time, money & priorities

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..." Matthew 6:21

Have a look at how the world spends money. It definitely reflects certain priorities. What about us personally? How does our spending compare?

Global Priority	$U.S. Billions
Cosmetics in the United States	8
Ice cream in Europe	11
Perfumes in Europe and the United States	12
Pet foods in Europe and the United States	17
Business entertainment in Japan	35
Cigarettes in Europe	50
Alcoholic drinks in Europe	105
Narcotics drugs in the world	400
Military spending in the world	780

And compare that to what was estimated as additional costs to achieve universal access to basic social services in alldeveloping countries:

Global Priority	$U.S. Billions
Basic education for all	6
Water and sanitation for all	9
Reproductive health for all women	12
Basic health and nutrition	13

(Source: The state of human development, United Nations Human Development Report  from http://www.globalissues.org/issue/235/consumption-and-consumerism     (Great website! Check out the whole article if u have time).

"Be content with such things as you have." Hebrews 13:5a

"For we bought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 1 Timothy 6:7

"But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1 John 3:17

"The eyes of man are never satisfied." Proverbs 27:20

The world sends us certain messages about what will make us happy. And yet the best that this world has to offer will pass away one day- the world's most fascinating entertainment, most glorious buildings and whatever other material goods exist. Are you investing in eternity? Are you investing in people or things?

Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life more abundantly.." John 10:10. The life Jesus calls us to sometimes seem illogical due to the conflicting messages from society and even our own sinful desires. But take it from the world's wisest man, who said that,  "Whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them, I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure....then I looked on all the works my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind." Ecclesiastes 2:10, 11.  Instead, King Solomon came to the conclusion that the main duty of man is to keep God's commandments. And what are God's commandments based on but a love of God and others? 

The way we use our money and time shows who has our heart. Do we live for ourselves or do we love and serve God and others?


Images: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2012/01/03/a-world-designed-for-freedom/