Rising costs may strain the budget, but they also press a deeper question: what are we really trusting to hold life together?
For many people I talk to, ordinary life feels harder to afford than it once did. When they buy groceries, they say their money does not go nearly as far. They speak of insurance premiums rising without clear reason and medical expenses continuing to grow. Those on fixed incomes say their income no longer seems to keep pace with the real cost of living. Housing, maintenance, transportation, and basic services all place added pressure on the household budget. With so much financial strain and uncertainty, it is not surprising that many people feel uneasy. For some, that uneasiness becomes anxiety, fear, or deep discouragement. Almost everyone feels some part of this pressure, though some seem to carry it better than others.
Should we have some concern over affordability? Of course. That is both natural and prudent. We should pay attention to our spending, and if our income is uncertain, we should not pretend otherwise. Younger people who hope to leave a less desirable neighborhood may naturally worry about interest rates and housing costs. Affordability pressures are real, and concern over them is understandable. The deeper question is how and why those concerns so easily begin to take over and govern our inner life.
Why do financial concerns reach so deeply into the human heart? Why do they exert such pressure on us? Why does the possibility of not having enough to maintain our present way of life strike such fear within us? Are we too concerned about what others might think of us? Has what we have become our source of security? Do we imagine that if we just had enough, we could finally feel in control? Perhaps the real issue is not simply what we have or what crisis may come into our lives. Perhaps the deeper issue is what we have come to trust for purpose, stability, and peace.
Each of us has a “lens” through which we view the world and make decisions and judgments. In our modern age, that lens increasingly defines reality only in terms of what can be seen, touched, and measured. Material conditions then become the main source of well-being, security, and safety. Even one’s sense of meaning is shaped by what one has and can control. The questions then become these: Do I have enough to be secure? What can I acquire to control my future? What will others think of me?
A materialistic worldview shows itself in a variety of practical ways. When unexpected financial pressures arise, our first reaction is often fear and anxiety rather than calm, thoughtful action. We may take excessive or unwise steps in order to feel secure. We begin to place our trust in always having enough money to overcome whatever may come. When friends or co-workers have newer cars and larger homes, we measure our worth and success against their material well-being. This constant comparison weakens generosity, because our focus shifts from helping others to getting ahead. In this way, our material circumstances begin to rule our lives. In brief, what we have becomes part of our identity as a person.
We are all subject to what our culture tells us is “normal.” Our culture tells us that our worth and security are found in what we have. Christians and non-Christians alike are subject to these same pressures. Thus, many Christians sincerely profess faith in God yet live with the same materialistic worldview as those around them. A believer may say that he or she trusts in God, yet still treat money, savings, and possessions the same way a non-believer does. Control over circumstances becomes the real source of security.
In such cases, a person becomes a slave to what he or she has and can personally control. Self-protection becomes paramount. As this bondage deepens, joy flees and peace disappears. One cannot even enjoy what one has. The focus shifts from people—family, friends, and neighbors—to material things. When neighbors see that we pursue the same things they do, it becomes difficult to speak credibly about a different way of viewing life. Life is unpredictable. No one knows when an event may wipe out a lifetime of savings or completely destroy a current way of life. Fear is inevitable with a materialistic worldview.
If affordability pressures reveal that we rely on our material well-being for our security and identity, then we may be living with a materialistic worldview without fully recognizing it. We allow material things to govern our actions and emotions. If this way of viewing life cannot produce peace, then what would it mean to live by a different way of seeing life?
8 Responses
I don’t think we can even imagine what unaffordability is for so many people everywhere. And yet, we are in a war costing more than a million dollars a day. Does it make sense?
Oops, it’s more than a billion dollars a day.
We live in the world. We are not of the world. Yes we must have income. Nothing is free, not even water. Even Israel had funds to buy as needed when traveling through other people’s lands during the 40 years in the desert to purchase needs. Jesus had judas as treasurer to care for His and the apostles needs. In our times there are no fields to glean, no free hunting, no free fishing. Food, homes, capability to hold a job requires a cell phone or computer. Life is complicated and expensive. Without a faith that God will take care of me, I could not live. I trust that I will have all my needs till I die. I don’t know how people live without that faith. There has to be a balance of concern and comfort. We who have are told to share. Our eyes and lives should touch our community to be aware of others needs. I expect some of my tax dollars to help those who are in need. It crushes my heart when christains don’t want to give. They want to evaluate the one receiving as to their worthyness. None of us are worthy. God gives to us in abundance in our sin, even unto giving His life because of His love for us. Who are we to hoard our gifts. There is great need in our land right now. Give and you will receive in abundance. Food lines are long. Blessing boxes empty quickly. More and more homeless daily. Our government is failing in providing a working economy fir the people. It is failing in putting in place safe guards for those ill weak, poor, old, hungry, and homeless. They take our money and create a war. They take our money and subsidize oil companies raking in billions with the money going to the top. Our elected officials get richer every day while the poor class gets larger and larger. Should we worry about our country? Yes. Should we try to make changes? Yes. Should we make ourselves sick worrying, or spend all our hours in concern? No. We do what we can, vote or protest or work for a candidate. We pray for wisdom and a future for our children and grandchildren. But we know God has a plan and will work it. If we have offended Him to the extent He destroys us, it will happen. If He answers our prays with I’ll give you another chance, it will happen. Our land of promise is Heaven. Our job now is to love and teach and share our blessings to encourage others and bring joy to the lives of those we touch. Those are my thoughts as based on my Bible studies.
The previous comments have summarized the problem.Hopefully I have made some progress in changing my thoughts and actions.
“Why do financial concerns reach so deeply into the human heart?” I propose this makes even more sense if we consider “heart” very close to paralleling, “motivations.” Jesus wants our Hearts with its Motivations focused on His guidance.
We could consider seeing to it,this being viewing life sincerely through our nation’s Moto’s,as meaning freedom from fear, worries, anxiety, depression, loneliness, so as could mean if we choose it as one nation under god with true love and peace in our hearts for others and all,then we would say you have the freedom to choose homelessness as an expression of freedom not as a casualty because you couldn’t afford otherwise,it would not be in our hearts too bless you with the curb,and all that might naturally follow because of such a way of viewing life for others,by choosing clearly what we mean as a nation for others as a new and different way of viewing life,seeing the peace truly for them,would see it in us,as our guarantee unto ourselves, so as to say this is affordable health care for any nation under god what we do unto others we do to ourselves,it is our choice to decide these things for each other, choose to see it for each other.
Thanks for reminding us Lynn that money is important, but ultimately not the most important thing in the world. Read that one of Arkansas’
Former Governors (or Senators) when he received a diagnosis that he had cancer, he went to a planetarium to remind himself just how small he was in this universe of ours.
Money gives us a “false sense of security” as I’ve been taught as any major health issue can wipe out our savings in a heartbeat. So we must be wise and be always be ready for the afterlife.
Yes, time is more valuable than money. Love is more valuable than money. Faith is more valuable than money. Just for a start.
May God continue to lead all of us through a life of 23rd Psalm plenty which will shine through us to others.