This year we have been doing the Treasure Principle Bible Study. I have really enjoyed the study for lots of reasons. Our conversations on Monday nights always leave me inspired to go out and start giving of my time and my money to something that matters. For eternity. For people. For the Kingdom of God. For a hurting world. And there are so many hurts; it can be a little overwhelming.
One of hurts that has been on my heart is human trafficking and the modern-day slave trade. I have recently been getting involved and getting to know some really cool ministries. And let me tell you, I had no idea. I am still floored when I think of what is going on in Houston and all over the world. And the more I learn, the more I have to do something. You can't learn about these things and then go back to normal.
And my prayer has been that I will be moved to let this idea of living for the Kingdom permeate my life. So that Addie grows up learning how to help a hurting world. So that our time, money and resources are spent helping a hurting world. The main gist of the Treasure Principle is that where you spend your time and money show you where your heart is.
While Americans, even Christians (even me!), tend to believe that the one who dies with the most toys win, the reality is that you can't take anything with you. But...you can send it ahead. And you do that by investing NOW in the kingdom of God.
So Matt and I are trying to be more deliberate. It is a daunting and challenging task that I know we will never do perfectly (or anywhere near that!). Thankfully, there is grace for when we fall short.
One of the ways we are convicted to be more deliberate is the companies that we support with our money. Because, like it or not, we vote with our money. Probably more than we do on election day. We are telling the companies that we buy from that we are fine with how they do business, and we are supporting their ethics (or lack there-of).
One of the two issues that we have decided that we can't budge from, even when it is very inconvenient, is the plight of the unborn and child trafficking.
And this is where it gets sticky.
Because a lot of the food we buy profits from the child trafficking and abortion industries.
For example, Frito Lay, Nestle and PepsiCo use aborted fetal cells to test artificial flavors. Articles: Here, Here.
And all of the chocolate I love to eat? Unless it is fair trade (which is a very small percentage of the chocolate we consume), it is farmed by children that are being trafficked. Hersey and Nestle are two of the worst companies. Articles: Here, Here.
So what can we do? I know that will look different for each person. But I do think we all need to be more deliberate. What we buy and where we spend our money MATTER. It is more expensive (sometimes a lot more expensive) to buy products that are fair-trade. And I really miss eating fritos with my favorite bar-b-que sandwich. But...I want my decisions to make a difference. And that chocolate doesn't seem nearly as appealing now anyway.
And for those that choose to celebrate Halloween, here is a great article with suggestions for ethical Halloween candy . And, I promise...my next post will be more fun :).
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