Never in the history of western civilization has there been as much choice as there is today. Never has there been so much of everything. Despite a recessive economy, a lot of people continue to accumulate possessions. In fact, I read recently that the storage business has been one of the fastest-growing American industries in recent years. Apparently people have a lot of things they don't need, or even use, but aren't willing to give up.
Of course, there isn't anything inherently wrong with being a consumer. But obsessive consumerism can become problematic. Even the Bible sounds a note of caution here. It says, "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity." Eccl. 5:10. This passage reminds me of a friend I once had whose lifelong dream was to own a Cadillac. When she finally got one, it didn't make her happy. As she explained it, "Being in the Cadillac wasn't the same as imagining myself in the Cadillac."
And that's often the problem with possessions. Somehow, acquiring them never really seems to bring lasting satisfaction. One seems to end up wanting more. This can lead to overspending and the pressure that comes from maintaining all of those belongings, not to mention anxiety about living beyond one's means. Sometimes people end up spending so much of their time pursuing material things, that they have little time left over for more spiritual pursuits.
