Welcome back to the podcast.

We hope your Christmas was delightful and Christ honoring.

I'm guessing the holiday did not pass without you feeling it's cost to report say that

American adults spend over $900 on Christmas gifts each total of over $1 trillion shelled

out on electronics, video games, clothes, books, jewelry, music, toys, and one of the most

beloved gifts for all gifts cards.

While it's now thick with those gift cards, how do we live contentedly in this overabundant

consumer culture?

The question is not only on the minds of Americans, in fact, today's question arrives from

South Wales, from a podcast listener named Lauren.

Hello, Pastor John, thank you for your ministry.

My question is regarding ethical consumerism.

As a Christian, I want to live a non-exploitative, Christ honoring life.

And as part of that, I've recently been making efforts to make lifestyle decisions which

are more ethical, such as switching to meat which does not arise from inhumane or cruel

treatment and by and close some sources where workers have received fair treatment.

However, having started down this path, I see that it could become all consuming, using

reusable containers, carrying my own takeaway cup everywhere, etc.

And I also anticipated it could have a fairly negligible impact as I'm just one person.

So how do we navigate a life where consumable goods are so abundant?

I think Lauren puts her finger on a key issue, even in an answer to her own question, on

a key issue with the words, ethical consumerism could become all consuming.

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