Those who will not benefit from the budget will be middle-income earners, state governments, new parents hoping to access both government and workplace paid leave, stay-at-home parents, some multi-national companies who've been dodging taxes, online consumers, foreigners here on working holidays, anti-vaxxers, some public servants and Australians working overseas.

For most of us (your truly included), we tend to see the budget like this: "what's in it for me?" or "how will I lose out?"

For followers of Jesus however we are taught to look at things a bit differently and this could be an opportunity for some self-examination.

We know that the Bible teaches us to love God and others before self (Mark 12:30-31).

Hopefully this thought will help us see the budget through new eyes.

Does it help others more than it helps us? Is there anything I can do to help those who will truly suffer because of the budget?

Another thing we can also be mindful of is what the Bible teaches about contentment (Hebrews 13:5).

Most of us are doing alright (bit more on this later) but we always seem to want just a bit more.

One of the Big Ten has something to say about that by the way (Exodus 20:17).

Does the new budget mean we will have just a bit more for our stuff collection?

Can we just look at what we have and praise God?

The recent earthquakes in Nepal are reminders that there are many more who are doing it tough in the world.

"We have a shrunken aid program, and will become an insular and less fair Australia as a result," claims Marc Purcell, the executive director of the Australian Council for International Development. Is thinking of ourselves first really good for us? Is it really good for the country?

Sources:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-12/budget-2015-winners-losers/6448578

http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/federal-budget-2015-agencies-hit-out-over-latest-foreign-aid-cuts-20150513-gh0g9u.html

All brickbats, bouquets and banter welcome at simon.chen@narrominebaptist.org.au