Tolstoy said, 'The antagonism between life and conscience may be removed either by a change of life or by a change of conscience.' Many of us have elected to adjust our consciences rather than our lives. Our powers of rationalization are unlimited. They allow us to live in luxury and indifference while others, whom we could help if we chose to, starve and go to hell.
Randy Alcorn's discussion in "Money, Possessions and Eternity" addresses a profound conflict between our moral beliefs and the realities of life. He highlights Leo Tolstoy's perspective that we may alleviate this conflict through altering either our lifestyle or our moral compass. Many individuals prefer to modify their consciences, convincing themselves that their choices are justifiable while living comfortably, despite the suffering of others.
This rationalization permits a life of luxury juxtaposed with the indifference to the plight of those in need. Alcorn urges readers to recognize this dissonance, and calls for a reevaluation of values, suggesting that true fulfillment lies not in material wealth but in actively helping those less fortunate.
