a new one? I think that we are asked to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Mat 10:16, KJV). Hiding from the worlds system and not being educated on the new tricks of the trade is not how we stay wise. As for the second part, harmless as doves, when we covet and put anything over God, we are causing harm. Storing up treasure here is a

worthless act (Mat 6:19 21, KJV). The Father made it clear that He will provide for our needs, and the daily manna could not be stored, but was fresh daily, given by God himself from heaven (Exodus 16: 1-31, KJV). Those in Christ do not worry about things, but only how to use them to advance the kingdom of God, one soul at a time. References Sleeth, Matthew. (2007). Serve God, save the planet: A Christian call to action. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.