June 6, 2000
Ramona (not her real name) started drinking as a young adult. She wanted to be an important person and thought she was not. This plus other challenges overwhelmed her. Alcohol provided an escape — for a little while.
She married late. Her husband was not the easiest man to live with and she felt it was her fault. Her drinking continued. They had two children who were her constant delight, but as they grew, being a wife and mother became less fulfilling. She wanted to be more important, to be wealthy and included in an upper income social group. She tried to buy her way up but her expensive taste and extravagant spending put a strain on the family budget and her marriage. Both fell apart.
Ramona was forced to find a part time job. It was barely adequate. Her increasing need to belong and to impress people demanded more money. Finally, she figured out a way to “borrow” it from her employer. She was caught, prosecuted, and convicted. Most people think that the Bible says money is the root of all evil, but the actual quote is: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” In Ramona’s case, that love destroyed her health, and her marriage and family.
Also, that love of money had a root of its own. Ramona needed to feel accepted and significant. She mistakenly thought both these needs could be satisfied by other people and when they were not, the second mistake was trying to use money to gain the recognition she craved.
Money is not the only thing we latch on to as the answer to these two human needs. Some think being attractive will do it. Leaf through any women’s magazine and look at the advertising. Nearly all of it appeals to a desire to be beautiful. That should make us more important.
Another ticket to acceptance and significance is achievement. It will buy applause, awards, a raise in pay, an increase in status, even a page in Who’s Who. This works at least for some people. But then we hear stories from athletes or the wealthy telling how their fame and fortune brings only fleeting blessings.
Despite the stories, Ramona felt money would fix her problem. Others would say all they need is a better body, a higher score, a more prestigious job, something more or better — and that would be enough to make to give them that sense of acceptance and significance they are looking for; however, God says not. He says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.”
What looks like it will work is not what will work. Not everyone will wind up in jail like Ramona, but pursuing money, beauty, fame, or any temporary status can only provide a temporary sense of significance. Wouldn’t we rather have something permanent?
Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” While He was talking about food and clothing, the principle applies to far more. God is eager to give us all we need. We block Him from doing it by our futile search to find it everywhere else but in Him. Only God loved us “while we were still sinners” and only God gave us significance by sending His Son to die in our place. We do not have to work for, or do anything, to gain that kind of divine acceptance and status. Both come from His love and from the price tag He placed on our lives.
Whatever might happen to our finances, fame or face, how God feels about us and what He has done for us will never change. It is in Christ that we can find that lasting sense of being loved and valued. He invites us to turn away from the folly of seeking it elsewhere and know the freedom of finding it in Him.
Showing posts with label love of money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love of money. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
Cyber-pirates and Spiritual Thieves ................ Parables 555
May 13, 1997
Unauthorized copying and distribution of commercial computer programs, otherwise known as software piracy, is an enormous business. These software pirates roam the world wide web, sailing through Internet security screens and password checkpoints. Once inside a Web-site computer, they freely load up on stored files and programs. Serious pirates (not hacks out for kicks) offer them to the black market or industrial spies.
Software pirates package their ill-gotten products to look like the real thing. Some customers know the goods are illegally gained but do not care and buy them anyway. However, the companies who produced that software lose potential sales and honest people whenever they unintentionally buy their imitation goods and become victims of these crimes.
In parallel fashion, the Bible describes spiritual pirates. They infiltrate their way into the church of God, dressed up in a “package” that disguises their true nature. They freely load up biblical words and spiritual phrases and then offer it to unsuspecting truth-seekers who become their victims.
Spiritual hackers also invent their own interpretation of God’s Word. Because true spirituality involves a life of loving commitment, these pirates are not interested in what the Bible really means. They are more interested in twisting God’s truth just enough so as to personally profit from it.
Paul described these false teachers by saying they are “conceited and understand nothing... robbed of the truth and think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” He goes on to say that truly spiritual people have the opposite characteristics. Genuine people of God know eternal values lie in godliness and generosity, not money. They know wealth is to be shared, not made an object of hope and personal desire.
Paul also describes spiritual pirates as “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God... the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires.”
Spiritual deceit in the realm of illicit sexual relationships tears apart families and ruins lives. It also casts the real people of God into a bad light. God calls for purity and marital fidelity, not deceit that robs people of their virtue.
Money and self-indulgence spell power for those who are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love... “ yet Paul says they have “a form of godliness” — they look good, but they are “denying its power.”
