Materialism: The Finish Line That Keeps Moving

 

In everyday life, materialism is a value system in which a person derives self-worth, identity, and a sense of success from acquiring money and possessions.

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When we live by this value system, we worry about feeling less important. We constantly try to keep up with those in enviable positions. We measure ourselves against others and obsess over moving up the ranks. We feel the need to show our lives are just as successful as others.

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But here is the irony of materialism: what we seek, self-worth, identity, and a sense of success, are unattainable and unsustainable because the finish line keeps moving. How so?

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The Never Enough Trap: The materialistic person attains what they were chasing, experiences a short-term high, and then becomes discontent and begins chasing the next “needed” thing.

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The Comparison Game: Materialistic individuals compare themselves to others, and the only ones that really matter are those who have more and are more successful. This breeds insignificance and a sense of failure.

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The Discontent Cycle: As materialism increases, contentment decreases. Instead of focusing on what we have, we become fixated on what we lack.

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If materialism is about self-worth, satisfaction, and a sense of success, we will never attain them because the finish line keeps moving. We are always chasing the next thing, trying to measure up to someone with more, and are left feeling like something is missing.

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Is it not crazy and even delusional that we can spend a lifetime pursuing money and possessions that leave us discontent, insecure, and insignificant?

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Jesus warned in Luke 12:15, “Take heed and beware of covetousness… for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Life is not measured by what we own. He also taught, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matt. 6:19–20)

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Solomon chased meaning in worldly pursuits and found it to be “vanity and grasping for the wind.” (Eccl. 2:11) Later, he found meaning in fearing God and keeping His commandments. (Eccl. 12:13)

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The finish line of materialism will always keep moving, which is why it leaves us grasping for the wind. But the pursuit of God is different. It leads to relational joy, peace, and contentment with Him. In reality, the finish line is found in the pursuit itself.

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Written by Craig Ressler