The Right Stuff

The Right Stuff: How to be a Christian Teen Living “In the World” But Not “Of The World”

It is expensive to be a teenager today.

The days of being an elementary school kid who cared more about what games were going to be played at recess are over. Suddenly, friends are way more interested in who is wearing what, who has what video game, who is throwing (and who is going) to that Sweet Sixteen party, and who has what car. In these days of lightning fast texts, tweets, and snaps, things that are considered “cool” today aren't cool tomorrow. If you don't keep up with trends, you run the risk of getting labeled as something you might not necessarily pick out for yourself. The pressure of having to have the “right stuff” – the right makeup, the right hairstyle, the right shoes, the right phone, the right whatever – puts a gigantic burden on teenager's shoulders.

But who is telling teenagers that they need all this stuff? The easiest finger to point is at teenager's friends – after all, teenagers spend a majority of time with their friends and usually put more stock in their friend's opinions instead of their parent's. But who is telling teenager's friends that they “need” cool, expensive stuff in order to be accepted?

Sometimes, parents of teenagers fall victim to encouraging their children to put a priority on “the right stuff,” not by what they say, but by what they do. No well-meaning parent would tell their son or daughter that having stuff is more important than a relationship with God, but if parents are constantly competing with their peers to have a bigger house, a better car, or a flashier vacation, what will teenagers believe is the most important? Unconsciously, parents can push their children to buy into the hype of needing “the right stuff” in order to make it in this world.

The biggest culprit, however, happens to be the media. While magazines, music, TV, and Internet can all be blessings, they can also lead people to despair that, no matter how hard they try, they'll never have “the right stuff.”The media does an excellent job of painting portraits of perfection that everyone wants and no one truly has.The media whispers seductively into vulnerable ears and says, “If only you had that... you would be happy, too.”

And whose voice is that, ultimately?

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” - I Peter 5:8

The devil is happiest when he gets people to think God isn't capable of giving them all the “good” things the world offers that they think they deserve. He's thrilled when people make having the worldly “the right stuff” their main life focus, instead of focusing on loving and serving their Savior from sin.

How can Christian teenagers live in this world of consumerism, of “more, more more!” - and yet, not be of the world? How can a Christian teenager keep their focus on Christ?

Being of the world but not in the world means realizing what the “right stuff” truly is.

First of all, teenagers do well to remember that the things of this world are gifts of God. He made everything and therefore should get to dole it out as He sees fit. As sinful human beings, people don't deserve designer handbags or brand new Nikes; people don't even deserve to have the breath of life in their lungs. The Bible says that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). People constantly break God's laws, from the moment they come into being - “Surely I was sinful from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me,” (Psalm 51:5). Being content with what God has given you in terms of worldly possessions is both so difficult and so important that God dedicated two of the ten commandments to it, and yet people still fall into that trap (Exodus).

God has given people all so much, it must feel like a slap in the face when believers discredit the gifts He freely gives – earthly life, faith, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life are just a sampling – and instead are just focused on obtaining the “right stuff” here on earth. God has already given people all the “right stuff” humankind could ever need by sending His Son Jesus to suffer and die to take away all sin. Jesus was living in the paradise of heaven before He gave that all up so His children could have it, too – He certainly knows what is like to have good things, but thinks that you individually are worth so much more than that.

When people get distracted by earthly things, get mired in the pursuit of having the “right stuff,” they do well to focus on the words Christ spoke to Martha when she was consumed by earthly things like housecleaning and food preparation: “40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself ? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:40-42). God's love is the one “right thing” we need to make it in this world and the next.

The next time the devil starts prowling around, lying and telling you that you “need” this or that to make you truly happy, remember that God gave up all things to make sure you would be taken care of eternally. He loves you enough to give you the “one thing needful,” the true, only “right stuff” you'll ever need – salvation. Praise the God who forgives our discontent!