I have been lusting and thinking lately.
I lust after a digital SLR.
And an ipod touch. or an iphone.
a wireless printer
a lighter vacuum (the real question is will it make me want to vacuum more often???)
a new laptop (oh! check! got it!)
I struggle wanting these things. I struggle knowing if I should spend my money on these things. I mean I don't think its a sin to have an iphone (for instance) but its hard for me to justify the extra $25 a month on that when $25 a month is 78% of what you need per month to sponsor a Compassion child. According to Compassion's website, $32 a month provides food, clean water, medical care, education opportunities, life-skills and an opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ and develop a life-long relationship with God.
So... internet access on my cell phone/ipod/planner or all those opportunities for a child in a third world country?
I really really struggle with these things. Constantly. Ever since we moved back from overseas, I hesitate before buying anything and ask myself these questions such as Is it necessary? Is it wise? Is there a better way that this money could be spent? [Put down the Reese's Cup, Kelley] I don't think asking such questions is wrong but it can be rather paralyzing.
I guess I haven't figured out how to reconcile the parts of the world that I have seen with the affluence we live in here in America. I wonder if I'll ever be able to reconcile these warring desires this side of heaven. I want these things that make life more enjoyable, more fun, more efficient but I want to be sure I'm honoring God with the money He's entrusted to me.
13 comments:
Me, too, Kelley. Probably not to the extent you do b/c I've never lived in such a place. But we have many friends who have been or are missionaries in those countries.
And for me, it comes in waves. Sometimes I feel so guilty for having what I have and wanting to give more. Other times I get selfish and only think of me.
Do you already sponser a child? If not, DO IT! It is so great to know (guess that is kinda prideful, but you get it) that they are being cared for physically and most importantly spiritually! And their little letters in the mail are priceless!
Kelley it's interesting to read this after just coming back. I'm struggling already with how materialistic American culture is drawing me in again. And I don't want to be that way after what I've seen in India and knowing I can live completely fine without all that extra stuff. Like I felt really guilty for spending more than I normally would on a purse the other day! But I think it's better to struggle with those things than not to question how you live or what you buy at all.
Jonathan started sponsoring a child named Jonathan back in college. We sponsored him until his family made enough money for him to graduate from the program so to speak. That happened to be just months before we left for India which was perfect timing.
We have just started talking about sponsoring another one and are planning and hoping to starting in July.
I'm sure you may want to sponsor a child in India, but we visited a really fantastic orphanage in Mexico City that we sponsor through. If you're interested, let me know!
I completely understand what you are saying. I feel like I am being sucked back into "the American" life of stuff. I'm so glad to know there are others that deal with the same things
Rachel Lane
I'm a lurker. so, if you want an outsider's perspective:
Your camera you take pictures with now seems really good. You take great pictures and they seem really clear and full of color, even inside. Why do you want a dSLR so badly? you don't need it.
If you want a phone with internet connection there are a lot of options besides the iphone and they are much cheaper.
If you have a vacuum that works then you don't need another vacuum.
If your printer works great, don't spend the extra money to get a wireless one. That is just silly and lazy. Wait until the one you have now breaks.
SB
Personally, for me, I don't usually buy something new unless my other something doesn't work anymore or is broken. I'd like a new cell phone, but I'll wait until this one isn't working so good anymore... Same with my printer... yeah, it would be nice to have a wireless printer, but as long as mine is still working, I'm OK with plugging my laptop in to print... It's not a sin to have those things... but I don't want to buy things unnecessarily when I could use my money for other things.
That would be awesome if you sponsored a Compassion Child - that's awesome! I love that!! My sister and I did that together as kids. It was really cool :) Where was your kid "Jonathan" from?
When my sis and I adopted one, we got a kid that was the same age as my sister at the time (8) so it was really fun for us. I wonder if you could find one that was Kiran's age or something. That would be cool :) Or even an Indian kid with her name!! That would be so cool!
Oh, and Adam needed a new cell phone when we were in the states. He wanted one that had a calendar and some sort of internet access and stuff like that. He really needed it so that he could be organized (and it's been soooo much help)AND we needed to switch to Air-Tel and we had Reliance phones with no SIM card capabilities. Anyway, he found a phone that did all the things that the iphone does (except the G3 technology which we don't really need since as long as we're in cell phone range, we can get on the internet)- he can play movies on it (usually Elmo), music, has a calendar, internet, database, Word, etc... He bought it off of Craig's List used... $100. He used birthday money for it and we actually didn't pay anything for it. If you want a phone with those features, then it's possible to not have to spend a million dollars.
I think that questioning purchases is exactly what we should do as Christians. And not being able to reconcile our wealth as Americans with the needs of others is a good thing. God wants us to have hearts for others and use our money that way. The hard part is deciding when it's okay to let yourself have something you don't absolutely need. When is it okay to use the money God has blessed us with to buy something unnecessary? You'll probably come up with a different answer every time you ask that question.
Consumerism is hard...always, and even more living in America where so much is accessible and in your face from marketing, so you made aware of all the things out there and that often leads to desire, want, coveting.
Two books that I love that encourage me greatly are Worldliness by CJ Mahaney (reading now) and A Hunger for Gos by Piper (read multiple times already). The later addresses these things more directly and the other is indirectly cause sometimes our desire for things can be a way we're often subconsciously seeking to fill our void for God with things. Only the Holy Spirit can give you discernment of what you should and shouldn't desire and buy.
I recommend these books cause they help me, but in no way, do I feel qualified to even commennt cause I have my own wants and "need-to-haves" myself!!!
And, I bet you might even get some podcasts from those guys (and many others) on the topics that would be free!!! I still want to share podcasts with you...another time...my kiddos are waking up.
These comments have really made me think. I like that.
I think the heart of the issue for me is that I wish I didn't even desire these things. I wish I was content with what I have and that I didn't struggle with discontent in material possessions. But it can be another opportunity for the glory of God to work right?
more info: about 7 out of 10 times, my printer wants to reinstall itself when I plug in my laptop. Its annoying. So its not technically "broken" but its highly annoying, ineffective and frustrating. But its not yet at a point that I feel justified replacing it. However, my birthday is in September...
Just to let you know.. not that it is much different but Compassion just sent us a letter saying the support will be $38.00 a month now. But it is still a great investment:)
I've been thinking a few days about your post. I totally understand the struggle with even wanting new things. I too struggle a lot with do we really need this or that and right now as all of our belonging are going in boxes...wow we have a lot of _____. But what kept coming to mind was that I think it's ok for us to have a want we are saving for or ask for a special occasion. This may sound silly but a lot of times I don't have anything on my list and I think it almost frustrates people. Jacob and I were talking about your printer situation and they do make wireless print servers and that may solve your reinstall issue as well. So, just a thought on a little less expensive way to get what you want!
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