How can it turn around so quickly? One day we’re buying the line that giving is better than receiving; the next day we’re buying anything we can get our hands on.
How is it that we can talk about how wonderful it is to give to others when we know that just a day later we’ll be spending much, much more on ourselves.
On Christmas Day we celebrate with friends and family and talk about how awful it is that Christmas has been over commercialised, yet 24 hours later we’re lining up at shopping centres ready to send our credit cards into meltdown. It would seem that we’re not so averse to commercialism at this time of year after all, or are we happy to be ‘non-commercialised’ for just one day a year?
Most cities around Australia start their big sales on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas. We wait an extra day and that always seems to be a good reason to grumble. Each year we see people on TV talking about how awful it is that they have to wait an extra 24 hours before they max out their credit cards. They think it would be better all around if those who work in the retail industry only had the one day off for Christmas to recover from the extra stress of last minute Christmas shoppers before they face the barrage of post-Christmas shoppers.
In a first this year, the shops in Fremantle were open on Boxing Day so that people could get their shopping fix. Thousands of people flocked to the port city to grab a bargain.
Have we really become that addicted to consumerism that we can’t relax with our families for an extra few hours? Do we really need to fill our homes with extra ‘stuff’ that much and that soon?
I enjoy getting a bargain as much as anyone but I have no real desire to be crammed in next to thousands of other people, all wanting to be served at once. I have enough self-control and patience to wait a week or two until it all calms down.
Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading From giving to greed? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.
I have to admit that we were there this morning – the kids played on a cousin’s Wii and that clinched what they wanted to do with some money the gramps had given them. Of course Wii’s are sold out EVERYWHERE, so it was a particularly unpleasant experience for nothing.
But I think we are very consumeristic – it’s the new religion. Shopping centres are the new temples and marketers are our high priests, with an army of assistants running around ready to accept our offerings. The goods we purchase and brands we wear prove our devotion to the great god of consumption. And no, I’m not being facetious!
Hmmm me too mate. I needed to go to the post office today (i’m back at work), but the thought of hitting Garden City (our local giant mall) really wasn’t too appealing. We’ve got a smaller more localised shopping centre a touch south of where I am, and I’ve never been to it. noticed the other day though it had a Post Office, so thought it might be a bit quieter than the place with all the department stores and big well known shops.
It was great! got a car park straight away, went to the post office and did what i needed, then had lunch and a coffee at gloria jeans (no food court), and on my way out I picked up a bargan at Electronic’s Boutique – Sim City 4 for $10 🙂 🙂
I’ve been playing Sim City 3000 for about 9 years, and version 4 has been out 8 years so I thought maybe I could treat myself to an upgrade………
As I said I do enjoy a bargain but the post Christmas sales seem to go so far beyond just saving a little money. People seem compelled to buy stuff that they don’t really need.
Deano, you got a bargain. You already know it’s something you’ll use.
Alex, I think you’re right. We were created to worship. I’m just not sure whether all the shopping rituals are about worshipping consumersim or simply worshipping ourselves. We feel that we are worthy of all ‘good gifts’ and nothing will stop us from consuming anything we want.
We happily stayed well away from the shops yesterday, and don’t feel like we missed out on anything. I can’t believe how many people shop just for the sake of it – would their lives be worse off if they didn’t get that slow cooker?
John and I are at the point where there is very little we need. We decided not to exchange gifts with each other so that I could get more for the grandkids. I did give my daughter and niece gift cards so they could get clothes that they like, our tastes being different, and I imagine my niece was out shopping yesterday.
I will be taking advantage of the after holiday sales this year. I hope to pick up some bargains for myself and my family but I will also be picking up things for the womens shelter and warm clothes and boots for kids that I’ll put away for next year and donate in the fall.
What really upset me this year was that 200 people showed up at the soup kitchen to serve the homeless on Christmas day. 200 people to serve 250! Those folks feel really good about what they did and had a great time with the others that showed up. Most of them won’t show up at the kitchen again until next Christmas but the need is there the other 364 days.
It is not human to believe that giving is better than receiving….It is Christ-like….
Even when we are in the giving mood we will always be tempted top be in the receiving mood…
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7