I went by the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense. Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground and the stone wall was ruined.
-Proverbs 24:30-31
Ever heard the phrase "Consumer Economy"? Me too. And personally, I never liked it. So if you're reading this and you're a "consumer", hopefully by the end of it you will make the conscience decision not to be. So what's going on with this whole consumer vs. producer thing? Well, it's a good thing you asked. let me break it down for you.
First, the whole "consumer economy" thing is based around you being a consumer. That is: one who consumes. You're just this spending commodity that walks around stores and buys stuff because you have nothing better to do. The goal: to spend, spend, spend. And when you're out of money, borrow, and spend some more. And when it's all over, you'll go back to work, earn some cash, and go do it again.
Now producers are a little different. But before I begin, allow me to disclaimer that of course we are all both producers and consumers to some degree. So don't take this to the literal extreme. The idea of this is to focus the mind, and body, and spirit to action. To bring forward what is so subliminal in our lives to the forefront and to address it.
So all that said, producers. That is: one who produces. Are you a producer? do you have a skill? can you fabricate metal, or work with wood? Can you fix cars, or grow plants, or hunt? Are you focused on producing more money for your household? or are you stuck in the spiral of consumerism? Producers are focused on making things.
So many of us men have been raised in an environment where production is completely absent from our lives. We've lost what it meant to create things. To see something through. We go to the cubicle, and type emails all day. We can't even produce a good meal with a kitchen full of food and spices. We have to order it in if we want it to taste good. So what's all this about? making change.
Feeling helpless? In despair? hopeless? Don't be. But what are you going to do this year to become a producer? This doesn't have to be your main source of income, but maybe someday it could be. The point is to get out of the spiral of consumerism, and commit to learning something you can give your family, and the world.
God created us to be producers. We're creators, and visionaries. As men, we take care of our families. We produce the necessary components for them to survive and to thrive. But so many are stuck. Well, it's time to get unstuck. It's time to start producing.