“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NASB95)
In his book, The Death of Ethics in America, syndicated columnist Cal Thomas addressed the pursuit of “the bottom line” by many in this country. Though this is almost 20 years old (published in 1988) the truth he speaks is a fresh as yesterday’s news. He shares a response to an article by Bob Garfield, columnist for the Washington Post about “Yuppies,” which he defines as “young men and women who pursue material goals to the detriment of more meaningful ones.” This letter to the editor is very insightful. Some of the references are a bit dated, but I believe you will understand the tenor of the article.
“I’ve lived both lives, Yuppie and non-Yuppie. In the first, I was married to a professional woman and on our dual incomes we Club Med-ed, sportscar raced, alpine skied and Kennedy Centered our fourteen-year marriage into oblivion.
“I’m now forty-two, remarried to a woman who gave up her ‘professional’ career to provide full-time care for our one-and fiveyear-old daughters, and living in Gaithersburg (Maryland) on one salary. Trips to Australia and Europe, Saturday night dining at Nathans, and Wolf Trap concerts are distant memories. Vacations are now taken in our nine-year-old used pop-up camper, and dining out means ‘Hooray! Daddy’s bringing home a pizza from Piazammos.’ We’ve just started into the second round of . . . one hundred readings of ‘Pat the Bunny’ for our one-year-old. Happiness is my wife and two restless kids picking me up at National [Airport] after a three-day business trip. We all cry, because we are so happy to be together again.
“Satisfaction level in my first life measured about 2 on the 10 scale. Measured now, satisfaction is about 9.5 . . .”
On one occasion, Jesus addressed his listeners after a man interrupted Him seeking redress concerning a family inheritance issue. “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Instead we are to be “rich toward God” (v. 21).
In His sermon on the mount, Jesus exhorts us to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). What’s important to you? — Jeff Keele
n his book, The Death of Ethics in America, syndicated columnist Cal Thomas addressed the pursuit of “the bottom line” by many in this country. Though this is almost 20 years old (published in 1988) the truth he speaks is a fresh as yesterday’s news. He shares a response to an article by Bob Garfield, columnist for the Washington Post about “Yuppies,” which he defines as “young men and women who pursue material goals to the detriment of more meaningful ones.” This letter to the editor is very insightful. Some of the references are a bit dated, but I believe you will understand the tenor of the article.