In the fifth century, a man named Arsenius determined to live a holy life. So he abandoned the comforts of Egyptian society to follow an austere lifestyle in the desert. Yet whenever he visited the great city of Alexandria, he spent time wandering through its bazaars. Asked why, he explained that his heart rejoiced at the sight of all the things he didn’t need.

Those of us who live in a society flooded with goods and gadgets need to ponder the example of that desert dweller. A typical supermarket in the United States in 1976 stocked 9,000 articles; today it carries 30,000. How many of them are absolutely essential? How many superfluous?

It’s hard for us to say sincerely with the apostle Paul, “Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Tim. 6:8). In our constant battle against the seductive materialism of our culture, let’s follow the example of Arsenius. As we walk through the markets and shopping malls, we too can rejoice at the sight of all the things we don’t need.

That’s only the first step, however. The next step is to become much more wise in our spending, more generous in our giving to others, and more sacrificial with the resources God has given to us.

   — Vernon C. Grounds