The thinking of the philosophy of “it” is pretty simple. It emerges from personal anxiety and tricks us into thinking that if we can just get our hands on this or that, or on him or her, then all our problems will go away. We delude ourselves into thinking that once we get “it,” our anxiety will fade, and we will gain that personal contentment our hearts long for.

The philosophy of "it" is illustrated by the television program, “American Idol.” Most of the contestants on this show truly believe that their lives will not be fulfilled until they become the winner and bask in the glow of national stardom.

Perhaps the “it” you are pursuing is more essential. Perhaps you need a new job, a spouse or a child. Important things, surely, but not the key to your inner peace. My hunch is that there is some “it” in your life that you feel an urgent need to achieve. Jesus spoke of this kind of personal anxiety. As recorded in Matthew 6:33, Jesus urged us to set aside those nagging desires and “seek first the kingdom of God.” Once our relationship with God provides inner peace, the philosophy of “it” falls apart.

What does this have to do with ethics? Part of having a holistic approach toward living our lives morally is to have an inner peace—to be at peace with who you are and what you do. This is not necessarily connected to an assurance of salvation. Even when we rest in God’s salvation, we are faced daily with material realities.

Our inner contentment is affected by what we have or don’t have, and this is where the philosophy of “it” comes in. Society continually bombards us with ideas about what we need. If we can get this or that, says the popular media, then we’ll be OK. Some time ago, marketers in this country convinced millions of people to buy “pet rocks.” Imagine paying money for a rock!

In a statement from Utrecht, Netherlands, the Church urged us not to “step on the treadmill of unbridled consumerism.” The statement calls for a “reevaluation of one’s needs” in a world obsessed with “goods-getting” (“A Statement on the Environment,” July 1995. Find this at www.adventist.org under Official Statements, then Environment).

The next time you feel the nagging need to get your hands on “it,” take a deep breath and feel the presence of God’s peace. He will provide all the “it” you will ever need.