Our Promised Future?

As the technology age dawned, our social future looked bright. We were ‘promised’ prosperous times with satisfying jobs, lives of leisure and flying cars. Yet, more than ever, polls show that society believes we are on the wrong track. Violence, selfishness and uncertainty has increased depression, dispair and suicide. Something is very wrong. It feels like the end times? How did we digress from the supposedly idealic 1950’s to the apocalyptic 2010’s? Allow me to generalise:

1. Baby Boomers spent their kid’s inheritence by artificially inflating house and share prices, without training their children. 2. Generation X indulged in unsustainable levels of debt to try and match their parents assets, while ignoring their children. 3. Generation Y declared a pox on preceeding generations, while railing against the corrupt system. (e.g London riots )

Generational greed has brewed a toxic cocktail. We have stolen a sustainable economic and social future from our kids and grandkids, so we can gratify our desires. While stimulating ourselves with sex and power, we have failed to live or impart wisdom. Soon, Gen Z will justify euthenasia. At one level can we blame them? Our SYSTEM has failed. As Karl Marx correctly predicted, Captitalism will implode because of itself. No form of government can solve the corruption of our hearts.

In these days, the words of Paul seem apt: Live soberly righteously in this present world? How should we live in the present world?

1. Live Light: Avoid debt as much as possible. Our foot-print on this world will not be measured by ‘toys’ or ‘carbon impact’, it will be measured by our love for God and love for others. Value relationships more than assets. Let’s reject the greed of previous generations and be content with God’s goodness. We may have a richer life by renting, reducing expenses, working less and spending time with others.

2. Love well: The antithesis of greed is love. We do not love well. Token tax-deductible charitable donations may sooth our conscience, but they fall far short of the example of the Good Samaritan. Loving well will cause us to temper our desires and think of others. It will force us to make righteous life decisions that benefit not just our relatives, neighbours and community, but also future generations.

3. Long for the Lord: More than ever, let me encourage you. This world is not our home. Let it go and embrace the eternal wisdom that comes from Jesus Christ. As we long for the Lord, our lives will be a greater witness for Christ than any words we could ever preach. True wisdom will change our thinking. It is truely a liberating future.

Blessings

-JC

First Published On: 9 September, 2011