The Story of Stuff
January 23rd, 2008 JeffI’ve long been fascinated with how things work (hey I’m an engineer, go figure!), and particularly how the small actions of a few affect the life of the many and the environment around them. Today in our global economy, especially related to our rampant consumerism, we easily contributing to the demise of much of the developing world in all sorts of ways, economic, environmentally, emotional, socially, religiously, etc. What we are seeing is not the isolated effects of a few, but the worldwide effects of society bent on selfish pursuits.
Stewardship is the biblical term and mandate for managing our resources well. Being stewards of the Gospel of the Grace of God in Jesus Christ, being responsible to care for the poor and less-fortunate, and being required by God to care for His creation. With the discussion about Global Warming (is it true, or is it a crock?), perhaps the greater — but alas, less pressing yet more important — issue of stewardship has left the forefront of the discussion.
Being stewards of all the resources God lends us is more important than our own individual “rights” to do whatever we want. When I was a kid I really wanted an electronic keyboard. Nevermind that I never learned to play music on it, and that I probably spent dozens of hours playing with it. Our family finally got one as a present for us boys and I can remember fun times dancing to its beats. But I don’t know were it is now.
Whatever happened to that old Casio keyboard we had in the mid-80’s anyway? Kari’s is still around, but what about mine? Did we toss it in the garbage? …
- Watch “The Story of Stuff” (20 minute flash video)
