Post by WWJDthrume on Aug 30, 2004 21:45:38 GMT -5
Influenza. Everyone wants to avoid the Flu. In 1918 there were millions of victims who died. Many were children and teens. The average life span in the US decreased by a full ten years. Today there is a new strain that has been on the increase in the United States and threatens everyone. The name of this new strain is Affluenza.
It is highly contagious although the symptoms seem harmless at first. Most victims hardly notice when they find they need to browse through the mall for the brand of sneakers worn by their favorite athlete. They are unconcerned when theirchildren scoff at the idea of wearing no name jeans that cost $20 a pair and insist they must get the ones that everyone else has that cost $65. It starts to get their attention when their preschoolers starts pointing to more expensive houses stating 'I wish we lived there'.
Many people today are making more money than their parents ever dreamed of, but have less to show for it. They buy more and more and enjoy it less and less. They spend more than they earn and dig a hole of high interest debt for themselves, they can't seem to escape, yet they still crave more.
I Timothy 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Is there such a thing as enough? Can you ever be rich enough or thin enough? Many years ago, early in our marriage my husband and I drew an imaginary line in the sand and called it enough. I would encourage everyone to do this. Your line doesn't have to be the same as my line. We have freedom in Christ and aren't all the same. But draw that line. Then don't keep changing it. How much of a house do you need to have? Do you want to have? Is it a 3 Bedroom ranch? 4 Bedrooms? 5+ Bedrooms? Most importantly how is God leading you in your lifestyle? We drew our line at a modest but comfortable standard of living. It isn't chiseled in stone but we have a good idea what the limitations are. The same rule of thumb works for clothes or any thing we might need or want.
Cars, Trucks, Houses, Lands, Clothes. Jewelry, Toys, Boats, Audio and Visual Equipment, Expensive Vacations, you name it. How much is enough? None of these things are wrong in and of themselves but if our days are consumed with the pursuit of getting for the sake of owning; we have fallen victim to Affluenza. The sad part is we didn't even realize we were sick and we were possibly spreading this disease to others.
There are preventative treatments available. One preventative is to prayerfully consider what enough looks like for you and your family. Encourage your children to learn what enough is. What is enough food? Too much is gluttony and unhealthy. Sometimes we need to diet. What does enough things look like? Sometimes we need to stop consuming and look at what we have. If we have a hard time recognizing enough, we could look at its' relatives too much and too little. Too much is easiest to recognize especially when we see it in others. Too much overflows its space and is a burden to care for. Too little is when basic needs are not being met. Sometimes it is hard to see. People may be embarrassed by their lack. Or maybe there are no people in true need where you live. There are communities where you would have to look hard to find someone in need.
Awareness of and concern for the poor is an excellent preventative for Affluenza. Knowing that most children in the world lack clean water should make us thankful that we can drink clean water from the tap in most places in the US and Canada. The parasites and bacteria in the water children in most third world nations drink is the leading cause of their sicknesses. Diarrhea is the leading cause of death in children under 5 around the world. Clean water could eliminate most of these deaths. Every day children die from hunger. How is this possible? If we could see it we would not let it happen. But it is real and we can see it if we look. www.worldvision.org . I think we spend a lot of time making sure we don't have to look. Most of the media in the US is geared toward distracting us from the things that matter.
Awareness of the poor is great. Identifying with the poor is even better. When their plight becomes our plight it takes on a whole new urgency. Jesus identified with the poor when he came to earth as a helpless baby; and lived as a person who didn't have a place of his own to lay his head. He lived in a nation that was under the control of another country; and suffered the same indignities that people without power or money suffer. He says 'Whatsover you do to the least of these my brothers, that you do unto me'. Our brother CT is a good example of identifying with the poor. He has made it a concern of his. He suffers with those children who are suffering.
Affluenza is running rampant in our society and just like some people envy anorexics because they are thin, there will be people who admire those who are infected with Affluenza (acute consumerismosis) because they look like they have it together. The message is decreed via bumper stickers that say 'He who dies with the most toys wins'. The truth is 'He who dies with the most toys is dead'.
