FOMO stands for “fear of missing out.” It’s a common emotion for people who are out of the stock market, gold trade, or crypto trade and are watching prices go up continually. The feeling is that you’re missing out on something everyone else seems to be enjoying. In reality, though, the fear of missing out is just fear. It has no place in the life of a believer who is called to live by faith. Fear is the opposite of faith.
Living by faith is critical because Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
There is no need for believers to fear missing out on material gain if they are trusting God and being led by His Spirit. Matthew 6:28–34 says, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Resist FOMO by seeking God’s perfect will for your life. If you are in God’s will, then you are not missing out on anything.
James warns us about showing favoritism toward those with more material wealth: “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1–4). He also warns us to guard our hearts against envy: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:13–16).
Any believer with urgent financial needs should pray to God, who gives generously to those who ask with the right motives. James says, “You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:2–3).