There have been any number of viruses knocking many of us for six this winter. Nevertheless, one abiding infection continues to make Western societies sick. It is a condition named by psychologist Oliver James as “Affluenza”. He diagnoses the affluenza virus as:
“The placing of a high value on money, possessions, appearance and fame”.
John Levy outlined the symptoms.
“a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.”
Are you experiencing these symptoms?
Affluenza is, I suggest, a contemporary pandemic infecting all of us. The drive for endless economic growth, the dissatisfaction with what we have, and the creation of a false need by smart marketers (“What do you mean you don’t have the latest version of the iPhone!?) all push us onto what has been called the “hedonic treadmill” – the promise that material accumulation will bring us the fulfilment we crave. “Stuffocation” corrodes our souls, generates anxiety, and lays waste to the resources of the world. Meanwhile, billionaire business tycoons are held high in the public imagination as exemplars of the good life and founts of all knowledge and wisdom.
Of course, I am not suggesting that we don’t need things or must not appreciate the value of a good product or craftsmanship. After all, we follow a carpenter saviour who, most likely, built furniture and agricultural tools. Nor am I suggesting that there is some sacred merit in being poor. There is plenty of anxiety wrapped up in wondering where your next meal is coming from!
Nevertheless, the desire to accrue the trophies of wealth and symbols of success have long been a snare for human beings, diverting our attention from the source of true fulfilment.
Scripture is not shy about talking about affluenza. I am told that in the Bible, there are 500 verses about prayer and 2000 about money. Money has a spiritual significance. In fact, the sermon on the mount, which invites us to live a life fully alive in Jesus, spends nearly a whole chapter out of three on our treasure and our hearts. So, guess where we are this Sunday – yes, Matthew 6. Following the way of Jesus means that our attitude to, and use of, the resources God has gifted us with is a discipleship matter. Our desire for “treasure” determines the character of our hearts. (Matthew 6:21) As someone put it to me recently:
“Jesus’ message about money is not about what he wants from you but what he wants for you.”
Jesus’ view is clear:
“You cannot serve both God and money.” Matt 6:24
“Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15
To sum up the Bible’s teaching: Money is a useful tool but a terrible master.
Seeking security from our bank balance and our significance in the house we live in, the car we drive, or the holidays we take have the potential to spiritually and psychologically bankrupt us.
So, what’s the antidote to affluenza?
I’m glad you asked!
Generosity is the crowbar that unlocks my tight-fisted heart. Generosity is a long-haul practice that breaks my “poverty spirit”, that is my fear that I will have nothing left for myself when I give to others. So, how to begin the generosity journey? An entry-level start is to give regularly and proportionally from your income to church. We can go on to support missions and charities and follow up our gifts with our prayers and interest. We can extend our generosity to personal acts of kindness, like giving away a book that we know to be helpful or offering a simple, thoughtful gift to others. It does not have to be expensive to be fun!
God wants us to steward carefully what and where we give, but that does not mean being tight. Rather, it means we are to give and use our resources thoughtfully and prayerfully. Indeed, listening closely to God can result in us giving prophetically and strategically to a particular need and deeply blessing someone, or investing in a specific work of the kingdom. I love to hear stories of people who have been blessed in this way by an unexpected gift that came at just the right time.
However, the most powerful antidote to our restless clamour for more stuff is Jesus himself! Considering all that we have in him and all that we can trust him for is truly liberating and deeply satisfying. No one puts this better than C.S. Lewis.
“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy has offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
Affluenza sets the bar for our human fulfilment far too low – we were made for so much more than this!
Iain