Extreme Giving versus Extreme Consumption

At The Man Eater an article on Extreme Philanthropy, somehow a phrase with which I, Tracy Gary, and our mutual friends at Bolder Giving have been associated. To put it in perspective, assume that you had more money than you could spend, more than you wanted your children to spend on themselves: What would you want to do with the rest? For some people, who have both money and well-bridled consumption habits, "the rest" might easily be in excess of 50% of net worth, or 50% of income. And for them it is not extreme, but sensible and prudent, as well as inspired, to put that "extra money" into funding a world worth leaving to our children. What is the best use of wealth you and your family will never need? And must our "needs" expand in our market based culture to devour the earth and our souls? Extreme consumption is a phrase I can appreciate. Extreme wealth hoarding, I can appreciate that phrase. But extreme giving is what Jesus did on the cross, and I thought that he might think the plan I just outlined (giving away only the excess beyond the present value of satiated consumption needs) a sorry exercise in worldly self-indulgence. "Give all you have to the poor, and follow me - after we and your kids spend ourselves out at the Mall."