Friday, February 14
The Western Myth
#3 need vs want
ok, ok, another side issue for people with too much time and nothing better to do...
maybe, but it' s also something close to my heart which i believe can lead to a massive change in attitudes, especially in the minds of the youth of this generation and the next (which could leed to a change in the western world!!).
a good passage about this is 2 corinthians 7 to 9. paul talks about why and what we give.
need vs want to me is a crucial subject in the western world especially (cause we have the choice to get what we want on top of what we need...).
once again, it's not a legalistic issue: you cannot be more saved or more righteous than you are. if you are in Christ you are a new person, you're perfect, blameless, innocent in the eyes of God. there is nothing more you can do or can ever do to get right with God.
the needs vs wants issue is just a bit of a wake up call for western worlders.
why do we spend so much on what we want while others don't have what they need?
how can we justify spending all that money on extra pairs of shoes, constant new fashionable clothes, new phones, cars, toys, food, jewelery, cd's, vdo's... the list goes on.
it's obvious that we've been conditionned after years and years of getting what we want that it's just what we do. if we want something we get it. and we can't afford it we credit card it.
when are we gonna start thinking about that kinda stuff?
obviously if you're a pro golf player you'll need new clubs and gear from time to time. if you're a lawyer or an accountant you'll need a new suit. if you're a sports coach you'll need good sports shoes and gear. but there is a line to be drawn.
while we need a lot of things to fit in, most things we just want.
if you're trying to be part of the surf culture because you enjoy surfing and see that you can impact the lives of surfers in particular, you will need a board, clothes, surfwear and so on. if you wanna break into the hip-hop culture, you will need baggy gear, the same brands, expensive shoes and so on. if it's motorbike riders you're in contact with, you'll need a motorbike, riding gear and so on.
i'm not trying to say that we should all be boring, wearing the cheapest clothes, eating nothing but rice, walking to work and living in a one room house. but there is a line to be drawn.
when are we in the western world going to realise that, generally, we can give much more than we do. much much more! once again we shouldn't be giving our leftovers but our firtsfruits, the best part of our resources. it's not a guilt issue, nor should it be. but just consider.
next time you spend your money, just think for a second: do you need these things or just want them? could you be using this money in different and better ways?
need vs want, make it an issue!
#3 need vs want
ok, ok, another side issue for people with too much time and nothing better to do...
maybe, but it' s also something close to my heart which i believe can lead to a massive change in attitudes, especially in the minds of the youth of this generation and the next (which could leed to a change in the western world!!).
a good passage about this is 2 corinthians 7 to 9. paul talks about why and what we give.
need vs want to me is a crucial subject in the western world especially (cause we have the choice to get what we want on top of what we need...).
once again, it's not a legalistic issue: you cannot be more saved or more righteous than you are. if you are in Christ you are a new person, you're perfect, blameless, innocent in the eyes of God. there is nothing more you can do or can ever do to get right with God.
the needs vs wants issue is just a bit of a wake up call for western worlders.
why do we spend so much on what we want while others don't have what they need?
how can we justify spending all that money on extra pairs of shoes, constant new fashionable clothes, new phones, cars, toys, food, jewelery, cd's, vdo's... the list goes on.
it's obvious that we've been conditionned after years and years of getting what we want that it's just what we do. if we want something we get it. and we can't afford it we credit card it.
when are we gonna start thinking about that kinda stuff?
obviously if you're a pro golf player you'll need new clubs and gear from time to time. if you're a lawyer or an accountant you'll need a new suit. if you're a sports coach you'll need good sports shoes and gear. but there is a line to be drawn.
while we need a lot of things to fit in, most things we just want.
if you're trying to be part of the surf culture because you enjoy surfing and see that you can impact the lives of surfers in particular, you will need a board, clothes, surfwear and so on. if you wanna break into the hip-hop culture, you will need baggy gear, the same brands, expensive shoes and so on. if it's motorbike riders you're in contact with, you'll need a motorbike, riding gear and so on.
i'm not trying to say that we should all be boring, wearing the cheapest clothes, eating nothing but rice, walking to work and living in a one room house. but there is a line to be drawn.
when are we in the western world going to realise that, generally, we can give much more than we do. much much more! once again we shouldn't be giving our leftovers but our firtsfruits, the best part of our resources. it's not a guilt issue, nor should it be. but just consider.
next time you spend your money, just think for a second: do you need these things or just want them? could you be using this money in different and better ways?
need vs want, make it an issue!
