Standards of Living

"Hi Glenn!  Nice tie you're wearing - is that a Ferragamo?"

Audrey, one of the pediatricians in our department, took some fancy at the new tie that I wore to work that day.  The necktie had a shimmery light blue background and a repetitive pattern of tiny grey dolphins wearing yellow caps.  I thought that it would be something fun to wear when spending time with young children and their parents in the clinic, but I didn't know what she meant about it being a "Ferragamo".  I often pride myself in living significantly below my expected standard of living, and have never purchased an expensive necktie before.  The one I wore was discovered at a thrift shop in Tokyo during a family vacation, for the price of about a hamburger, French fries and a soda.  I would eventually come across some very nice looking Salvatore Ferragamo ties at airport duty-free shops, and was shocked to find that a single necktie at the store cost more than my shirt, necktie, trousers, belt, shoes, socks and wristwatch combined.  I was content to settle for my Ferragamo look-alikes that was purchased at less than one-twentieth the price.  Besides, if I actually wear one of those very expensive neckties, does that mean that I also need to buy expensive shirts and suits to match?  That would get very costly very quickly.

While I am very reluctant to sport any kind of "status symbol", I do enjoy looking at other people's expensive toys.  "Ooh, that watch must cost at least $20,000 (mine was for $49.95)...wait, check out that guy's newest electronic gadget...whoa!"

As my eyes wandered around town, suddenly a distinct roar of a sports car's engine caught my ear as a silver Ferrari passed by.  I would later find the same car parked only a few hundred feet from my home.  Hmm, there much be a very wealthy person in the neighborhood, or someone who knows a very wealthy person, I thought.  A couple of days later, the Ferrari was replaced by a Maserati, and the next day by a BMW, and a few days later by an Audi R8 sports car that costs more than some pieces of livable real estate.  Not only was there a wealthy person in the neighborhood, it was a wealthy person who liked European sports cars.  Was I jealous as I slowly drove past the vehicle du joir in my Toyota Prius?  Nah.

It is usually considered wise not to live an extravagant lifestyle, and indeed, in The Millionaire Next Door, authors Thomas Stanley and William Danko noted that the typical American millionaire lived considerably below their expected standards of living and eschewed the lifestyles of the rich and famous in order to accumulate earthly wealth.  The Bible also contains many verses that urge us to use our resources wisely.  However, such rules do not apply when it comes to spiritual riches for the Christian.  In the opening verses of Ephesians, the apostle Paul exclaimed,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  (Ephesians 1:3-4)

God has blessed those whom He chose with "every spiritual blessing".  God, the infinite source of all things, has made us who are Christians spiritual billionaires and gazillionaires, and as long as we abide in Him, we have no fear of these blessings being depleted.  Yet, we often live considerably beneath our spiritual means.  Why do we despair and worry when God has given us joy and peace?  Why are we stingy with our concern and prayers for others when God has sent his one and only son to die for our sins?  Why are we impatient, intolerant and angry?  Why do we try to live as if we would be annihilated and cease to exist after our earthly existence is over?  May we remember the richness of our spiritual blessings, and move up to a higher standard of living for God's glory.