More Or Less (Library Edition): Choosing A Lifestyle Of Excessive Generosity (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
Shinabarger confronts the comfortable lifestyle that exists in the western world. Compared to the majority of the people I interact with on a daily basis, I would be toward the lower end of the income bracket. Yet Shinabarger correctly points out that I am very rich. My family owns two cars (small ones, but still we own them), we have weeks worth of food in the cupboard, we go on vacation, we own a house (or at least paying one off). This makes me rich. I have more than enough. Therefore, I could stand to give some of my excess to the needs of my community. Shinabarger does not guilt, but in a positive way encourages readers to analyze their own life and let God work at making us more generous. This book is also high on practical ideas and application. A great read. More or Less is more of a firm prod toward downsizing your life for the good of others, but less of a Christian-based, expansively considered treatise on caring for others with material goods. Much of the book rings true and is a helpful challenge to the excesses of modern materialistic culture, and in that respect its message is badly needed. I know that I need to consider more often what in my life is necessary and what is excess, so I can open my hands more readily to those around me who may need it.My one criticism of the book is that though marketed as something of a Christian book, Shinabarger mentions relatively little of Christianity in the book, and obviously seeks to appeal to broad culture to be more generous and help their neighbors, obviously to gain some support for his personal entrepreneurial, philanthropic ventures, which is fine and good. But it would've been helpful to delve deeper into why our faith reinforces what we do, and not simply settle for what feels like a much-repeated tome of "downsize, do good, stand with the oppressed, fight for justice" aphorisms. He also puts some emphasis on more popular, hip concerns that may be somewhat valid (creation care like recycling vinyl billboards) but ignores things that I find much more significant, like cash donations to fighting the injustices of abortion.The big issues, such as hunger, disease, education and the like can only be treated as we all downsize our bloated style of living—thank you for challenging me in this, Jeff. But I feel that the book fails to sufficiently address the ways that we NEED excess—not to care for ourselves, but for others. IF we're not careful we simply devolve into a socialistic "everyone share and everything will be wonderful" mindset, when I believe history shows us that it is often not about the rich going without (although we can and should learn how to do that to an extent, for we are indeed rich)—but about those with excess resources retaining the necessary degree of those so that opportunities can be fostered to help meet the needs of broader communities and the world. So instead of asking, "Is a car really necessary? Couldn't I sell my car and walk?" Why don't we ask how owning and taking care of our vehicles can be used to help our neighbors, and to help us be as efficient as we can be to be productive so we have extra to help meet the needs of others? In the end, I believe helping isn't about getting rid of what we have, but utilizing our restrained and carefully considered excess with wise management and love. Which, ultimately, is what I think Jeff is saying. So in that, I congratulate him for making me ask, what is enough?I would recommend Tim Keller's Ministries of Mercy, and would like to read When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, which looks to be a helpfully thoughtful book on broader strategies for giving.
What do You think about More Or Less (Library Edition): Choosing A Lifestyle Of Excessive Generosity (2013)?
Thought provoking in this world that emphasizes excessive consumption.
—sayd
Inspiring. So much wisdom about your relationship to your stuff.
—mrscaliber45
I found the chapter on "access" to be particularily interesting.
—jodienaylor
Right message, a bit too religious but it's fine
—slcrawford1955
