We live in a time of enormous profligacy.

Translation: it nearly seems like everyone is “rich.”

And it’s nice to see so many comfortable. Also, many with money are generous. God’s peace to them.

But excess?

We are certainly at that point (witness garbage bins after Christmas).

Witness also Jeff Bezos (Amazon) with a yacht so large they had to dismantle an old bridge in Europe so it could pass (while Amazon workers get minimal pay). Witness Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), able to spend $100 million on an underground bunker (and not even miss it). A headline yesterday: “Just A Billion Doesn’t Cut It On This Island In Florida.” Everyone has at least a luxury car or monstrous pick-up.

Quite some time.

One should also ask why so few recall numerous warnings about materialism in Scripture.

“As for you, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted, your fine wardrobe has grown moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion shall be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. The cries of the harvester have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You lived in wanton luxury on the earth, you fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter” (James 5:1-6).

Hear it again: “weep and wail over your impending miseries.”

Is this why so many billionaires are building shelters, and why there is a phenomenon among the young called “doom spending”?

[resource: Future Events]