Are Our Values Wacked?

Next time you are in a group, just ask each person to share what scares them and it will reveal an assortment of fears. I know people that are afraid of heights, spiders, snakes, sharks, water, flying, dogs and a variety of foods. However from my interaction with people I would have thought that dying would always top the list of fears.

Recently I came across a survey in the USA Today showing that people (ages 44-75) were actually more afraid of outliving their money than they were of dying. To say that I was intrigued would be an understatement. Matter of fact the survey released by Allianz showed 61% feared outliving their money while 39% feared dying. Now that does not presuppose that the 61% were not afraid of death; it just means that outliving their money was of greater concern.

You have to admit that this is an interesting dynamic. As I considered the statistics I could not help but make some observations which have taken the form of questions and statements:

• Have we become so attached to things that we are afraid that living without them is just not worth it?
• Have we created a false level of luxury that is unsustainable without extraordinary contributing factors to our income?
• How much is enough?
• What should we do now to dissuade future fears of financial instability?
• Is the real issue a broken value system that needs a course correction?
• Who should we allow to speak into our life about this matter?
• Is the Christian community any different than anybody else?
• What can the church do to help those in the church and the community with this issue?

I have chosen to make the statements in a personal format but I offer these as points of consideration for all of us as believers individually and as the church collectively.

• I need to determine my value system based upon the principles of scripture. This should be more than a nice sentence; it should be a practice I live.
• I need to determine how much is enough, what my level of luxury is going to be and live there. I do not need to continually give myself more.
• I need to live within my means.
• I need to practice Biblical charity rather than tipping God.
• I need to have financial accountability with godly people who can help me make wise choices and decisions.
• I need to help my church family.
• I need to help my church meet needs in our community.

It is interesting how one little survey in a newspaper can get you thinking. This one really made me ask myself some hard questions and consider some changes for my personal life. What about you?