How To Survive On $150,000 A Year

Posted on 02.08.07 in Faith and there are 9 comments.

There is an interesting article at MSN Money:

Scraping By On $150,000 A Year

We are so weird here in America. My husband and I just watched a show called House Hunters and the featured couple was looking at a $385,000 / 3600sf home and the wife’s comment about the house was, “I think we can fit in it.”

Granted, they have four kids, but really…

We just received an update on one of our Compassion kids and as I was reading about the community where she lives, one line stuck out to me:

“The average income in this region is $25 a month.”

I don’t think we even have a monthly budget category that is that low.

It seems to me that it’s all about perspective. If we’re surrounded by wealth we feel we need it. If we’re surrounded by poverty we feel blessed by even the simplest things.

But perspective is elusive, isn’t it? It is for me, anyway.

Here’s some perspective in the form of a song by John Reuben called “What About Them.” Very powerful lyrics. (This isn’t the official video, but I don’t think there is one.)

Here’s another song by Jars of Clay. It’s called “Oh My God” and it’s probably the most impacting song I’ve heard in...maybe...ever. (Lyrics)

These thoughts and these songs move me. But I don’t really know how to move. I know how to write and talk, but move? That’s harder.

I’m beginning to think we weren’t created for comfort. We were created for conflict. Conflict with our laziness, our greed, our selfishness. When there isn’t conflict in our own lives we seek it out on TV, in sports and even in church. I want to fight my own tendency to do nothing and do something.

I love this quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

As Christians we know there is need. We know we should move. But how? What do you do? What will you do? What should we do?

(HT: Brody and Amy)

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