A New Flu – Affluenza
Mark S. Roberti, Director of Stewardship & Development
Heartland Parishes of Ellis County

I been reading lately, with some consternation, of an Asia bird flu that scientist are working quite frantically for a cure. It is particularly virulent. It could, they fear, kill millions upon millions of people throughout the world. It almost seems like one of the 10 plagues which God inflicted on Pharaoh’s Egypt in the Book of Exodus. It seems to me that the moral state of the world is in such disarray that we are in for some kind of reckoning. In fact, I often marvel at God’s incredible patience and mercy.

More recently, I read an article about another flu that is already upon us. The author coins the name "Affluenza." It is at epidemic proportions, he set forth, and most all of us are infected.

This Affuenza, has creped into American families slowly, over a period of time. We have so much "stuff" that we don’t have enough room to put it all. We have bigger houses, more rooms, more furniture, larger garages, etc., yet our "things" fill all the extra space. How many more TV’s do we have now than you did when we were young? What about cars? What about electronic devices? Then there is cable TV, cell phones... it goes on an on.

The infirmity doesn’t infect us all at once. It starts when we make enough money that we don’t have to worry how you are going to pay our bills. Then we buy some of those near necessities we have always wanted but could never afford. Then we get the nicer car, the bigger and prettier house, and the classier furniture we want. We then add to that some recreational toys, pretty expensive recreational toys, for the whole family.

The next thing you know, our income pretty much levels out. By that time we are spending much more on conveniences and luxuries than we would have ever imagined. When the Church talks about the tithe, or a charity sends a letter, the request falls on deaf ears. "There is only so much we can do! The Church has plenty of money. Their staff is too big. What are they spending all that money on anyway?"

Then, some Christian asks our child or relative if he or she has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and they are gone. They have found something “better.”  They never were properly catechized. Why didn’t the Church do something? How could their programs be so bad?

Worse yet, they may leave "religion" altogether. Still worse than that, they may live a life contrary to all that which we tried to teach them. I don’t have to provide examples. You have as many as I do.

Let me alert you in advance, the most common symptom of Affluenza is that we earn more, but we give no more --  and sometimes even less  -- to our Church and other charities. That’s when we know we are infected. What we still don’t realize, however, is the untold damage that has been done to our families in the process. We will find that out in years to come. Often, our families are sick, or dying, spiritually.  More sadness and disappointment is around the corner.

There is a cure for Affluneza. It’s stewardship. It can even reach deep into the sinew and marrow of spiritual life and bring our families complete healing.

You see, stewards understand that everything we have, are, or will ever become, is a grace from God. It’s a grace we should cherish and nurture, by returning our first fruits to God. Then, we truly appreciate what we have and what others need. When we truly understand “the what others need” part, we become more giving. We become more human. We become whole. We are happier.

Stewardship does not have an age. This conversion, this turning to God and depending upon Him, is ageless.  It results in more grace to us and others. It helps protect us. It helps protect our family. Scripture tells us, “Do not neglect to do good and share what you have. God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind” (Heb. 13:16).

This is the great challenge of our times.