In our fast-paced, consumer-driven world, it’s easy to believe the lie that more money and more stuff will finally make us feel complete. Advertisers spend billions of dollars each year planting that idea in our minds — that the next purchase, the next gadget, the next “dream” home, will fill the void. I call this modern-day plague Commercialized Stuffitis — the feverish belief that material gain equals happiness.
But if we’re honest, most people chasing wealth and possessions aren’t truly after “stuff” at all. They’re chasing feelings — joy, peace, fulfillment, security, love. They’re looking for an emotional state, not just a physical acquisition. The shiny car in the driveway or the newest phone in your pocket isn’t about the thing itself — it’s about how you hope it will make you feel.
The God-Shaped Hole
Philosophers, theologians, and poets have long spoken of the “God-shaped hole” in every human soul. This isn’t a literal hole, but a deep inner longing for meaning, connection, and unconditional love — a longing that no possession, relationship, or achievement can truly fill.
We try to stuff that hole with success, money, cars, houses, trophies, or even the approval of others. But every time we get what we thought would bring lasting joy, the satisfaction fades. Why? Because nothing temporal can satisfy an eternal need. That void was designed by God, and it’s only His love, grace, and presence that can fill it completely.
When we ignore that truth, we live in a constant cycle of striving without arriving — always reaching for the next thing, yet never feeling “done.”
Memento Mori – Remember You Will Die
The Stoics often spoke of Memento Mori — the reminder that life is temporary and death is inevitable. While it may sound morbid, it’s actually liberating. When we remember that our days are numbered, we stop wasting time chasing the shallow and start living for what truly matters.
Your possessions will not follow you into eternity. The cars will rust, the bank accounts will empty, and the accolades will fade. What will last is your soul and the love you gave, received, and lived out.
Memento Vivere – Remember to Live
Memento Vivere reminds us that life isn’t just about existing — it’s about truly living. Many people are so busy pursuing “stuff” that they forget to savor the moments right in front of them: watching the sunrise, sharing a meal with loved ones, laughing until your stomach hurts, or simply being present in prayer and gratitude.
Living well is about depth, not volume. It’s about connection, not collection. It’s about making memories, not just making money.
Memento Amori – Remember to Love
Finally, Memento Amori — remember to love. In the end, our legacy will not be the square footage of our home or the model of our car. It will be how we loved God and how we loved people. Love is what leaves a mark on eternity.
Choosing emotional health over material wealth means choosing relationships over possessions, service over selfishness, and faith over fear. It means placing love at the center of your decisions.
The Deeper Meaning of Life
Life is short, unpredictable, and fragile. If we spend it endlessly chasing more, we miss the beauty of enough. The human heart was designed to rest in God, to find joy in His presence, and to live in loving relationship with others. That’s where peace lives — not in the next purchase, not in the next paycheck, but in the presence of the One who made us.
So let’s remember:
- Memento Mori – Life is finite; use it wisely.
- Memento Vivere – Life is meant to be lived fully, here and now.
- Memento Amori – Life’s greatest calling is to love deeply.
True wealth is not measured in what you have, but in who you are in Christ and how you love in His name.
In the end, Commercialized Stuffitis is a symptom of a much deeper longing — the desire to be whole, loved, and at peace. And there’s only one cure: letting God fill the God-shaped hole in your soul.
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