"Did you know that you can spend $150 on a hairbrush? Seriously? There are seriously people dying of starvation everyday and you can spend Did you know you can spend $150 on a hairbrush??? Seriously? There are seriously people starving to death every day and you can spend $150 on a hairbrush?!? That's ludicrus. Just sayin'.
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MCP: Remember this is relative, Adrienne. It seems exorbitant to me but to an even poorer person than I, spending $5-15 on a brush might seem frivolous.
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EM: I had a similar thought on my bike ride downtown this morning as I passed numerous "luxury cars". Talk about a waste of money! But as Monna said, I suppose it is all relative. If you are rich, maybe a $40,000+ SUV seems like no big deal.
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JC: Maybe if you have hair to your ankles you need this. Or if you have a hair brushing business....which sounds like a good way to spread lice!
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KR: But you get free shipping so... :)
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JV: to the idea that it is 'relative'... isn't that really part of the problem with the segregation in this country? that the rich isolate themselves from the poor to the point where they never have to see or experience or care about their suffering and can meanwhile live in a bubble where a $150 hairbrush becomes normal?
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MCP:@JV - there are also rich people who contribute significantly to those in need and still have enough to buy a ridiculously expensive hair brush. I just don't happen to be one of them. LOL.
13 hours ago · LikeUnlike
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ME: JV- you summed up my feelings so eloquently. Thanks!
I couldn't stop thinking about the comment on relativity last night.I know this is a common thought about money and spending. Money can be such a taboo subject. As long as people are being generous with their money, that's all that matters, right? So if you make $150,000/year and give away $20,000 then you are being more than generous and how you spend the other $130,000 should be up to you... right?
I am just not sure I agree with that. Now before I go on... remember I am talking about the CHRISTIAN... just for clarity.
So we know that all things belong to God.... including our money. And we know that we are to be generous and that "to those whom much is given, much is expected."
So I just wonder if those who make more money aren't supposed to have a greater contribution to poverty, etc..
The reality is that even some of our jobs are not paid equally. And so if you make over 6 figures as a doctor, but my friend makes $40,000 as a teacher.... both are called to be generous, but I think the doctor who makes more money has a greater opportunity to share his/her wealth.
I just get so tired of seeing people drive around really expensive cars or wearing expensive clothing or buying an expensive home and then justifying it. I wonder if you had the opportunity to live among the poverty in Kibuye, Burundi or even Detroit, MI- would you spend your money the same? After watching a child die because his mother couldn't get him to a hospital fast enough on foot- would you really spend your money the same?
I might seem like a pharisee- but I think someone needs to bring up this topic. And the truth is as I am writing this I am not thinking of anyone that I wish would live differently because I get that I don't really know what checks you write in private. But I just want to keep it on our minds and hearts that there are a lot of people in need and there are a lot of organizations in place to help those people. And there is a lot of opportunity to reach out to the needy in your area.
So I urge us to stop justifying our spending (myself included!) and look at how we are spending our money in connection with the condition of our world. Are we ever justified to overspend?
Anyway, thankfully we serve a God who offers us grace through Christ Jesus. So through grace and out of worship may we allow our money to be spent as if we actually believe it's all God's anyway.
Love you all.
Oh and read, "Giving to God" by Mark Allan Powell
1 comment:
Well said. Thanks for these thoughts, Adrienne.
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