I think people living in All the western world have more than the rest of the world, due to materialism - remember the UK is older than than the USA.
When you think back to our own history in the UK, we took from so many countries, but by bit our power has diminished, and we were deemed a Christian country, much like the US.
Materialism is a difficult thing to get the right balance with, I find it hard when I see homeless people - compared to them I am rich, but I am not sure I could handle being really wealthy - I am grateful for the blessings I have been given, but even knowing that my mobile phone and iPad comes at the cost of young children mining for something needed to make them causes dilemmas. As Christians should we use them, have them. Clothes often come from very poor areas, working in extreme environments , it provides an income- but our needs come at a price to others.
The bible tells us that it will be harder for a rich man to come to faith, which implies that it will come with a price - and yet all of us are rich compared to many people in biblical times.
People who have less seem to be more grateful for the very things many of us take for granted - we have got so use to ' having ' things that make our lives easier.
Look at all the paper / wood we use, which destroys trees - look at the destruction of the rain forrests - all for the demands from richer countries.
Look at all the pollution, we are destroying the very things that God gave us to look after - I think the western world will have much to answer for.........
Have we been good stewards ?
Are there levels of humility ?
Rita
