Materialisum and Human Nature

[Sinner_in_Society]

I am 19, male, and live in spokane washington. I would like to get some good books of the bible that talk about matierial posesions. I know no places where the bible talks about what we can own and what we cant. I have been addicted to porn and trying to weed that out of my life (keeping my internet acces very public), but where do I draw the line? Do I remove all anime shows from my life because they are suggestive? Do I have to avoid women because of the thoughts I think when I'm around them? And does God not want me to own violent video games because of the images they show to me and my brothers and sisters in my house? What level of violence is ok? Are militrary games ok, because the killing and violence is depicting a higher cause? If I am supposed to do every thing to the glory of God, Does that mean that everything that doesn't glorify God needs to be removed from my life? And a foster sister That has come to live with us in the last year sees nothing wrong with sex, how am I supposed to be a example of God love when she doesn't value herself, and therefore cause me to de-value her? Should I avoid her to avoid impure thoughts? I am often her ride to friend houses and to school. Should I stop giving her rides because of my problem? Therefore punishing (or limiting her) because of something she didn't start (my problem)? I am struggling with the grey area of life...
Help!

[Tennessee Elijah]

You have many questions. My first suggestion is to find a comfortable place where you can read the Bible every chance you get. Next, try to imagine what kind of person Jesus must have been when He was alive on this planet. After you have contemplated Him in situations you are finding yourself, ask -- "What would Jesus do if He were me?" Obviously, He is the perfect role model for all of us to admire and I think He will give you some realistic answers whenever you need guidance. God bless you!

[snowfloater]

2 Thessalonians 1:11 God, make us worthy of your calling and finish our resolve for good and our acts of faith by your power. 2 Corinthians 12:9 His grace is sufficiant for you for His strength is made perfect in weakness.
sinner in society; greetings brother in Christ. Your issues are not yours alone. Every man has lust issues. It took me a lot to give up my porn. I still struggle with lustful thoughts and wants. But Im here to tell you that Gods word can get you through this. God is the only one who can make us worthy of His calling. He is the only one who can make us righteous. It was obvious to me, through trying and failing over and over, that I could not look at a beautifull woman and not lust. But His word says His grace is sufficiant for me and all my iniquities, and His strength is made perfect in weakness! Praise God 'cause I am weak! So I resolved to seek His help in overcoming my weaknesses. Everytime my flesh goes astray, every time my mind begins to wonder the wrong direction I resolve to ask God for help. I resolve to see the inner beauty, and to praise God for His creations. He finishes that by His power. When I slip I thank Him for His grace because without it I would be in Hell. Meditate on these scriptures. Find ways to apply them to your life and like Paul does boast all the more gladly of your weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon you. Through meditation on His word you will renew your mind and be transformed from the conformity of this world!!!!
Peace, love, and blessings be with you; Snowfloater

[Mikem]

All of us have struggles, and we always will. But a lot of these questions you have about what is right and wrong are answered when the Holy Spirit enters your heart. You WILL be convicted! You will not have to ask if it is right or wrong, because that is one of the things the Holy Spirit does.

So realize your weakness, realize that you (we all) are far short of the Holiness of the Almighty, and ask Jesus Christ to intercede for you, enter you and abide you with the Holy Spirit.

Until that moment you will be going in circles that become a downward spiral.
Gods presence will at once make you ever-aware of your indescretions, and make you able to overcome them, (Prayer).
Begin your walk in the Spirit of God, ask Him to guide you, and start your life-long journey.. today.
I will pray for you! Pray the sinners prayer in all sincerity, and with great urgency!
God Bess You
Mikem

[romans 8:17]

Hi! try ecclesiastes (especially 1 & 2)! Its full of how material possesions arent as good as God. They don't last!
hope i helped

[Angel]

I must have missed this post. Oh boy have you got a lot on your plate but hey we have all been there with various sinful things in our lives, lust etc. The thing is to remember that when we are in Christ we are made new, not overnight but gradually there will be a continuing change for the better. Just a passage I was looking at from the bible :

Romans 8 verse 5 - 10

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Sprit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

God bless you. :)

Angel :af

[christunione]

For what it is worth, there are consequences, which you will not value after the fact! To repent means to turn from (well, literally, to change your mind). The truth of consequences will always be there. And you forfeit the Lord when, you what? "are enticed of your own lusts, and are led astray." That devil, "walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour," can lay down a stinging dismay! this gives you something to think about. Moreover, you do harm to your witness, which harms someone you otherwise wouldn't, I'm sure.

It is incentive to seek!

More to the point, "Love not the world, neither the things of the world." Are these things not 'of the world?' But I know what you are facing. It is not an easy one. Yet you must escape the devils hold. RUN! And if you get lazy, the next time you wake up, RUN! Jesus will embrace you ":-) With open arms.

[Roxy]

I don't know if you are still on this board or not, but we have to measure in our lives what causes us to pull away from God and eliminate those things and people. It is probably different for different people. Porn is a heavy addiction and the people I have know that have been addicted to it, nothing absolutely nothing good comes of it. The only way to kick habits and addiction is to grow in your relationship with God. Pray everyday for HIM to help you, give your life to HIM. Only allow yourself to follow HIM and repent, ask for forgiveness and then pray some more. God Bless