The economic malaise continues unabated. Headlines prattle on about bail-outs and stimulus packages. Commentators struggle to find fresh adjectives and new metaphors to define and describe the happenings. Politicians offer up seemingly reasoned suggestions, but is it possible that it is fiddling we hear while the economy burns? The prospect of more government intervention does not stir up any warm fuzzy feelings in me. With billions being passed out, a cynic might conclude that there is no time like now to apply for some of those government greenbacks. Where do we get the application forms?
There is no doubt that our culture is fueled by the acquisition of money, which can be problematic. Pink Floyd's song Money hit it exactly: “Money, it's a crime. Share it fairly but don't take a slice of my pie.” Selfishness is a compulsion difficult to resist because we are hardwired to grab and get for me and mine.
As beneficiaries of freedom, democratic capitalism has given us opportunities to be good deed doers and share with others, but there is a dark side to it that we often treat like the crazy relative living in the basement. While we enjoy the prizes of prosperity, we ignore the pitfalls of its excesses. The ugly underbelly of free enterprise is that whole industries are completely dependent on tapping into human greed and covetousness. Which is in direct and constant conflict with Biblical principles, but that is where faith meets reality: We live our lives in direct and constant conflict with the culture of greed and avarice.
It is crucial to keep money in proper perspective. Especially given the fact that Jesus of Nazareth said: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Or consider the wisdom of some other ancient words: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
We are to be content with what we have and secure in our relationship with God. That sounds simplistic so we reason away the mysterious nature of God, which prompts us to dismiss invisible spiritual experiences. As a result, we extend much energy and expense looking for fulfillment in new cars, bigger houses and better toys. Temporal pleasures take precedent over eternal concerns. If happiness is always to be reached after the next purchase our message to God is that his current provision for us is not good enough.
Our attitude can be reflected by how we react when our possessions get lost, stolen or broken. When we can’t get the loss off our minds, or it affects our relationships with others, then our view is off-kilter and we need to recalibrate our outlook. Possessions are things. No matter how rare or valuable, possessions are inanimate objects, but people are precious jewels in God’s sight so we ought to treasure every relationship.
Wealth is not evil. It is no different than any gift of God; it’s potential for good or evil lies entirely in whose hands it rests. The danger is that we can become consumed by plans to acquire or manage it. Wealth can be like a poisonous snake. It is harmless if we know how to handle it, but if we do not, it will coil up to unleash a lethal bite. A fervent desire for well-heeled opulence can have dire consequences. Paul of Tarsus observed that “some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” It'd be easy to say that present economic troubles are a direct result of our society's headlong clutch and grab for overdoses of riches.
Next week, on Thanksgiving Day, regardless of economic uncertainty or governmental mismanagement, as a nation we ought to check the condition of our collective heart. It'd be healthy to stop worrying over Wall Street fluctuations and the financial resources we no longer have. We should express serious gratitude for faith, freedom, family and friends; we ought to count our blessings, articulate contentment for all that we have, and personify a favorite motto of mine: Taking all the variables into consideration, life is marvelous.
Ken R. Abell lives in Greene County. He serves as lead pastor of a new church
emerging in the Beavercreek area. He may be contacted at kabell@bcchurch.org
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