Hi, Steven —

Good question!

It's OK to buy things we don't technically need. What we have to do is maintain a spirit of detachment from worldly things; that is, we must be "poor in spirit". This means that we can't develop or encourage a love or (attachment, the opposite of detachment) for material things that interferes with our relationship with God. Look at the story of the rich young ruler in
Mark 20:17-23. A man came to Jesus asking how to be saved. After going through the commandments, Jesus said,

"Sell all you have and give it to the poor."

The man went away sad because he had great wealth. The problem was not that he had wealth but that he was attached to it in a way that prevented him from responding to Jesus's call to discipleship; he had become controlled by his own possessions and was unwilling to part with them.

Only you can decide what is right for you to purchase. I think you're on the right track because you are considering the poor. Personally, I allow myself to splurge every once in a while, but I do not make a habit of buying the latest expensive toy.

• Maybe you can put yourself in that rich young ruler's position and say, if Jesus denied me this, would I walk away from Him?

If Yes, you need an attitude adjustment.
If No, you are probably sufficiently detached to purchase it.

Eric