Meme meme

When was the last time you did something in your life ENTIRELY and PURELY for the sake of someone else, some cause, anything other than yourself? When was the last time you did something so utterly unselfish in nature that would have earned a pat on the back from Mother Theresa herself?

Enter our generation, the consumer generation.

Consumerism is broadly defined as the order now based on the ever-increasing desire to purchase more goods and services in increasingly greater amounts. Now, the desire to purchase stuff is fine. Everyone needs stuff. Stuff is good. The keyword here is 'ever-increasing' - in short, more, more, more and more! We don't only need stuff - we need more, more, more and more stuff! We have a never ending list of things we need (or should I say want? The line between the two is thin in today's context).

Consume, and may all your dreams come true

This, in itself, isn't THAT bad. What's worse is the fact that what we need (want) is for me, me, me and me only! It's not like we want more food for the starving - 'Sure, we'll do community service, but what's in it for me?' 'Sure, I'll donate to charity, but will I make the newspaper headlines if I do make a huge donation?'

What happened to causes, for the sake of causes? What happened to romaticism? Even love is a transaction in these days - I love you because you make ME happy, I love you because you buy ME stuff. Meme, meme.

We need to start looking outside our narrow perspectives, outside our self-absorbed circle of thoughts.

What am I studying for?

Society says, I study for a degree so I can earn more money in the future.

Smart people say, I study because I can learn more about the job I want to do in the future.

Me?

...

I received some perspective while talking to Ken today. We were talking about how successful Christians were more likely to be able to influence more people and bring them to Christ. I made this comment: 'I guess if a person studies hard with that objective in mind, he won't miss the whole point - he won't get consumed by his own desire to get rich or simply be the best at his job - he has a greater calling'.

And it dawned upon me. That was my answer. Why was I studying all this stuff I probably won't touch in the future?

Because, it really is for His glory, to make His name known. For what value is there in worldly riches and fame, unless they serve a greater purpose? The pitfall, is getting consumed by the means and forgetting about the end in mind.

My aim - The Cross.