Your life is horrible

I saw the video below and it made me laugh. It is a collection of scenes from different infomercials edited together where people have a really hard time because they do not have whatever product is being sold.



Excellent acting aside, the message is clear: “look how difficult your life is because you don’t own this”. You can either buy this product or go on having a horrible life. When we see it put so blatantly we wonder how anyone could fall for such a ploy but it is a lie that every commercial is trying to tell us. “You can not be truly happy without _______!” Ads are based on creating dissatisfaction and perceived need.


Most of us are rich when measured by any worldwide standard but we measure ourselves by those richer than us, or by the things we want, and feel poor and dissatisfied.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. I need to hear that message the next time I feel I “need” a new cell phone or pair of shoes. I need to realize that commercials are lying to me. I need to remember that I am rich. The letter to Timothy goes on to say:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

May we all take hold of the life that is truly life.

Mark Wallace