Addicted to Money

Relevant Magazine.com has just run a brilliant article by Jesse Carey, on how we as a society are addicted to money. There is a great collision between the life God has called us to and the life our culture calls us to.

God has called us to a simple life, a life of dependence upon Him and community, and a life of giving to the poor. Our culture calls us to something entirely different. It calls us to a life of consumerism, a life of independence, and a life of relentlessly seeking bigger and better.

Carey sites a a report published by the Center for Environment and Population (CEP), "in 2006 they found that though the United States accounts for only 5 percent of the world’s population, it uses 23 percent of the world’s energy, 28 percent of its paper and consumes 15 percent of its meat. The study also found that 37 percent of all of the cars in the world are on American roads. The average American is responsible for five pounds of waste per day—that’s compared to three pounds in Europe and .9 to 1.3 pounds in parts of the developing world. The study also found overwhelming comparisons concerning obesity, carbon emissions and water usage in contrast to other parts of the globe."

Donald Miller is quoted saying, "We live in a culture that’s addicted to money, and we’re addicted to what money can buy us. And we’re fooled into thinking that, ‘I can buy this product, and this product will make me happy.’ And we’re fooled because the average American sees 3,000 commercial images a day. It’s like somebody constantly asking you if you want crack—3,000 times a day. And you only take it once a day ... that’s not good.”

The reality is, if we are making more than $3 a day we are among the world's rich. The question is what are we doing with our riches? Are we living for the culture or are we living for Christ?

We have our priorities messed up. I have my priorities messed up. We need to make a change. Will you join me? If you have 10 minutes to spare start by reading the article. It's found here.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

May we be filled with the love of God and show it to the world around us with our actions, filled with truth.