Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15
“It is essential for parents to instill in their children a basic understand of finances as well as teaching them basic life skills. Another thing parents need to do in a family is develops sales resistance to the powerful influence of alluring advertising. Alluring advertising has been defined as ‘the carefully planned appeals to our human weaknesses designed to make us discontent with what we have so that we can rationalize buying things that we know we do not need and should not have’.”
Selwyn Hughes in Divine Mathematics: A Biblical Perspective on Investing in God’s Kingdom (Surrey, UK: CWR, 2004) 71.
Jesus warned us and we need to warn our children, and grandchildren if you have them. Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.
Watch out for alluring advertising! How can we avoid falling into this trap? I suggest a counter intuitive approach. Rather than try to block the messages, because they are everywhere, try this.
Cultivate contentment. Every day with your children or whenever you see your grandchildren, have gratitude and thankfulness drip from your tongue.
When we cultivate contentment we see alluring advertising for what it is. Lies. Don’t believe them. Don’t buy what they sell. Warn your family, children, and grandchildren too.