Thoughts on Excess in the American Church

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" (1 John 3:17 ESV)

The average middle class home in the US contributes, on average, 6% to charity (includes church tithing and offering). The percentage drops to an average of 4% for people who make over $100k per year. The average american spends 95% of his income on himself, while wanting more and more. A bigger house, newer car, granite counters, big tv, cable package, etc. Our want for abundance has become the norm, and all we can see are the wants we've yet to acquire, yet all the while over 13% of the world's population is starving for food and 11 million children will die this year alone due to malnutrition.

It is not wrong to have nice things, their is no sin in possession. However, can you justify your aim to satisfy your wants when so many are in such need? I am so personally convicted today thinking on this. Our waste is vast and yet we have the audacity to refer to our "good stewardship" in our investments, savings, etc.

"Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” " (Luke 12:13-21 ESV)

The question I ask myself today is, "Where can I cut out abundance and live more simply, so that I can be a greater blessing?" "How can I be an example to my kids of loving others more than I love myself?" The Bible says, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." I need to be sure that I am investing my money where my heart should be. Our treasure leads, our heart follows. What does the word say my heart should love and pursue? That is where my money and resources should be directed, not myself lest my heart should succumb to selfish ambition.