| Proverbs 30:15- “Some people want to take everything they can get. All they say is “Give me, give me, give me.:” |
Are you craving for more?
Most of us find ourselves surrounded by an abundance of possessions, with cluttered houses, dusty attics, and even storage units to hold onto the things we can’t bear to let go of.
The American way of life revolves around consumerism.
But have you ever wondered why, despite having so much, we still yearn for more?
Let me introduce you to Denis Diderot, who can shed some light on this matter.
Diderot lived his entire life in poverty, until 1765 came along.
At the age of 52, his daughter was about to get married, but he couldn’t afford to provide a dowry. However, he was already well-known for publishing the most comprehensive encyclopedia of his time, the Encyclopédie.
Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia, learned about Diderot’s financial struggle and offered to purchase his library, which is now valued at around $100,000.
With the money in hand for his daughter’s wedding, Diderot decided to indulge himself by buying a stunning scarlet robe.
Yet, this purchase had an unexpected consequence. Suddenly, all his other possessions seemed dull and out of place. The beauty he once had was now lost.
To remedy this, he began to enhance his surroundings. He adorned his home with a new kitchen table and exquisite sculptures. His worn-out straw chair was replaced with a luxurious leather one. He even acquired a new mirror to hang above the mantle.
The more he acquired, the more he desired. In fact, this phenomenon has become known as The Diderot Effect – the insatiable desire to consume and acquire more.
Just like Diderot, we too struggle with the fact that our possessions end up possessing us.
A wise man once observed this tendency and said, “The leech has two daughters. ‘Give! Give!’ they cry. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’: the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!'” (Proverbs 30:15–16, NIV)
Take a moment to reflect on the blessings you already have, and you’ll realize that you possess enough. However, when you focus on your problems, the desire for more begins to grow.
Do you want more?
Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
