?how much value do you put on material things?

Question

does material things often turn the given nature of people to become proud and selfcentered..all things that are temporal perish, along with the owners

Answer 1

Don't ever love anything that can't love you back !

Answer 2

I don't put much value in most of my material things. The things I have that I value the most are my house and my car- and my clothes. But I have more then I need, so that is just an afterthought. My house because it provides shelter for my family. My car because I live far enough away from things that walking pretty much impossible. But I don't have to have the newest, best car. Ours isn't. It's nice, yes, but it isn't the latest, greatest, most high tech one you can get by any means.



I do think that some people put too much value on material things. I think a lot of people equate material things with self-worth. They need the things they have to feel like they are making something of themselves. They need to show it off so they feel like they have accomplished something. I don't put that much stock in that. To me, accomplishment is hearing my kids say a new word, or counting, or doing the alphabet. It's knowing I have enough to pay the bills, and keep my family afloat.



It's the relationship I have with my hubby, kids and other family that matters to me. Like you said, we can't take it with us when we die, but the relationships we have and the way we treat others will be.



In todays world, it's hard to not see all the wealth and prosperity and not want it. To say that I don't look at someone that has more then I do and wish I had it is wrong. Sometimes I do. That's just human nature. But I try to keep things in perspective, and know that I have what I need and what my kids need. That usually pushes those thoughts out.

Answer 3

Hmmmm. The given nature of humans? I value some material things. Like my computer, and my wall art, and a home that has a welcoming energy, and my jewelry. My riding lawn mower fits in this list somewhere, as does my chain saw.

I do understand the theory you have, and I think people get caught up in the image thing. It's a money display meant to impress. As well, it makes no difference if my temporal things perish, and me too. I like creature comfort, and when I die, I will have no need for creature comfort.

Answer 4

Yes, material things make people proud and self-centered. I don't see these as flaws. In fact, altruism is a myth created by the conventional religions. Yes, they are temporal but they bring us pleasure and well-being. A person has 2 natures, a material and a spiritual one, or a body and a soul. I believe that balance must exist between these two natures. If somebody neglects one of these, he is gonna be destroyed. So, we must take care of our material nature, too.

Answer 5

For me, part of the value of stuff comes from the time that I had to spend at work (that I don't really want to do in the first place) to earn the money that it takes to acquire a material thing. When I look at something that I have, I think "Material Object X - 3 hours labor" not "Material Object X - $XXX.XX."

On the other hand, I don't waste my hard earned money on cell phones, lots of shoes, and ipods, but I do like having a roof over my head and some food in my stomach.

Some women prostitute themselves just to have the latest cell phone and party money.

Answer 6

Very little. I did buy a new home recently and bought a new car. Does that make me materialistic? I was living in a run down rented house and I decided to invest my money into a home I could actually own and quit throwing my money away. The truck I had was 12 years old, had 210,000 miles and I decided maybe I needed a new car. Other than that I do not have a bunch of material possessions.

Answer 7

I think there is a bit of truth to what you are saying.



I don't own a lot of nice/expensive things. I drive a car that is far from "cool." And I'm okay with that. But, when I get the chance to drive other cars, like the convertable rental I had, I do feel a little bit more proud driving around.



I don't know that there is any thing wrong with that though. If you can afford nice things, why not have them?

Answer 8

I like the material things I have, but not just for the sake of having them. I love my iPod, not just because I have it, but because I like music. All of the things I own I love, but if I had to, I wouldn't have that much of a problem with giving them up.



I think there's two sides to material objects. Having these things might make feel proud because you worked hard to save up to buy them. There's nothing wrong with that, you earned it.

Answer 9

the fun part is (if/when you get people who say they are not material) ... after you ask this question, ask the same people what they are looking for in a relationship ... and if they say "I want someone who is driven and successful" ... they are all about materialism



now, I'm picking on women a bit here, but you rarely hear a man say"I wanna meet a girl with a good job, who wants a family" ... but the fact is women in the US are raised as material girls and have a huge sense of entitlement

Answer 10

I have given away everything I own two times...and lost everything once......I do not think I put a lot of value in material things...but just by the fact that accumulate material things and see value in it enough to see that it could help them says I put value in material possessions.....I think it is the desire to have and then let them control you life that makes it bad....selfish people...me first thinking.....

Answer 11

A lot. My blackberry cost like 300 bucks and that's just the blackberry its self not to mention all of the other crap I have on there. I would die without my computer and zune, but there are things that have no monetary value like my life and the lives of the people I love.

Answer 12

The only items I have of any value are the things my kids have made for me over the years. Drawings, pinch pots, Christmas decorations and the like. These are priceless little treasures to me. Everything else is just stuff, having no value whatsoever.

Answer 13

That would depend on what the material thing was. My lap top I would value at around 900 pounds, whereas my PSOne is probably only worth a fiver nowadays.

Answer 14

hey there, good question btw. I think alot of people get caught up in materialsm, having more "stuff". Just based on examples from the Bible, it does tell us to live simply, like you said things are just things and you can't take anything with you once you are dead. Just like Lot and his family, when the Angles told them they had to go, it was time to go, not to pack a suitcase.



Granted we all need certain things to survive, to live and be comfortable, but I try and think i've done well with not letting material things block what truly is important. Family, Faith, health, and your own happiness and well being.



:o) Thanks for the good question!

Answer 15

By itself ( material accounting) = 0 (meaningless) !



So - in order to measure its value (positive or negative), you have to assign attributes to it when being USED for (Intention - good or bad)



Make your own judgment - You know it since the intentional usage will reflect your REAL happiness (+) or suffering (-)



Cheers

Answer 16

Martial things are transitory at best and will never lead to true happiness or fulfilment. One must seek those things from within and not from external sources.

Answer 17

I dont bother about having possessions at all..

as long as I have food , heat and home for my kids

nothing else really matters

Answer 18

I put NO value on "material things" because fate & pure dumb luck has blessed me with sufficient wealth to replace any of the "material things" fate robs me of.

Answer 19

material things complicated the effectiveness of life. i have much yet i can not see what i have

Answer 20

I like them, but I don't have to have them, and usually when somene says I like that, they leave with it. After all you can not take it with you when your gone. No you can't have my car, that i need for transportation.

Answer 21

None. I only keep what I can carry in a backpack.

Answer 22

None actually. Stuff is just stuff.

Answer 23

not as much as I value my relationship with Christ!

Answer 24

i want what i need and need what i want .