By: Rebecca (Hamilton)
2005
We live in a society of “gotta have its.” The politically correct term is conspicuous consumption. Now, I’m not against money, in fact I’m all for it. God even said, “I wish above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” On the flip side, God also said that, “the love of money is the route of all evil,” and He talks about, “the lust of other things.” We all like to have things and look good, because it makes us feel better. But, there is a fine line between serving God, loving your fellow man and being blessed for it and doing whatever it takes to get stuff. I’d like to present to you different scenarios of “gotta have its” or in essence, “keeping up with the Jones.”
Let’s take a look at the various ways modern society has embraced conspicuous consumption.
I send (sent) my children to a private school, only because I absolutely refuse to have them be a product of public education. Some people, on the other hand, send their children to the most elaborate private school just so they can say their little darling is in a prestigious school that most can’t afford. The next thing you know, another parent, in an effort to hold to the same standard, is trying their hardest to get their kid in that same school first thing Monday morning.
Next scenario. A woman may be a mark of pecuniary emulation. She may be beautiful, but has less intelligence than a head of lettuce and serve no functional quality in the relationship other than a showpiece for the man. Or, perhaps the woman who stays with her cheating, abusive husband just because he makes a lot of money. Leaving him would mean leaving her lavish lifestyle.
Then there is the bar scene. When I was single and not exactly following God’s lead, I would go out and trip the light fantastic. Not wanting to go into the dive bars to meet someone, I would go to the fancy, uptown club. I quickly realized that most of these people didn’t have more or make more money, but they certainly acted like it. Being able to say, “I went to the Elite Club last night and spent around $100 on drinks and cocktails,” sounds better than “Yeah, my paycheck stunk so I went to Joe’s Dive Bar for their $1.00 beer special.” The places we go to in our spare time can reflect how much we have, or pretend to have. But in the end, we all go back to the grind on Monday.
Parties are a big competition for the Jones. The birthday party for little Johnny had a clown, so my little princess has to have a clown and a pony, even though I really can’t afford it. But, hey, the price we pay to feel good, huh?
Twelve long stem roses-$34.00. Dinner at the Cliffside- $75.00. That Lenox vase you saw her admiring-$185.00. The look on her face- priceless. We’ve all seen this sample of a commercial for MasterCard and it really sums up how our society views happiness. If my husband would take my hand on our way to get ice cream I’d be just as happy as if he produced this very expensive scene. But, to the trained woman of today, this expense conveys to her the man’s love for her.
The mall. Aah, that wonderful, glorious invention designed for you to pay three or four times the amount for an item just so you can say, “I got it at the mall.” Do you really have money to burn? Oh, that’s right, that is were Mastercard comes in to play! You are going to spend the next five years, or more, paying that thing off.
I hate doing dishes, therefore I don’t do them. I’ve trained my kids to do them. Dishes are trivial anyway and expensive dishes are
completely useless. They spend most of their time in the cupboard. When they are out and in use, they are covered with food. Why spend more than necessary on dishes? I know someone who spent over $10,000 on a Lenox China set, complete with gold ware. She loves to brag, “Look at my china.” My husband, of a completely different nature, brought to our marriage cheap vinyl plates. They both serve the same function, but one says “I’m a show off,” the other says, “I’m practical.” I’m not anti-expensive china, if that’s the pattern you like. But are you buying it for it’s pattern or to make yourself look rich with all the stuff you’ve accumulated?
Collectables. Most of us collect things and put them in a cupboard or box in the attic to collect dust. Maybe that’s why we collect things, to mask our real craving for collecting dust! Or not… Anyway, I’m guilty as charged on this one. I collect copper tea pots. If I see one at an antique store or thrift store, I’ll buy it. $10.00 is my limit though. Anything over is too much for me. My husband on the other hand collects several items: boots, old vehicles he intends on fixing but never seems to get around to it, and T-shirts. He typically wears K-mart jeans and flannel shirts, however he has a habit of buying T-shirts that shows off where he has been. Hey, look at me, I’ve been “here.” My mother and I have issues when it comes to clothes. I found a pair of Ralph Lauren jeans at the Salvation Army for four dollars. They fit great, so I bought them. I have to admit that when it comes to certain name brand clothing, some do fit better and have a better quality. When mom saw them, she was so proud of me that I finally splurged. “Four bucks at the thrift store,” I told her. She was actually disappointed!
Now, I am not against having nice things, or even Lenox China. I’m not against spending some money at the mall. And I’m certainly not against getting twelve long stem roses at the Cliffside. What I am against is a little four letter word that we ought to eliminate from our vocabulary- DEBT. Debt is spending money you don’t have today at the expense of tomorrow. If you are maxing out credit cards, taking out loans, or bumming money from Grandma, who’s on a fixed income, just so you can have stuff, then perhaps you should re-think your priorities. Greed is a monster chomping out a path for our destruction. So, know where your priorities lie. Are they to serve or to be served?
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!