And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [Romans 12:2.]

To many of us, wealth represents a source of social independent and freedom. Without wealth we feel constrained to conform to behavior not particularly desirable.

In the media, in social environments and even in church, our consumer driven institutions teach us to accept practices that conflict with our religious, moral and ethical affirmations. We are asked to conform to lifestyles alien to our nature and we readily accept them, destructive as they may be.

We convince ourselves that conformity is essential to success and we adopt behavior established by material marketers promoting an ultimately secular reality. Not only do we accept the tendered lifestyles but we strive to rival and surpass our peers in possessions and affluence.