Penned by Jimmie Burroughs
Five million youngsters each year die due to malnutrition across the world…Not as there isn’t really enough food, or enough money, but as there are not enough folk willing to stop it who’ve got the resources.
While millions starve around the world, there are two extremes commonplace with the employment of money:
On one end of the spectrum there’s wild extravagance:
The most expensive wedding in history was that of Princess Salama who was married to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1981 at the price tag $70 million; that will be $100 million in the current day’s dollars. In huge towns like New York, multi-million dollar wedding are common.
In August 2011, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries were married in an approximate $6 million wedding. The couple separated in October after 72 days of marriage.
On the other end of the spectrum there is extraordinary stinginess:
Hetty Green died at age 81 in NY City. She was the first successful woman trader on Wall Street; her nick name was the “Witch of Wall Street.” She was listed as the “World’s Greatest Miser” in the Guinness Book of World Records. Estimates of her net worth went from $100 million to $200 million (or $1.9 “$3.8 bln in 2006 bucks). If it was $200 million as her biographer believes, it would have made her the richest woman in the world at the time.
Hetty was so tight that she would not turn the heat on and heated oatmeal on the office radiator instead of using energy to heat water at home. She was wearing the same garments and undergarments until they were worn out. Her son broke his leg and Hetty delayed treatment to try to get him into a free treatment hospital for the poor. The lad finally had to have his leg amputated.
A couple was discovered dead in their apartment. They both had died, according to their autopsies, from severe malnutrition. When their home was searched by authorities, they discovered several paper bags stuffed with money; in all there was some $40,000.00. They had plenty of money to buy food but apparently were too tight to spend it and instead they starved themselves to death. That’s a real instance of loving money far more than life.
Some individuals say that money is the base of all evil, but that isn’t correct; the Bible states it’s “The love of money that’s the base of all evil.” (1Timothy 6:10) Money of itself is amoral. Cash is nice to have, particularly when it is employed wisely with the wants of others under consideration. However both extravagance and tightfistedness are a self-centered misapplication of money. While it is a person’s own business as to how they decide to spend their own money, or not to spend it, it’s a shame when it is squandered, hoarded, or misused, when there are such a lot of desperate desires around the globe.
I have often heard people say, “If I had that much cash, I might give it away to help others.” Would they? Maybe, but if they aren’t prepared to help others now, with what they have, I am not satisfied they would if they did have a great quantity of it.
There are a lot of wealthy people who do help in a number of ways, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and lots more. But the rich only represent about 2% of the people. It is what the other 98% do to help diminish hunger and suffering that counts the most.
A cleverly planned family budget should always include an amount for charity. A good rough rule is to give 10% of your wealth to charity and save 10% for yourself and live on the rest. If that’s impossible for you at this time, I encourage you to work toward that goal. If more folks took helping the less fortunate seriously, there would be much less hunger and suffering in the world.
There are several ways in which you can help. If you’re an affiliate of a church, support needs thru your church. There also are many not for profit organizations who are making great strides to help relieve hunger, supply education and meet spiritual needs of kids around the planet. I support “Compassion International”. They have a completely clean name for truth. For around $40 per month you can help a pathetic child somewhere to have food on the table, attire to wear and an opportunity for an education. You will be informed the child’s name you are helping and receive a picture and information regarding them, and have the opportunity to write to them on occasions if you so need.
I’m hoping you will take this great need into consideration. Helping merely a kid or 2 might appear of tiny value when the needs are so great, but the life of each kid is intensely dear and just helping one is of great importance. If a lot of folk opt to help, it would mean so much for so many kids. I encourage you to begin today with “Compassion International”, or the organization of your choosing. You and I together can make a difference.
About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who has been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for over 30 years. He is a dedicated believer in Jesus Christ, and considers helping people to become their very best through personal growth is his first focus in life. His website contains over 600 articles on preparing yourself for success thru personal development and the things which accompany personal development. His writing centers on the truth instead of fluff that just tickles the ears.