This means that those who have only a “form of godliness” are religious, full of God-talk, appear pleasant, even loving, on the surface, but inside are (as Jesus said) “ravenous wolves.” The power they deny is not power to manipulate people with their words or their money (which they do have) but the power of God. God’s power is quite different. It melts hard hearts and changes sinners into God-fearing people. His power is given only to those who are poor in spirit, meek and self-effacing, not greedy and deceitful, hoping for personal gain.
Pirated software programs are difficult to detect and raise my hackles. Imitated godliness gets an even stronger reaction, yet anger will not solve this problem. I realize the only solution is that I be a “genuine original” and encourage other Christians to do the same. By this, those who are looking for the truth have a standard by which to compare and expose all imitations.
Unauthorized copying and distribution of commercial computer programs, otherwise known as software piracy, is an enormous business. These software pirates roam the world wide web, sailing through Internet security screens and password checkpoints. Once inside a Web-site computer, they freely load up on stored files and programs. Serious pirates (not hacks out for kicks) offer them to the black market or industrial spies.
Software pirates package their ill-gotten products to look like the real thing. Some customers know the goods are illegally gained but do not care and buy them anyway. However, the companies who produced that software lose potential sales and honest people whenever they unintentionally buy their imitation goods and become victims of these crimes.
In parallel fashion, the Bible describes spiritual pirates. They infiltrate their way into the church of God, dressed up in a “package” that disguises their true nature. They freely load up biblical words and spiritual phrases and then offer it to unsuspecting truth-seekers who become their victims.
Spiritual hackers also invent their own interpretation of God’s Word. Because true spirituality involves a life of loving commitment, these pirates are not interested in what the Bible really means. They are more interested in twisting God’s truth just enough so as to personally profit from it.
Paul described these false teachers by saying they are “conceited and understand nothing... robbed of the truth and think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” He goes on to say that truly spiritual people have the opposite characteristics. Genuine people of God know eternal values lie in godliness and generosity, not money. They know wealth is to be shared, not made an object of hope and personal desire.
Paul also describes spiritual pirates as “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God... the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires.”
Spiritual deceit in the realm of illicit sexual relationships tears apart families and ruins lives. It also casts the real people of God into a bad light. God calls for purity and marital fidelity, not deceit that robs people of their virtue.
Money and self-indulgence spell power for those who are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love... “ yet Paul says they have “a form of godliness” — they look good, but they are “denying its power.”
This means that those who have only a “form of godliness” are religious, full of God-talk, appear pleasant, even loving, on the surface, but inside are (as Jesus said) “ravenous wolves.” The power they deny is not power to manipulate people with their words or their money (which they do have) but the power of God. God’s power is quite different. It melts hard hearts and changes sinners into God-fearing people. His power is given only to those who are poor in spirit, meek and self-effacing, not greedy and deceitful, hoping for personal gain.
Pirated software programs are difficult to detect and raise my hackles. Imitated godliness gets an even stronger reaction, yet anger will not solve this problem. I realize the only solution is that I be a “genuine original” and encourage other Christians to do the same. By this, those who are looking for the truth have a standard by which to compare and expose all imitations.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
That lover called ‘money’ .......... Parables 505
April 23, 1996
Expressing disgust at unnecessary federal expenditures, an American radio announcer suddenly blurted, “If I had a job that paid one million dollars every day from the time Christ was crucified until now, I still would not have enough to pay half our government’s deficit!”
With this protest fresh on our minds, we pulled into a roadside flea market in Florida. Cheap jewelry, old pocketbooks and assorted other non-necessities filled rows of tables. Patrons in shabby clothes pawed the merchandise. Some only looked. Others shelled out nickels and dimes, their expressions brightening as they pocketed their trinkets.
Most seemed too poor for even bargain-priced “luxury.” Perhaps buying second hand treasure made them feel wealthy. After all, the rich can hoard dispensable extras so why not imitate at least that part of their lifestyle?
Reflecting on government excesses and the spending habits of both rich and poor, it appears all three groups have some things in common. For example, all can spend money they do not have and all can waste money on “stuff” no one needs. The illusion that more money will fix everything is not limited to any class or group. Neither is that fleeting sense of well-being that comes and goes after making a major purchase. Besides all that, it matters not if a spender is rich, poor or a government committee, if you spend more that you earn, you go broke!
A fire burns beneath this urge to spend, buy and have. This fire motivates buying, selling, producing and profit-making all over the world. It is a passion for money; what one writer calls “the worship of economics.” Surely this love, not the romantic kind, makes the world go around.
