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Real Answers™
mm3
Copyright: ©2008 Mike Mirakian
670 words

TIME TO PRACTICE ART OF CONTENTMENT

By: Mike Mirakian

Imagine what people in the world’s most impoverished communities would think if they heard the news. What if the Darfur refugees or the poorest of the poor in the streets of Calcutta saw the headlines. The American economy shows signs of a slowdown, so the government plans to send out money to every household in the nation.

Economists began warning of a possible recession a few weeks ago, and now our national leaders are falling all over themselves to put checks in the mail. Get money in the hands of American consumers, goes the argument, and we will do what we do best: buy stuff.

Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle, the same ones who haven’t been able to get along with each other enough to pass any significant legislation in nearly two years, have come out arm in arm to promote the economic stimulus package. With approval ratings hovering around 25 percent, Congress seems to have found their game in time to send voters some cash.

Times are tough, to be sure, for some people. The mortgage crisis has slammed the door on many one-time homeowners. Joblessness has increased. A recession would hurt just about everyone to some degree. And not many families would turn down a $1,200 check in the mail.

But what if instead of consuming more, Americans learned to be content, learned that living within one’s means can actually feel good? What if we all spent less and shared more? What if we remembered “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21)?

See, there are only three things you can do with money. You can spend it, save it or share it.

Americans are the best in the world at spending. From an early age, we learn the value of a dollar by plunking a few down for a shiny new toy and then asking for more. As we grow up, we learn that we don’t even need our own dollars to buy things; people are happy to purchase stuff for us if we promise to pay them back someday, with interest. American consumers spent nearly $10 trillion last year, while the average household carried $100,000 of debt.

So, we’ve got the spending thing down, but what about saving and sharing? Now to be fair, Americans are relatively generous people. Our charitable giving rates rival just about every other nation, but it still adds up to little more than two percent of income. And most people’s saving habits are nothing to write home about either.

Americans have been blessed, and in many ways for many years we have been a blessing to others. But our prosperity shouldn’t be license for greed, our blessings shouldn’t simply whet our appetite for more.

Contentment sounds like an old-fashioned word, but it paves the road to true, lasting happiness. Despite what Madison Avenue teaches, money and material things don’t make us happy. They may cause us to feel good for a while, but the truth is (and we all know this from experience) the things of this life always end up disappointing us in the end. Toys break, cloths go out of style, cars rust, houses fall apart.

But if we can learn the secret of contentment, then our hearts will be free to pursue what truly matters, then we can learn what is truly valuable. The treasure our hearts most deeply desire isn’t sold at the mall. Instead it must be formed in our relationships, nurtured in our character, and accepted in our souls. We find true treasure in loving family bonds, in giving of ourselves to bless others, and in honoring our God.

So, enjoy the fruits of the economic stimulus package. Buy something nice to help the economy. Put some away for a rainy day. Share a little with those in need. Your check in the mail offers an opportunity to practice the lost art of contentment, and with a little practice, you may find a more perfect form of happiness.

"Real Answers™" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. To contact the author or The Amy Foundation, write or E-mail to: P. O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901-6091; amyfoundtn@aol.com

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