The truth is we’re already rich. No matter where you stand on the economy, we live in the richest time of the richest nation in history. (…) For example, in our Western culture today, we observe a five-day workweek. Think about what that means. Most people have to work only five days in order to have seven days’ worth of food and shelter and clothing and health care. We take it for granted. But that’s unique to our little window of history. And it’s still not the case everywhere. What’s more, there are households of three, four or more people that send only one person into the workplace to earn money. And with that one person’s earnings, the entire family can amass enough money in five days to give them food and shelter for seven days. Outside of work, that leaves at least fifty hours per week for nothing but leisure. Most people in the world can only imagine such luxuries. (…) [Do you ever get] bad cell phone coverage? That’s a rich-people problem. Can’t decide where to go on vacation? Rich-people problem. Computer crashed? Slow internet? Car trouble? Flight delays? Amazon doesn’t have your size? All rich-people problems. Next time there is a watering ban in your neighbourhood, just remember that many people, mostly women, carry jugs on their heads for hundreds of [metres] just so they can have water for cooking and drinking. They can’t imagine a place where there’s so much extra water that house after house just sprays it all over the ground [watering the grass]. Feeling guilty? I hope not. That’s not my purpose. On the contrary (…) guilt rarely results in positive behaviour. But gratitude? Great things flow from a heart of gratitude.

Andy Stanley

Source: Andy Stanley, How To Be Rich, 2013, Grand Rapids Michigan: Zondervan, p.28-30