“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 2:20-23)

In my early twenties, I developed a powerful relationship with shopping. It started as fun, a simple cycle of working and then rewarding myself. Over a couple of years, however, the desire for things grew into a constant craving. I accumulated a lot of stuff, and with it, a lot of debt.

In the middle of this struggle, I came across a verse in Hebrews: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). The words hit me hard. I knew I needed to change. My solution was to write the verse on a small card and place it in my wallet. My logic was simple: every time I went to buy something, I would have to confront this truth.

At first, it worked. I’d see the card, feel a twinge of conviction, and put the item back. But over time, something strange happened. The verse started to make me angry. It produced guilt, but the desire for more things was stronger. I was trapped in the same cycle, only now with an added layer of shame. Eventually, I took the card out of my wallet altogether just to avoid the negative feelings. The rule I had created for myself had failed spectacularly.

This personal failure is a small window into a profound spiritual principle that the Apostle Paul addresses in Colossians. He warns against rules that have an "appearance of wisdom" but ultimately hold no power to create real change.

He asks, “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (Colossians 2:20-23).

The Failure of Human Rules

My experience with the verse in my wallet is a perfect example of what Paul is describing. There was nothing wrong with the scripture itself; it is a beautiful and life-giving truth. The problem was my application. I turned a divine promise into a human rule. I used it as a tool for behavior modification, hoping that sheer willpower, prompted by a reminder, would be enough to fix a deep-seated heart issue.

Paul says these kinds of rules—"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"—have an "appearance of wisdom." They look spiritual. They feel disciplined. Things like extreme fasting, rigid self-denial, or creating strict personal regulations seem like noble pursuits. But Paul exposes their critical flaw: they have no real value in restraining the desires of the flesh. In fact, they can often strengthen them.

This is what Paul observed about the Law itself. He wrote in Romans, “But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead” (Romans 7:8). When I turned Hebrews 13:5 into a command, it didn’t free me from materialism; it made the desire stronger by highlighting my inability to conquer it on my own. The rule became a spotlight on my failure.

The Power of a Changed Heart

After struggling for a decade, nothing I did broke the power materialism had over me. Then, in my early thirties, I walked through a difficult season that drove me to seek the Lord with a new desperation. I had grown up in church and knew a lot about God, but this was different. I began to deeply study the book of Romans, memorizing large portions of it. It felt like I was unlearning a lifetime of religious thinking and truly learning about grace for the first time. The Lord spent a year writing His truth on my heart, and it changed me forever.

The interesting thing is, this heart transformation also changed my behavior. The grip of materialism loosened and fell away. The struggle that had defined a decade of my life was suddenly over, not because I tried harder, but because my heart had found its contentment elsewhere.

When I used Hebrews 13:5 as a rule, it only increased my desire. But when I took the time to truly understand what it means that God will never leave or forsake me, I found a contentment so profound that the desire for things simply faded. The promise, not the rule, set me free. This is the difference between behavior modification and true transformation.

Finding Freedom in Reality, Not Rules

Paul’s argument in Colossians is a call to leave the world of rules and step into the reality of Christ. He prefaces his warning by reminding us of our identity: “You died with Christ to the basic principles of this world” (Col. 2:20). Our old life, the one governed by striving and rule-keeping, is over.

So, what is the better way? It’s not found in human practices that only have an outward appearance of wisdom. The solution is to reorient our entire perspective. Paul continues this thought into the next chapter: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1).

The answer isn't to try harder but to look higher. It’s to stop focusing on our behavior and start focusing on our Savior. True change doesn't come from a list of "do nots," but from a deep and abiding connection with the one who gives us a new heart and new desires. When you find your fullness in Christ, the things of this world begin to lose their appeal.

I pray that you find your own fullness in Christ today. May His truth overshadow any man-made practices that have only left you feeling defeated. I hope you can experience the refreshing, abundant life that is available not through rules, but through a real relationship with Jesus. Let His truth rewrite your story.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Have self-made rules or disciplines left you feeling free or defeated?

2. Are you relying on willpower or on God's promise for true contentment?

3. What is one way you can focus on Christ, not just your behavior, this week?