Published on 09/3/2008

There's a reason why Jesus warned us, "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" ....

Today is the day I have long awaited. Every morning has brought me one day closer. I know that the world economy is struggling, tensions with Russia are rising, more hurricanes are boiling in the Atlantic, and political turmoil is dominating the news. But none of that matters compared with the thrilling fact that the new Google browser is coming. All my Internet troubles (not that I really have any) would be solved, or so I had heard. Faster and better searches are the answer to all life's troubles.

This morning's Wall Street Journal told me that it has finally been unveiled. With breathless excitement I hurried over to download it. Then ecstasy turned to misery—it's not yet ready for my Mac. All I can do is give them my email address, and they promise to tell me when it's ready someday. It's like waking up on Christmas morning only to learn that Santa got tied up in Australia and will be along when he has the time.

Technology does this to us. Janet and I happened to be in a mall when the latest iPhone came on sale, and watched in disbelief as hundreds of people waited hours to get theirs only to learn that AT&T's network wasn't yet up and the phones wouldn't work for a day or two. Vista's launch was plagued with setbacks and patches. Today's Journal reports that "netbooks" (small and inexpensive laptops) are coming, but they're slower than we wish they were, most with keyboards which feel like preschool toys.

About the time that smartphone you crave comes down in price enough to be plausible, they invent a new version which makes yours obsolete. You were proud of your new laptop until the guy sitting next to you on the airplane pulls out an even smaller, even sleeker machine. Technology envy is an ugly thing.

I suppose it has always been this way. Indoor plumbing must have made its first owner the envy of the entire community. I'm old enough to remember our first color television and my private glee at the fact that my friends didn't yet have one. We are what we drive or wear or use to surf the Web, until someone gets something even newer than ours.

There's a reason why Jesus warned us, "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). If your sense of worth is based on your appearance or possessions or portfolio or technology, you'll never have enough. A capitalist economy ensures that there will always be something else to buy. So I give up. I'm deciding to use my laptop and everything else I own for God, not myself. It's not what I possess that matters, but the One who possesses me. Do you agree?