"Wing$"- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
The song is a great story of how one simple commodity that young
people own (branded shoes) holds a lot more weight than we imagine.
The song talks of image, acceptance and culture, all wrapped up in
a pair of shoes. For effect, you could have a pair of branded
trainers in a box centre to your group. It's an easy song to listen
to and mull over (Macklemore speaks rather than his epic fast
rapping, have you ever tried to rap to "Can't hold us"?!).
Ask the group for their views on the song after; do they get the
story? What's the message, and is it relevant to them? Introduce the
concepts of consumerism and materialism, checking everyone
understands what they mean and how it fits into the song.
Another idea to compliment the song and illustrate the topic is to
create a world of consumerism and materialism in the room you are
using. Plaster the walls in adverts for products; use celebrity
endorsed ones, have market stalls (with leaders or volunteers) hard
selling to your young people as they enter, have products up for
sale at ridiculously- high prices, project adverts or YouTubers'
endorsed videos onto screens or the walls. The more you do, the
bigger the point you are making; that we are bombarded everyday to
buy buy buy and have have have.
Look behind the closet, look at the heart
God never designed us to live in a world where materialistic gain was
the way.
Behind materialism in individuals, is a reason why. Jesus sums it up
perfectly in his sermon on the mount “Wherever your treasure is,
there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6: 21) For
me, it was not having much as a child compared to my peers, so as an
adult with a disposable income, I sought to buy things, anything just
so I felt I had something.
Ask the group why they think people get caught up in consumerism and
materialism. Hopefully, they'll answer with things like acceptance,
maintaining a certain image or lifestyle. Now turn the question on
its head and direct it to them, what makes them buy or dream after
products in the shops or on-line? They don't have to answer it out
loud, but this a good time for each person to take themselves off and
reflect with God, asking Him to show them what goes on in their
hearts and minds in these situations. Allow at least ten minutes.
Bring everyone back together.
I want what they've got, and it's Jesus
Look at the disciples in the gospels. Ask a few young people to look
up Matthew 4: 18-21 & 9: 9 and pose the question: What did these
people lose when they followed Jesus? They should come back with:
Simon (AKA Peter) and Andrew left businesses, James and John left
family, Matthew gave up wealth. But somehow, despite losing, they
were okay. Jesus sends them out in Matthew 10, specifically telling
them not to take any possessions apart from the ones on their bodies
(9 & 10) and they all return, not one lacking in anything. What
was it about the disciples that despite not having, they were
satisfied? Jesus. Satisfied by Him, living in their purpose, they
didn't need, let alone have time to pant and want after things.
That's where young people need to get to, Jesus being the one that
satisfies and fills the longings that come with materialism and
consumerism. Jesus accepting them whether they have the latest iPhone
or not. Jesus providing for their family, giving them riches beyond
compare to the shopping baskets on Amazon. Jesus bringing them into a
family, where's He's a big brother, God's the Dad and there are
countless adoptive Mums, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Brothers and Sisters,
instead of having trainers to get into a crowd at school.
Freedom from this doesn't come like next day delivery
Paul puts it in Philippians 4:12 (NIV) “I know what it is to be in
need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation, whether living in plenty
or in want”. Words that stick out in this verse for me are
“learnt” & “content”. Paul's not saying one day he began
to be happy with the little or lot he had and that was it. It was a
process, a habit that probably needed readjusting many times, so he
got himself in the right place. I think this is key to point out to
young people; that stepping away from materialism and consumerism is
not something that can be done in one night and you're sorted. It
requires them on occasions to identify the thought patterns or triggers that cause them to buy or pine after something and ask God
to bring them back to him, to find acceptance, friendship,
satisfaction. Some days, it might need forgiveness, healing from hurts
and situations in the past. But it's a habit worth forming, because
the gain of a God that loves us and wants us to be whole rather than
feeling we are lacking.
Get a hold of luggage tags (but to be used in this segment as price
tags). Write on every tag the above verse from Paul and hand
them out. Encourage each young person to hang this somewhere they can
remember to keep up this habit and ask God to help them with it.
Remind them that this is a process, behind our wants are longings and
that Jesus can satisfy these without the need to go out and buy
something.
Ecclesiastes 6: 9 “Enjoy what you have than desiring what you
don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless- like
chasing the wind”
