As a child of the 80’s, I grew up watching Robin Leach.  He brought the lives of celebrities into my home with the hit show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.  I loved his English accent, but I loved what he represented even more:  outrageous wealth.  A 400 foot yacht with a basketball court?  Now that’s living.  That was something I could get on board with.  When I was younger, I was impressed by people who could buy anything they wanted.  Now I’m impressed by people who could buy anything they want, but choose not to because they realize that ‘stuff” has no lasting value.

We’re in the middle of a five part series that explores the five uses of money.  This month, we’re looking at lifestyle.  In our effort to attain the “lifestyles of the rich and famous” we often overspend and become the poster children for the “lifestyles of the poor and infamous.”  It doesn’t usually happen overnight, but it does happen over time.  There is a phenomenon called “lifestyle creep.”  While there is no official definition that I can find for lifestyle creep, I have come up with this definition:

Lifestyle creep (v.) – the allocation of additional resources dedicated to selfish wants.  The subtle change we make when our wants become our needs.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to his disciple, Timothy when he was teaching him how to address a certain group of people.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  (NIV). Timothy 6:17-19

Some of you are reading this and just tuned out.  You think this doesn’t apply to you because he’s talking to rich people.  But, how do you define rich?  Most of us don’t feel rich because we know many others who have more than us.  But, have you ever stopped to think how much you really have?  According to Global Rich List (www.globalrichlist.com), if you earn $37,000 per year, you are in the top four percent of wage earners in the world.  If you earn $50,000 per year, you are in the top one percent of wage earners in the world.  Put in that perspective, most of us are doing just fine and would be considered rich.  Paul is talking to us!