The Stewardship Paradox

Special Installment: Stewardship Sunday
In his book, The Progress Paradox, Gregg Easterbrook argues that we've never had it so good, and we've never felt so lousy about it. How come? And what's the solution? The apostle Paul suggests it might have something to do with "hilarious" giving.

We’ve never had it better ... and we’ve never felt worse about it.

Or, to borrow a phrase: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

That’s the surprising state of affairs in our society today, as we discover that cash cannot create contentment and possessions don’t always provide us with a sense of peace. Sure, we may watch The Fabulous Life of Celebrity Super Spenders on VH1, and gawk at the extravagant shopping sprees of Hollywood’s best-paid superstars, but we know that most celebrities are just a few steps away from having a meltdown and ending up in rehab.

What grandma always said is true: Money can’t buy happiness.

Still, most of us expect that improvements in quality of life are going to make us feel better. But they don’t — at least not by themselves. In his new book The Progress Paradox, Gregg Easterbrook makes the point that life is getting better all the time: Our houses are bigger, our incomes are...