Too Much of a Good Thing is Bad

Proverbs 30:8 says, "give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." (NIV)

[In the Latin Vulgate, is says "vanitatem et verba mendacia longe fac a me mendicitatem et divitias ne dederis mihi tribue tantum victui meo necessaria"]

Source: Ecological Footprints Tim De Chant, Per Square Mile

(This map shows how many "earths" does each specified country
consume  for their personal needs.)

We know how important food is, and how important our necessities are. However, today's era is filled with the business trying to persuade people to use too much resources. To make things short, the economic rulers of the world are promoters of over-consumption of our limited resources. From extravagant houses to enormous unhealthy amount of food, these people use man's utmost weakness "desire" - whose control centre is located in the brain. The victims of these trends are poor familes and mother nature itself. 

Ponder on the following examples:

1. The citizens of the United States of America throw out 200,000 tons of edible food daily - what a waste!

2. Many citizens from developed countries are more likely to use their own cars rather than ride on public transportation.

3. The simplicity of natural surroundings is essentially ignored by many developed and aspiring "developing" countries. Skyscrapers are not determinants to economic success!

4. Everything is disposable - even wives and husbands! (Gladly, there is still no divorce laws in my home country.) 

5. Most products are packaged in a disposable, fancy, shiny, aesthetic-minded plastic packaging. The packaging is non-biodegradable! What a waste1

6. Despite having laws limiting the use of plastic bags, most Philippine products (even books) are wrapped in plastic. How ironic!


Contentment, my brothers and sisters, is the solution to the problem - even if it is against sound business principle.