What To Buy or What To Seek?

It’s funny that a”blog” ago, I was so consumed with gadgets that I ‘ve been itching to have. For about a month now I’ve gone through like forever reading reviews, browsing through catalogues about which electronic items stand out among their league from cameras to mobile phones and computers, etc.- I could have written a book. Until last Friday, I was working overtime and in between, I’ve been going back and forth through websites for the same exhaustive quest. I just had to stop when lunchbreak came as I have to rush to our weekly Bible study. The text during that day: Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteouesness and all these things shall be yours as well”. POW! Coincidence? I don’t think so! It struck me head-on, right in the face and for a moment it was like I was wearing neon sign flashing the word “guilty” in front of the brethren.

I could still recall the time when I got my very first mobile phone. Although at that time, it was not the hottest on display. In fact it was a second hand unit sold to me on installment basis by a friend who was upgrading to another model. It was like 4 or 5 models behind what’s in at that time. But even so, I was so happy and proud to have one. Being someone who works on a minimum wage, it’s the best that I can have back then. Back at home, we didn’t have a huge TV, cd player, computer which led me to crave for these things that my friends have. Then it was time to work abroad for the first time. Although I was getting a higher compared to working back in Manila, it was still relatively low compared to the standard rates. So after sometime, I was able to buy a second-hand desktop computer and of course, it made me happy and to add to that happiness, an unlimited internet connection- what else could I want? Working abroad, it was easy to have these things so I thought it was time for an “upgrade”. I need to have a laptop just like everybody else. So on credit I was able to have my very first laptop and I couldn’t be happier. Time went on when my attention was not only into such things. I spent on clothes and other things- most of them were not really “as-needed” things of that nature. It came to a point where the income that was just enough was overwhelmed by spending spree. The only solution I could ever think of is another higher paying job to which God has answered me with a big “YES”. I was employed to a company who pays me at least 3 times as much and I promised myself that I won’t let it get to me. My expenses should remain at a manageable level so that I can save. Yet again, out of my stubborn human nature, I was lured into a higher level of spending spree. I can’t even barely count on the spot how many mobile phones I’ve had, got myself an enormous flatscreen, life insurance (Ok this is rather reasonable), got myself another laptop, had a trip to Italy and bought a car on installment basis- all of which in a span of one year! I couldn’t believe it myself! I’ve come a long way from making both ends meet, to paying for a second hand mobile phone, to sending money back home, to paying for my monthly credit card bills, life insurance and car and still wanting more.

I would still say that this new job I had is a blessing. Although God has given me this job even though He knew I was stubborn, He has a way of reminding me through His Words and has been continually restoring me to what is right. That moment when I came to the Bible study was an immediate wake up call when earlier I was still so into “what to buy” frame of mind. It was clear that I have been laying up for myself “treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal..” as Matthew 6:19 puts it. Instead of seeking for His eternal Kingdom, I’ve been wanting things that are temporary and everything else that won’t matter in the end.

So for now, I have perished the thought of say, getting a BlackBerry while my current mobile phone still serve its humble purpose. I don’t need another laptop upgrade or another titanic LCD TV or a DSLR camera. Until I prioritize the essentials of practical life, that electronics catalogue can gather dust in the shelves for some time.