Reading newspaper stories about how some of the rich behave makes you wonder what it takes to make them happy. Having a lovely family and home doesn’t seem to be enough and often you read stories of divorce, criminal offences and depraved lives. That’s not to say that all wealthy people behave like that but money does seem to be ‘the root of all evil’ as publicised.
If you are given wealth you don’t appreciate it; if you strive for it you can often put being wealthy before family and friendships; if you have more than enough by anyone’s standards it seems to be like an addiction and you just want more.
Where are hearts are, there will our god be. If all we think about is money and possessions and having more, then we are worshipping money. Money can’t give you happiness, love or salvation and possessions can end up owning you. It can disappear, make you suspicious of people and alienate friends. Not a great god to worship.
We do need to have enough for our needs, but make sure that we are not storing up more than we need as that’s when avarice can get hold of us and drive us away from God.
Our God offers us a different kind of love in return for our worship. He gives us freedom, right relationship with others and hope for an eternal future.
In this connection I am reminded of the parable of the rich fool where Jesus talks about a rich man who had more crops than he could store and decided to build bigger barns. Then he would have everything he needed and could ‘relax, eat, drink and be merry’. However that night his life was going to be demanded of him. What would happen to his wealth then?
Luke 12:15
And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
God bless you and may you have all that you need and share your excess with those that don’t,
Widows Mote 