Consumed with Consumerism

During college, I was having a conversation with one of my friends. I don't really remember the nature of the conversation, but at one point I mentioned that I was a bit cheap. My housemate responded with, "Yeah, I heard that about you." "Woah, woah, woah!" I thought to myself. I mean me calling myself cheap was one thing, but I had no idea I had developed a reputation. How did Brian hear of my cheapness? Who was labeling me as such? I mean sure I shopped at the thrift store. Sure, I cut corners in every way possible, but the reputation of being cheap? C'mon now, I was just thrifty.

I guess you could say at first I was offended, but as I let Brian's comment pour over me, I claimed it as a badge of honor. "Darn, right I am cheap! Isn't that what every good Christian should be?" It was my filthy rag of righteousness, it was my clanging cymbal of self-praise. "Yes I am cheap, I am just that holy, and in fact the world would be a better place if everyone was as cheap as me!"

Even today, I reference this story as I brag of my cheapness, but is my relative cheapness still removed from consumerism? Am I really aligned with Jesus, or have I just convinced myself of that since I am known of as cheap among my American friends?

I am currently writing this blog on my iPad. I did not buy the iPad, rather it was assigned to me by my place of work. Another way for me to claim my righteousness, "Well, I would never buy an iPad, I only have one because work gave it to me." It is just part of a wealth of electronic devices assigned to me. As I write, my wife sits on a work laptop, next to my computer bag containing my primary work laptop and a new Microsoft Surface. Sure I did not buy any of these things with my actual money, but does an iPad, two laptops, and a Microsoft Surface all at my fingertips sound like someone cheap or someone living in a way that models Jesus?

I conveniently use comparison to justify my lifestyle, and I am sure I am not the only one. Hopefully, you can understand where I am coming from. But for me, I look at those around me and then say, "See, I don't have a data plan on my cell phone, premium channels on my cable bill, a car payment, or other amenities that they have...That is because I am a good steward of my resources." All I have done however, is looked at the information I wanted to see, rather than the whole story.

You see if I really wanted a fair comparison, I should look at my life differently. Here is what I mean. Every morning I roll out of my memory foam king sized mattress, without a thought that many people in the world slept outdoors the night before. I get into a warm shower, and then fill a drinking glass with a large amount of cold, clean water, all the while not recognizing that the water that I had access to is something many in the world do not have. I get dressed, in a clean set of clothes, that I have not necessarily worn for at least a week. Then I get into my car, again which some people have never seen, and head out to work. I think you see where I am going with this. I have used the lives of others around me in a way to justify the way I live in a way to not feel convicted about my blessings in light of the suffering of others, but there are these times when I am standing face to face with this fact: "I am filthy rich compared to most of the world."

My realization is that I always chose subjects for comparison that supported my lifestyle, not called it out. My knowledge of the facts is that the majority of the world lives on less than two dollars a day. And so if I wanted to play the comparison game, maybe a comparison to the least of these, the poor, the orphans, and the widows would be a better comparison. Maybe if I focused my mindset on these, I would not only live with a greater sense of appreciation, but I would also contemplate financial decisions differently.

This is the danger of living your life constantly fixated on comparison. Rather than letting the Bible determine what is acceptable, I allowed my surroundings to dictate that. Rather than letting my comparison be Jesus, I have chosen to compare myself to others. Really this is a bad way of thinking. I accept that, because the truth is, I can always find someone who is worse than myself. I can always find someone on my side, and always find someone who will help me feel justified. Comparing myself to others will never cause me to live in a way that is Biblically, and it will take my focus off of Jesus and put it on myself.

Biblically we are commanded to be imitators of Christ, and if I am to do that, I must determine how Christ lived in order to understand where my true comparison should lie. As I think over the scriptures I am reminded of a few passages:

Matthew 8:20 ESV
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 

The meaning of this verse is not cryptic. The king of the universe, the Son of God, was homeless. So comparing myself to Christ, the true standard, I already realize my wealth.

Matthew 17:27 ESV
However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.

The tax collectors come to Peter and ask if his master pays the temple tax. Peter replies, "Yes, of course." Jesus then comments about the comedy of him paying tax to the temple, His house. Essentially He is paying taxes to Himself, but to not offend the tax collectors, Jesus decides to pay the tax. But what does Jesus do then? He tells Peter to go catch a fish and in the fish's mouth will be the tax for Peter and Jesus. Careful you do not miss this. Why the whole catching of the fish? Simple, because Jesus did not have the two drachmas to give them. If Jesus had the money would He have not just reached in His pocket and paid?

For the sake of a long post, I will stick with these examples, but there are certainly others. Others that speak of the region Jesus was from, His occupation, the offerings of His parents, or of His clothing. All of these circumstances point to one thing: Jesus was a poor, homeless guy, who lived among the poor and knew what it was like to be them. If I am going to compare myself to Jesus, I am not cheap at all, I am a compulsive over-spender who has way more than he needs. I am a sinner that looks at what others have in order to justify my own life of riches.

Think about this: In the past few weeks there have been a couple times that I have eaten to the point that I felt stuffed. You know that feeling? When was the last time you felt it? Next time you feel it, realize that there are some people in the world that have NEVER felt that feeling. Ever walk outside in the cold to take out the trash in bare feet? I have, it is painful. Recognize that many people in many places all over the world do not even have shoes. Do you stop on the way to work to get a coffee or a soda? Just know you spent what most people in the world have the entire day to live off of.

I say all this to say a few things. First, never let your faith to become one of comparison to anyone, except Jesus and His Word. Secondly, understand that if you are reading this post, you have access to technology and resources much of the world does not have. If you live your life on more than two dollars a day, guess what? You are rich by the world's standards. Praise God for those blessings, but also feel challenged as to how to use your resources in the most Godly way. Thirdly, if Jesus lived a life of poverty, how much your life change to look more like His? I am not telling you to go out and sell everything and live on the streets, but maybe, just maybe you need to reevaluate how you use your resources. Maybe there are things you need to get rid of, maybe there are things you need to give to those in need, and maybe your life just needs to have a little more intention in ministering to the poor.