The Bible does not say money itself is evil but that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Those who attach false value to dollars are always yearning for more. They become pre-occupied with it and plan their lives based on how much money is available or anticipated. Everything is measured by categories of cost, price or profit. Virtue is lost at the toss of a coin.
However, money makes a lousy lover. It gives a sense of security to those who have it, then flies away or becomes consumed. It leaves its lovers bankrupt, literally and emotionally. For all the attention lavished on it, the satisfaction money gives in return seldom lasts beyond a day or two. Soon the disillusioned return to the marketplace, hungry for more.
Money also leaves an indelible imprint on the soul, simply because people become the same as whatever they worship. Those who idolize the almighty dollar soon become empty, cold, impersonal and uncaring, just like the coins and bills stashed in their bonds, banks and mattresses.
Breaking away from this lover is difficult. The huge national debt in Canada and the United States and the likelihood of ever paying if off fails to convince many that their infatuation is foolish. What will happen to them if economic structures crumble? Where will they turn? Will they seek comfort in the hope of another upswing? Will they resort to crime and violence to satisfy the hole in their hearts? Or will they find something more reliable to worship?
The promise wealth makes is false. Solomon had vast riches, yet called it “vanity and futility.” Instead, he and others have discovered that only the promises of God are certain. God says, “I will never leave you or forsake you... I will meet all your needs... I have loved you with an everlasting love.” The Lord promises (and delivers) joy and indescribable contentment.
As the economic idol topples, will those who worship money have the fortitude to turn to Him? Or will they greedily cling to their god and their hoarded resources — and crash along with them? In either case, God is waiting with open arms and with promises that last for eternity.
Expressing disgust at unnecessary federal expenditures, an American radio announcer suddenly blurted, “If I had a job that paid one million dollars every day from the time Christ was crucified until now, I still would not have enough to pay half our government’s deficit!”
With this protest fresh on our minds, we pulled into a roadside flea market in Florida. Cheap jewelry, old pocketbooks and assorted other non-necessities filled rows of tables. Patrons in shabby clothes pawed the merchandise. Some only looked. Others shelled out nickels and dimes, their expressions brightening as they pocketed their trinkets.
Most seemed too poor for even bargain-priced “luxury.” Perhaps buying second hand treasure made them feel wealthy. After all, the rich can hoard dispensable extras so why not imitate at least that part of their lifestyle?
Reflecting on government excesses and the spending habits of both rich and poor, it appears all three groups have some things in common. For example, all can spend money they do not have and all can waste money on “stuff” no one needs. The illusion that more money will fix everything is not limited to any class or group. Neither is that fleeting sense of well-being that comes and goes after making a major purchase. Besides all that, it matters not if a spender is rich, poor or a government committee, if you spend more that you earn, you go broke!
A fire burns beneath this urge to spend, buy and have. This fire motivates buying, selling, producing and profit-making all over the world. It is a passion for money; what one writer calls “the worship of economics.” Surely this love, not the romantic kind, makes the world go around.
The Bible does not say money itself is evil but that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Those who attach false value to dollars are always yearning for more. They become pre-occupied with it and plan their lives based on how much money is available or anticipated. Everything is measured by categories of cost, price or profit. Virtue is lost at the toss of a coin.
However, money makes a lousy lover. It gives a sense of security to those who have it, then flies away or becomes consumed. It leaves its lovers bankrupt, literally and emotionally. For all the attention lavished on it, the satisfaction money gives in return seldom lasts beyond a day or two. Soon the disillusioned return to the marketplace, hungry for more.
Money also leaves an indelible imprint on the soul, simply because people become the same as whatever they worship. Those who idolize the almighty dollar soon become empty, cold, impersonal and uncaring, just like the coins and bills stashed in their bonds, banks and mattresses.
Breaking away from this lover is difficult. The huge national debt in Canada and the United States and the likelihood of ever paying if off fails to convince many that their infatuation is foolish. What will happen to them if economic structures crumble? Where will they turn? Will they seek comfort in the hope of another upswing? Will they resort to crime and violence to satisfy the hole in their hearts? Or will they find something more reliable to worship?
The promise wealth makes is false. Solomon had vast riches, yet called it “vanity and futility.” Instead, he and others have discovered that only the promises of God are certain. God says, “I will never leave you or forsake you... I will meet all your needs... I have loved you with an everlasting love.” The Lord promises (and delivers) joy and indescribable contentment.
As the economic idol topples, will those who worship money have the fortitude to turn to Him? Or will they greedily cling to their god and their hoarded resources — and crash along with them? In either case, God is waiting with open arms and with promises that last for eternity.
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