“We live in an extremely consumeristic culture, and the pressure to live a particular kind of lifestyle is tremendous. From this perspective, then, Christians may have a faith-based conviction to give, but the larger consumer-oriented society and culture tempts people to live to purchase ever increasing goods for themselves, so that generous giving becomes impossible.”
Michael Emerson, Christian Smith, and Patricia Snell in Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008) 126.
The research of Emerson, Smith, and Snell communicates that generous giving in the American culture is virtually impossible. No wonder Jesus of the rich man in Mark 10 that to “go, sell, give, come and follow” was only possible with God’s help. May God help us do the impossible!