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February 14, 2007 There have been several widespread outbreaks of influenza around the world in past history – a contagious form of a serious flu that can be fatal. Doctors and clinics are swamped with people coming in when an epidemic of influenza occurs. There’s another disease that is spreading rapidly through our country and society, and I call it “affluenza.” It’s a disease that affects millions around us, and it has very specific symptoms. One of it’s effects is to make people spend way more than they make so that they can look good to others. Affluenza makes people self-conscious about what others are thinking about them, and the only “cure” is to buy more stuff and pile up more debt in order to buy anything that looks good or attracts the eye. Bigger SUV’s, bigger houses, nicer clothes, ten thousand toys for the kids – they’re all side effects of this strong and virulent disease. Affected people lose all sight of common sense so that nothing they own looks good anymore and the only way to feel better is to buy bigger, better, nicer and flashier things. Have you seen anyone like that? Has it affected you in some ways, even? We are constantly bombarded by advertising all around us that spreads the message that if we buy THIS or THAT product that our lives will be better, we will be happier and other people will be jealous of us. Are we really that dumb? Is it really important for others to envy or look up to us? Is our importance determined by how other people perceive us? Jesus said “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” (Matthew 6:34) Is Jesus advocating that we can be lazy and slothful and never plan for the future? Of course not! He’s instructing us to let Him guide us into the future and He’s saying that when tomorrow gets here we’ll have the right inspiration to know how to deal with it. He knows our future – we don’t. Amassing things – what affluenza causes us to do – is NOT the answer to contentment or happiness. Paul the apostle wrote to Timothy and said “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (I Timothy 6:6-8) Simpler is better? Be content
with food and clothing? Is this guy nuts, you say? Just more of God. That’s the cure for affluenza!
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