Drop in Consumerism . . . Bad?

In the last decade or so there has been much critique on the consumer driven culture in which we live. Many people have spoken out against this vast expanse of consumerism. It finally seems that the message has been heard (well maybe) and it is being viewed as a horrible thing. It is actually being viewed as something which we should actually fear.

Many news outlets are reporting that for the first time since records have been kept, Americans are spending little on Christmas retail. This is being interpreted as a horrible thing because it is seen only as a result of a poor economy. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that the slump in sales at Nordstrom is because so many people have finally gotten the idea that consumerism has gotten out of control and we should cut back. But I am surprised that this decrease in consumerism is only being seen as a bad thing.

Now why is this of any importance. I think it is time we rethink our measurement of economic strength. Our economy is seen as good when it is growing and people are spending more and more money, whether they have it or not. If most Americans started spending wisely (ie. not buying in excess or on excessive credit), it would appear from an economic standpoint that we are entering a recession or even a depression. I think it may be time that we look at economic strength not by GDP, but by whether or not people are able to get the products they actually need. The economy should not be considered bad because many people cannot purchase (with or without credit) the newest biggest products out there. It should be considered bad when people cannot purchase the food they need to feed their families, or if they cannot afford their mortgage. We ought to rethink how we measure the strength of the economy.

You might be wondering what this economic editorial is doing on this blog. Well, God calls us to be good stewards of the resources he has given us. The way we view economics will affect how we steward those resources. At this time of economic slowdown do not worry about liquidity in the market, or if you are no longer going to be able to make money off the speculative market. At this time of economic slowdown look at your pocket book and look for ways to become a better steward of the resources God has given you. These "hard" times may actually turn out to be a great time of spiritual development in the area of stewardship.