Philipose Vaidyar
Decades ago, life moved to a different rhythm. We worked not
to impress, but to sustain. The purpose of our income was clear: to take care
of our families, including our growing children, and our aging parents who needed our
support. Income was not just money; it was a tool of responsibility.
Back
then, children’s needs shaped our
priorities. As they grew, our care deepened—involving school fees, exam supplies, transportation, hostel arrangements, books, and clothing. Every decision was rooted
in usefulness and necessity. Choices were measured carefully
against the family’s overall needs, and we used what we had wisely.
Purchases were purposeful. A refrigerator was replaced
only when the old one stopped working. Phones weren’t changed every year; they
were used until they wore out. Appliances were evaluated for how they served
the home, not how they made us look.
There
were no EMIs, no credit cards, and no digital wallets, which discouraged impulse buys. We planned, saved, and spent
thoughtfully. We stretched every rupee, not to accumulate luxury, but to ensure
stability. What little was left was saved for an emergency, a future need, or a
child’s next educational step. The focus was on provision, and somehow, there was a deep contentment in that.
But now…
We live
in a culture overtaken by Emotional
shopping. Needs have been overtaken by wants—cleverly marketed as
“must-haves.” We no longer buy because something is broken; we buy because
something newer exists, and the pursuit is endless.
EMIs,
credit cards, digital wallets—they’ve made spending feel painless and planning
feel outdated. We ask not, “Do I truly need this?” but “Can I afford
the monthly payment?” Every swipe promises joy, but the joy is fleeting.
We’ve
shifted from a mindset of giving and
growing to one of earning and
upgrading. We work to spend, and spend to feel alive. But strangely, the
more we accumulate, the less satisfied we feel. Contentment has been replaced
by restlessness, and meaning has been diluted into consumption.
In this
transition—from provision to possession—we’ve forgotten the value of enough.
But maybe
it’s not too late. Maybe we can step off the treadmill. May be we can return to
asking the deeper questions:
What do I truly need? What is worth saving for? Who am I living for?
Because
the most important things in life were never things. They were people, purpose,
and peace. True wealth was never in what we bought—it was in what we gave.
A Challenge and
Reflection
As you
pause at this point in the journey, ask yourself:
- What drives my
spending—necessity or emotional gratification?
- Have I exchanged contentment
for convenience?
- Am I providing for my
family, or performing for the world?
Here’s the challenge:
This week, choose one area of your life where consumption has become
automatic—maybe it's tech, clothing, food delivery, or online shopping. Instead
of spending, stop. Reflect. Save that amount or redirect it into something
lasting: a gift to someone in need, time with family, or a handwritten letter
to someone you love. Reclaim intentionality—one decision at a time.
The invitation
is simple, yet powerful: Break the cycle. Rediscover the joy of
enough.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money
and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you.'"
(Bible - Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
May we
return to a life of purpose, rooted not in possession, but in peace. Not in accumulation, but in abiding.
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