are people too materialistic or can one be spiritual while making money
By Nnaemeka
@mydanods (6513)
Nigeria
November 19, 2012 1:06pm CST
i think people are still spiritual even when money is important to them. there is a lot of pressure to make ends meet, lots of pressures on resources, lots on keeping up with the responsibilities of life and this makes one want to work really hard to survive. i wonder if that makes him or her materialistic, or just someone who wants to survive like everyone else? i hear people label others too materialistic, when in reality, they are struggling to survive.
i wonder if anyone can offer ideas.
3 people like this
8 responses
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
30 Nov 12
Hi,
You are right. People are still spiritual even when money is important to them. we have to earn money for fulfilling our needs in life. but we should not be greedy for money. We should be honest while earning money. Evil deeds for earning money should not be done. God is always with those who are honest. While struggling for life we try to follow spiritual thoughts.
@shalloo (65)
• United Arab Emirates
25 Nov 12
I think you should be practicing your religion,while earning money,you should help the poor people,by this you can make your self satisfied and spritual,All this money which you have earned is not because you did a lot of hard work but God gave you all this money,because he feels that you are hard working person and you should be getting this money,People might call you materialistic because you are just spending you money for your self,which is not a good thing,you should return is to the God as well.In islam,its called as Zakat,I dont know about other religions.
what do you think?
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
2 Dec 12
I agree with you, shalloo. If we are rich, it is not because of our strength or because we are better than other people. it is God's blessings because without our life and health, even with all the intelligence acquired over the years, we would be miserable and poor. I think the concept of being generous to the poor is a very good thing. it helps us realize our limitations and how dependent we are on God for our needs. I believe every religion in the world has it in one way or the other.
As for people calling you materialistic because of how you spend your money, that is the problem. I find it odd that people stereotype other people for money that they worked hard for. I think it goes against normal human behavior, except when you spend it for anti-social reasons.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
19 Nov 12
Spiritual and material needs do not necessarily oppose each other. The desire for sufficient finances to live well and in comfort are unrelated to any spiritual state. There is no reason why a person should not want to provide for their own needs in both aspects.
To believe otherwise would suggest that wealth is evil and poverty is good, which does really make a lot of sense.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
20 Nov 12
I think that it is difficult not to be materialistic when thoiughts of making mioney come up. being spiritual is far from our hearts and our minds. we should be taking a second thought.,
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
19 Nov 12
We all need to survive, we all have to pay bills, most of us do have to pay taxes. The world is about money, so who wants to live needs money, more or less. It all depends on the kind of country you are living it. But I do believe a real spiritual person is "hunting" for something else as making a lot of money. Helping out other can be one of the possibilities and if you do so, if it takes a lot of time, it's clear there is no time left over to make the necessary income in an other way. What is spiritual, when it is more about being materialistic depends on the person and situation. But for sure is there are plenty of people pretending they are spiritual but they just use it to make a lot of money since they know there is a large group of people willing to pay for that.
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
2 Dec 12
greed is a great temptation towards those who want to be spiritually inclined. it makes you feel you are losing out, you cannot be able to cope and survive in a world where money and desires are more important. money is a great influence in man's thinking, and I think it should rank amongst the first ten, if not first five.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
25 Feb 13
Thanks for this discussion
We need to be spiritual but at the same time materialist , when one needs money for food, for bill payment, from where it will come unless one earns, so let us earn and lead a spiritual life as far as practicable.
@passion4fassion (996)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
they say no pain no gain we work to have something but doesn't mean that we will just work and work and never think about sending time with family and going in the church must pray and even just a work thank you lord for the food i have after my work its good to be have everything but everything is nothing without him god bless you
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
19 Nov 12
yeah, passion4fassion. what i am really confused about is when can one say he is going beyond the limits, that is, because he wants to have what others have he is not giving enough to his God or things of the spirit? That is what i like to understand; the crossing line.
