Spend Less 5 - Matthew 6:25-35

Matthew 6:28-35

In 2010, the United States ranked 18th in Global World Income per capita. According to this study, the average American makes $47,000.00 annually. The average income per capita annually worldwide, however, is $9097.00. This is because between Libya (#71 on the list) and Burundi (#215 on the list) the annual income per capita drops from $12,020.00 to $160.00.

Can you imagine trying to keep your family fed, sheltered, and clothed on that average amount of money? For most of us reading this blog today, that is an idea that is absolutely ridiculous. And yet the majority of the world lives in just such a way. 23% of the children in Texas live in poverty while over half of the kids in Texas live in low-income families. That means that half of the families in Texas make less than $38,314.00 for a family of four. Think of how these families live and how hard it is for them to make ends meet and then think of those outside of America who live in even more desperate poverty.

Most of us reading this today are rich by most people's standards. We have computers and access to the internet. All of our children have access to education for free. We have cars and jobs. We have a TV, video games, and MP3 players. We have to actually exercise to stay at a healthy weight because of our abundance. We all have more than enough.

We don't need to worry about tomorrow - but there are people who do. God has placed us in the positions we are in to care for those who are in need. Let's spend less on ourselves so that we can give more to those who really need it.

Heavenly Father, thank you for putting us in a place of abundance. Help us to remember that with abundance comes the responsibility to share with others. Help us to always keep in our hearts the attitude of giving and humbleness that Jesus exemplified for us while he was on Earth. Amen

CS