Unless you've been living under a rock, and even if you have been, you are probably well aware that the computing gods at Apple have release another gadget to lovingly hold in your hands. It is called the iPhone 7. Even the number “7” strikes fear in all owners of iPhones with lower numbers such as “5” or “6s.”
It is hard to understand how we could have ever lived with numbers lower than 7! Such inferior cameras, processors and that horrendously ugly hole in the bottom that some people would actually insert headphone jacks into. The nerve! All the cool kids go wireless!
This article is for those of you that are on the fence of whether or not you should take the plunge and upgrade to a cool new jet black phone, or if you should just keep the one that you have. If you already have the iPhone 7, congratulations! You can read this article next year when they unveil the new and way cooler iPhone 7s!
So why shouldn't you rush to the nearest store and ask, no plead, with the kind salesperson to allow you the privilege of owning this new piece of technological wonder? Well, that's really up to you...but here's a reason that might cause you to want to pause and think about it first.
Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15
In case you are wondering, the “He” of the verse above is Jesus. He said this. Look out! Be careful! Be cautious! Don't let greed suck you in. Don't be so envious of what other people have! Even if it is jet black and missing a 3.5mm headphone jack!
If my memory serves me correctly one of the 10 Commandments was “Thou shalt no covet thy neighbors iPhone.” Or something like that! Why was God so concerned with us being greedy, coveting and wanting an abundance of possessions?
I think it might have something to do with making things our priority rather than making Him our priority? Maybe it has something to do with being selfish and full or pride rather than being selfless and humble?
Does this mean that God doesn't approve of us having nice things? Of course not! There is nothing wrong with having the latest and greatest gadgets. It's more of an issue of what priority does this have in your life? I think a good question to ask is “do we have things or do things have us?”
I think a little bit of self-denial can be good for us. Even if it is inevitable that you will be upgrading to some new gadget, maybe as an act of worship and sacrifice to God you will try to delay it for a few months just to keep your cravings and greed in check --- to make sure that you are truly dependent on God for your joy and happiness and not some new-fangled communication device.
God wants us to put our full reliance on Him. Sometimes I think we get so addicted to things and keeping up with trends and technology that it is easy to get things out of balance. Let us not trade our relationship with God, a relationship that never fades, for a relationship with a device that will soon be outdated.
So whether you upgrade or not, or if you feel this is irrelevant because you use Android devices, keep things in perspective. A phone, computer or any object is just that, and object. A tool. And that should never cause us to dishonor God by being greedy and envious.
