Are You Trapped by Brands

Have luxuries become necessities for you?

Are you trapped in a cycle of buying prestigious name brands? Satan never wants you to be content. He wants you to engage in a process of comparison that constantly drives you to buy “top-of-the-line” brands. You know, those that will make you appear slightly better than those with lesser brands. They may temporarily make you feel better about yourself, but it can also put you on a treadmill that demands higher and higher levels of spending, and that’s often accompanied by financial stress.

Many people only want the “deluxe package.” This means that if they have a choice of low, middle, or high, they’ll consistently choose the high ones, whether they’re considering a house, a car, a handbag, a wristwatch, or even a pair of sunglasses. Having a roof over your head, getting from one place to another, and keeping track of time can be had for a lot less money than what the world says we need.

Scripture challenges us to distinguish between genuine needs and desires that culture teaches us to expect. 1 Timothy 6:8 says, “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” There’s nothing inherently wrong with enjoying God’s provision, but faithful stewards must guard against entitlement. Learning contentment gives us freedom to spend less, give more, and appreciate what God has provided. Your identity isn’t found in a brand. So, free yourself from the cycle of comparison, and a tremendous burden will be lifted from your shoulders.

And if luxury brands have led to burdensome credit card debt, Christian Credit Counselors can really help. They’ll create a debt management plan just for you. For more information, visit online at crown.org/ccc.