First Timothy says 'But Godliness with contentment is great gain'. At Christian Traders we like to get a gain every trade we make. Great gain is even better. Godliness is to live the Christian life in Spirit and in truth. And to do that and be content is great gain. Contentment is the ultimate cure for Affluenza. Be well. -Debi
If you would like to sponsor a Hope child through World Vision; I have about 70 children I am looking for sponsors for. The cost is $30 a month. (It is the best investment I have ever made). I would love to hear from you. Below is a link to a wonderful sermon on the scripture passage from Timothy. It is well worth reading. I know you will be blessed. -Grace -Debi
users.aber.ac.uk/emk/ap/sermons/1tim27.htm
It is highly contagious although the symptoms seem harmless at first. Most victims hardly notice when they find they need to browse through the mall for the brand of sneakers worn by their favorite athlete. They are unconcerned when theirchildren scoff at the idea of wearing no name jeans that cost $20 a pair and insist they must get the ones that everyone else has that cost $65. It starts to get their attention when their preschoolers starts pointing to more expensive houses stating 'I wish we lived there'.
Many people today are making more money than their parents ever dreamed of, but have less to show for it. They buy more and more and enjoy it less and less. They spend more than they earn and dig a hole of high interest debt for themselves, they can't seem to escape, yet they still crave more.
I Timothy 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Is there such a thing as enough? Can you ever be rich enough or thin enough? Many years ago, early in our marriage my husband and I drew an imaginary line in the sand and called it enough. I would encourage everyone to do this. Your line doesn't have to be the same as my line. We have freedom in Christ and aren't all the same. But draw that line. Then don't keep changing it. How much of a house do you need to have? Do you want to have? Is it a 3 Bedroom ranch? 4 Bedrooms? 5+ Bedrooms? Most importantly how is God leading you in your lifestyle? We drew our line at a modest but comfortable standard of living. It isn't chiseled in stone but we have a good idea what the limitations are. The same rule of thumb works for clothes or any thing we might need or want.
Cars, Trucks, Houses, Lands, Clothes. Jewelry, Toys, Boats, Audio and Visual Equipment, Expensive Vacations, you name it. How much is enough? None of these things are wrong in and of themselves but if our days are consumed with the pursuit of getting for the sake of owning; we have fallen victim to Affluenza. The sad part is we didn't even realize we were sick and we were possibly spreading this disease to others.
There are preventative treatments available. One preventative is to prayerfully consider what enough looks like for you and your family. Encourage your children to learn what enough is. What is enough food? Too much is gluttony and unhealthy. Sometimes we need to diet. What does enough things look like? Sometimes we need to stop consuming and look at what we have. If we have a hard time recognizing enough, we could look at its' relatives too much and too little. Too much is easiest to recognize especially when we see it in others. Too much overflows its space and is a burden to care for. Too little is when basic needs are not being met. Sometimes it is hard to see. People may be embarrassed by their lack. Or maybe there are no people in true need where you live. There are communities where you would have to look hard to find someone in need.
Awareness of and concern for the poor is an excellent preventative for Affluenza. Knowing that most children in the world lack clean water should make us thankful that we can drink clean water from the tap in most places in the US and Canada. The parasites and bacteria in the water children in most third world nations drink is the leading cause of their sicknesses. Diarrhea is the leading cause of death in children under 5 around the world. Clean water could eliminate most of these deaths. Every day children die from hunger. How is this possible? If we could see it we would not let it happen. But it is real and we can see it if we look. www.worldvision.org . I think we spend a lot of time making sure we don't have to look. Most of the media in the US is geared toward distracting us from the things that matter.
Awareness of the poor is great. Identifying with the poor is even better. When their plight becomes our plight it takes on a whole new urgency. Jesus identified with the poor when he came to earth as a helpless baby; and lived as a person who didn't have a place of his own to lay his head. He lived in a nation that was under the control of another country; and suffered the same indignities that people without power or money suffer. He says 'Whatsover you do to the least of these my brothers, that you do unto me'. Our brother CT is a good example of identifying with the poor. He has made it a concern of his. He suffers with those children who are suffering.
Affluenza is running rampant in our society and just like some people envy anorexics because they are thin, there will be people who admire those who are infected with Affluenza (acute consumerismosis) because they look like they have it together. The message is decreed via bumper stickers that say 'He who dies with the most toys wins'. The truth is 'He who dies with the most toys is dead'.
First Timothy says 'But Godliness with contentment is great gain'. At Christian Traders we like to get a gain every trade we make. Great gain is even better. Godliness is to live the Christian life in Spirit and in truth. And to do that and be content is great gain. Contentment is the ultimate cure for Affluenza. Be well. -Debi
If you would like to sponsor a Hope child through World Vision; I have about 70 children I am looking for sponsors for. The cost is $30 a month. (It is the best investment I have ever made). I would love to hear from you. Below is a link to a wonderful sermon on the scripture passage from Timothy. It is well worth reading. I know you will be blessed. -Grace -Debi
users.aber.ac.uk/emk/ap/sermons/1tim27.htm