Comments on: How Much is Enough? http://joshuablankenship.com/blog/2009/04/14/how-much-is-enough/ Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:08:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Aaron http://joshuablankenship.com/blog/2009/04/14/how-much-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-230977 Aaron Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:41:46 +0000 http://joshuablankenship.com/blog/?p=7378#comment-230977 This is a difficult discussion. You're leaning on the term "adequate," which isn't a bad thing, but to play the devil's advocate, adequate is a relative term. And yes, on a strictly monetary measuring scale — $1 = $1 — yes, we all make more than 90% of the world, but why do I never see cost of living corrections to get a more accurate depiction of wealth? And, to be honest, I'm pretty sure that even with that adjustment we as Americans still make more than 90% of the world. But, one thing I struggle with is why is it wrong to want a better life? Who are you, or I, or anyone, to tell someone what is too much for them? If they're gaining their wealth through ethical and legal means (and that is an assumption I think we all have to set as a standard for sake of argumentation), what right do anyone of us have to say someone has to stop earning more for them and their family? Should they stop complaining when they can only afford 10 Hummers and not 15? Probably. But I don't see where it's Biblically wrong to possess wealth. Having worked in a church and seen a lot of the numbers, tithing is much like the tax base of America. I'd love real numbers, and if my memory serves me correct, isn't it something like 80% of tithes are from 20% of the people? Money isn't a bad thing, the LOVE of money is a bad thing. I would love to make more of it, not because I love seeing the numbers get bigger on my bank statements, but because I know I can do so much more for so many more people with more of it. I like the phrase "how much more pie can you eat," but it does a logical disservice in assuming that there is only one kind of pie, and that you can only attain that one pie multiple times. Without the realization that there are better types of pie, you don't get a clear picture. This is a difficult discussion. You’re leaning on the term “adequate,” which isn’t a bad thing, but to play the devil’s advocate, adequate is a relative term. And yes, on a strictly monetary measuring scale — $1 = $1 — yes, we all make more than 90% of the world, but why do I never see cost of living corrections to get a more accurate depiction of wealth? And, to be honest, I’m pretty sure that even with that adjustment we as Americans still make more than 90% of the world.

But, one thing I struggle with is why is it wrong to want a better life? Who are you, or I, or anyone, to tell someone what is too much for them? If they’re gaining their wealth through ethical and legal means (and that is an assumption I think we all have to set as a standard for sake of argumentation), what right do anyone of us have to say someone has to stop earning more for them and their family? Should they stop complaining when they can only afford 10 Hummers and not 15? Probably. But I don’t see where it’s Biblically wrong to possess wealth. Having worked in a church and seen a lot of the numbers, tithing is much like the tax base of America. I’d love real numbers, and if my memory serves me correct, isn’t it something like 80% of tithes are from 20% of the people?

Money isn’t a bad thing, the LOVE of money is a bad thing. I would love to make more of it, not because I love seeing the numbers get bigger on my bank statements, but because I know I can do so much more for so many more people with more of it.

I like the phrase “how much more pie can you eat,” but it does a logical disservice in assuming that there is only one kind of pie, and that you can only attain that one pie multiple times. Without the realization that there are better types of pie, you don’t get a clear picture.

]]> By: Brad http://joshuablankenship.com/blog/2009/04/14/how-much-is-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-230952 Brad Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:21:43 +0000 http://joshuablankenship.com/blog/?p=7378#comment-230952 I like to call it rich people problems. "Oh my AC went out - one of my THREE". Yeah, rich people problems. Great post. I like to call it rich people problems. “Oh my AC went out – one of my THREE”. Yeah, rich people problems. Great post.

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