Humanity's Loss of Balance

Every time I watch the show It Takes a Thief, and see the multitude of unused, expensive jewelry and belongings people have just sitting in their houses;

Every time I see a businessman drive by in a brand-new Hummer;

Every time I hear about people who horde millions in the bank;

Every time I drive by an extravagant mansion that houses a family of two;

Every time I see a young girl driving a brand new car, talking on her cell phone, and throwing a fit because she can't spend that extra thousand on her birthday party;

Every time I walk by a department store and see people buying ordinary clothes and products that costs hundreds of dollars-

I feel ashamed of being a part of this society.

Though my family is not rich; we personally have enough wealth to keep us clothed, fed, sheltered, watered, medicated, and transported, fairly comfortably. So why would I feel so bad about belonging to a group of people who clearly lead the world in resources and money? Consider this:

*Across the world, about 854 million are dying from hunger.

*Everyday, 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes.

*There are 1 billion people living below the poverty line (considering there are 6.5 billion people on the earth currently).

*There are 350 million people in the United States, and about 37 million of them live in poverty (about 10% of the U.S. population).

*The over-use and abuse of our earth's resources are destroying our world to the point of no return. Once this planet is no longer livable, it will not matter who has what.

Many say, "I've worked hard for my money, so why shouldn't I be able to spend it any way I want?" First of all, many people work hard for money. There exists many a single mother with two or three minimum-wage jobs, who work until they are exhausted, but still have hungry children, unpaid bills, and wear second-hand clothing. There are others who are unable to work (but would if they could).

Secondly, no matter how much you rationalize that you worked for everything you own; you only have what you have because God let you have it. At any point in your life, you could have been prevented from obtaining what you have (via a life-change or unexpected situation). You were entrusted with the wealth you have for a reason. Are you living up to that reason?

Finally, how can you look at a $1,000 purse and say, "I need that", when at that very moment a dying mother in Africa is holding her starving and pained child in her arms?

How can you drive a $60,000 vehicle for no particular reason (other than vanity), when a father and his children in the middle of winter are living in a poverty-stricken town in a run-down house without heat or running water?

How can you collect hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry that you wear once a year and antiques that collect dust on shelves, when an elderly person living on Social Security has to choose between the medicines that keep her alive or food?

How can you wear a $500 outfit from a famous designer, when there are some children who walk to school in snow with no boots and coats with holes?

How can you spend $100 on a jar of wrinkle cream, when there are millions of children who don't have a school to attend or are severely lacking in the schools they do attend?

How can you live in an overly-decorated, overly-spacious home (especially when you own more than one), and take numerous expensive vacations, when people all over the world are dying of diseases due to the lack of funding for research?

Maybe because these things aren't staring you in the face the moment you see that expensive 'prize'; the above situations don't seem possible to you. Maybe you are so concerned with yourself and your own family, the severe problems of others don't come to your mind. Maybe they do occur to you, but you feel those others are not worthy of decent treatment. It may be that you feel that this is just the 'Survival of the Fittest' in action. Most likely, you are so addicted to your current lifestyle, you can't imagine giving up your nice clothing, homes, cars, food, jewelry, and services. You have no idea how to alter your life (especially if you were raised this way) or how to help. Unfortunately, if you have children, you are probably (unknowingly) trying to give them everything you can--except the ability to think about others.

The single, most important thing would be to let go of your pride. It is not going to kill you to be seen by your friends and strangers not using name-brand, expensive products (and if they do shun you, they are not truly your friends). Contrary to belief, you do not need to drive an extremely expensive vehicle (unless there is a practical function for you to do so). You can buy a decently-priced, reliable new car or even a reliable used one.

You don't have to live in a 4,000-square-foot home, when there are only two or three people in your family. Likewise, you don't need multiple expensive homes across the country. You also don't have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to collect decorations for your home.

You don't have to spend a hundred dollars on a t-shirt. There are several stores (and yes, Wal-Mart is one of those) who have very nice lines of clothing for MUCH less. You could buy an entire wardrobe for what you spend on just one outfit from a name-brand store. Everything from beauty products and accessories to electronics and appliances can be bought at stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, Dollar General, K-Mart, Sears, etc... There is absolutely no need to wear a $60 per ounce perfume or carry a $1,000 handbag. Many of these stores contain discount food. You don't have to buy all name-brand foods and only eat at the most expensive restaurants every night. Many generic brands and low-cost steakhouses are excellent.

Investing your money is a good thing-hording it is not. If you are sitting on a huge sum of money just for the purpose of having it-my only question is, "Why?"

Another thing which many people don't seem to realize-your pets are animals. They don't need outfits or jeweled leashes. They don't need gourmet food or plush beds. It is amazing to me that some people can spend so much on their pet 'babies', but completely turn their backs on real children who are starving to death.

Having the big 'toy' you've always wanted is fine. But there is a point in which it is horrendously excessive. One good classic car is acceptable-buying an entire lot of them is not.

It is good to invest your money.

It is good to be clean, healthy, and dressed nicely.

It is good to have a comfortable home and reliable car to drive.

It is good to own a pet you love (that is treated as a pet).

It is good to have a controlled amount of trinkets and shiny things to your name.

These things can be done with a basic amount of money; but only if you are willing to let go of your vanity, your tendency to only think of yourself, and your denial of the state of affairs of the world and humanity. Next time you begin to buy something you don't truly need, pay exorbitantly for something just because of the brand-name, or can't bring yourself to take some extra money you aren't using out of your savings-think about that one child in the world who is suffering and imagine that it is your child. Imagine you are that child's parent, helplessly watching her slowly die from malnutrition and disease.

Once you find yourself with a significant amount of extra money, you are merely a simple internet search away from finding a suitable charity in which to donate. There are a ton of programs out there that help poverty-stricken humans (with hunger, shelter, schools, clothing, etc...). You also may find charities that deal with abused and neglected animals, research-funding for diseases, and environmental problems. Just be sure to research each organization to make sure it is credible. It doesn't have to be money that is donated-it can be other resources, as well as your time and own unique talents (such as writing a low-pay commentary in an attempt to change people's lives!)

As was initially stated, the purpose of this article is not to make people feel guilty (although if you do, there is a reason for it, and you need to consider those reasons-especially if you're feeling angry at this column); the meaning of this commentary is to enlighten those who have been blessed (by blessed, I mean a typical American, middle-class family, at the least) with wealth and give those people a different way of looking at the world.

If only these people realized how much more satisfying it is to find a great bargain on a pair of pants at a discount or thrift store, than to spend $100 on something they're probably going to wear once and throw away eventually.

If only these people realized how much more gratifying it is to do God's work and help the less fortunate people in the world thrive, than to wear an expensive, new diamond ring.

So, I will ask again, are you living up to the reason for your blessings? Will you pass the test-or be given an incomplete?