Conspicuous Consumption
© Copyright 2012 - David Todeschini - all rights reserved

Where do I start? Do I make a "blanket statement" such as "Americans are spoiled"? Do I accuse Americans of being greedy and self-absorbed? Is it right for the pot to call the kettle "black"? No, my friends, I, for one will not put myself above any sin — for I am vulnerable and fall to temptation just like anyone else. Because we all fall short of the glory of God; because we all have our own unique shortcomings, we all need a Savior, and my testimony, I believe, says it all — at least for me.

Part of the reason I am writing this is to try to heal the spiritual sickness that has infected this great nation – a sickness that is transmitted through the air by sound waves, like the formidable “weirding module” used by the character Paul Atreides in the movie “Dune.”^[1]

The “sound waves” that convey the contagion are the incessant and repetitive commercials that fill the radio and TV stations. Hey! Listen up! If I am not in the market for a new car, you’re not going to sell one to me by airing six commercials during a one hour program. Perhaps this sort of repetitious brainwashing works with some people; but it has the opposite effect with me.

However, apparently, with so much revenue at stake, there must be a good reason for these companies to try to pound it into a listener’s or viewer’s brain that he or she needs a new car – or for that matter, in perhaps the most ridiculous example of gratuitous vanity I’ve ever seen, a commercial that tries to convince a young woman that she needs to visit a doctor and then take medication that could permanently turn her blue eyes brown, or even cause serious illness, in order to make her eyelashes longer. Is this a joke? No, it is the reality of how far the American people have languished and wallowed in the mire of their own self-image – in the words of “The Preacher”:

“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity”.^[2]

Better it would be for the betterment of Mankind, I should think, that if (at least) the millions spent on making one’s eyelashes longer, could be diverted into the feeding of a starving child. And even in times of economic adversity, this nation (USA) has always been much better-off than the rest of the world. Historically, Americans have always been generous, and this country because of God’s blessings, has always been a leader in helping those less fortunate than ourselves. You might think that you alone could not make a difference in the world – that what meager pittance you could contribute wouldn’t make any significant difference in ending world poverty or hunger… but it will make a difference; it will make a little difference; it will make an insignificant difference in the scheme of things – but most of all, it will make all the difference imaginable to a needy child, and you will be blessed for it.  

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”^[3]

And vanity notwithstanding, is there any doubt that the problem of world hunger and poverty would have been solved long ago, if evil politicians could be prevented from squandering the productivity of nations, and usurping the creative genius of scientists in order to develop weapons, and instead, focused these resources on the expression of love for their fellow man? How many starving children could have been fed; how many lives could have been saved with simple and inexpensive medicines; how many children sleeping on the dirt floors of thatched huts in third-world countries could be sleeping in warm beds, if the billions spent on war, could have been invested in doing what the Lord commanded? It takes less than a dollar a day to save one of these “little ones” the Lord spoke about. The politicians and world leaders don’t care – they are too busy inventing bogeymen and conducting false flag operations^[4] to justify war, and manipulating the media into brainwashing the world into believing it.

If you take what Jesus said seriously, you should also remember God’s promise to us:

            “Bring ye all the tithes^[5] into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”^[6]

                God’s promises to us are true. I don’t know about you, but I’d trade the opening of “the windows of heaven” for longer eyelashes any day. James, the brother of Jesus wrote:       

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”.^[7]

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”^[8]

            And also, you should know that helping someone much less fortunate than you has its own rewards – something that is not mentioned in God’s Word; something that is a precious gift that you will cherish forever. I will not presume to spell it out for you. This is something that you will discover for yourself when you decide to make the commitment to sponsor one of these “little ones” – either with a one-time gift, or an ongoing monthly donation.

            It is not difficult for me to ask for money – especially when it means so much. Don’t let another day go by – please! Once you do, you will be grateful for the message. It will save the life of an innocent child, and you will be blessed in ways that you cannot imagine. This is not my promise; it is the Word of the living God. Click the link below and help a needy child right now.

http://www.mychildfund.org/challenge/Net4TruthUSA