Consumption

We are all consumers; in fact humans must consume for survival. However, many people in the world find it difficult to meet even their basic needs for water and food, yet in 'the West' we seemingly live in a world of plenty where consumerism is rampant.

But just how much do we consume in comparison with people in other countries, and are our habits sustainable in a world with finite resources? 

The map below shows the world drawn so that countries are shown in proportion to the amount of natural resources they consume - a so-called 'ecological footprint'.

Each country has been stretched to show the total national consumption of resources versus the global average. The colour also indicates the amount of natural resources that an average citizen of that country consumes:

At first glance you might think that something doesn't quite look right, and upon further examination you'd be right! What's happened to Africa? Why does the UK look so bloated?

Compared with most countries in Africa, the UK as a nation consumes a disproportionate amount of natural resources, much of which is imported, and hence looks relatively bloated on the map. 

To put this in perspective, the average citizen in the UK consumes over nine times as much natural resources as someone living in Mozambique. If every one of the six billion people in the world consumed as much natural resources as the average Briton does, we would need three earths to sustain the total consumption.

Much of our consumption of resources in the UK goes beyond that of basic needs, while many of our global neighbours struggle to find even enough to survive. Where's the justice in that? Do we each somehow deserve more just because we live in Britain? And how do we seem to get caught up so much in the expectations of our consumer-driven society? 

In Luke 12:15 Jesus says to the crowd "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Then in Luke 12:22-23, after telling the parable of the rich fool, Jesus says to his disciples "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." And in Luke 12:27-31 he continues "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."

Click here to read Luke 12:13-34 in full if you have the time.

Take a moment or two to think about the injustice in the global distribution of wealth and resources, and ask God to reveal his heart of justice to you.

Are we good stewards of what God has provided? Thank God for his provision and ask for wisdom in using his resources.

Lord, let justice flow like a river. 

Why not measure your own Ecological Footprint at http://ecofoot.org

For further information about global footprints link to the WWF Living Planet Report 2006.

For ideas from a Christian perspective about reducing consumption see Christian Ecology Link, Tearfund or Christian Aid - click on the name for more details.