A Self Serving Scenario
Gordon Napier, 1995, reworked 1998
Are you worried you might become wealthy?
That is probably not one of the things keeping you up at night, the thought that you might become obscenely rich, but what if you did?
Would it change you?
'No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. - Matthew 6:24
I have to admit that I have never really worried about acquiring so much wealth that it affected my relationship with God.
I guess it could happen. I could suddenly find myself so busy managing my money that I put God on hold when He tries to contact me. "Sorry God, I'm really busy right now. Can it wait until later? I'll call you."
Of course, no one would actually do that, if God really did talk to us that way, and I can say this whole issue doesn't apply to me because I am not wealthy and do not see that problem being one that will affect me any time soon, but that is just the point. What if I am taking this all too literally?
What if I ask myself the question, "In all I do, who is being served, God or me?"
Am I working at making the lives of those I meet better or am I solely focused on my own needs, wants and wishes?
I remember when I received my first paycheck. I was working a summer job while in High School. I still remember the amount. It was $56 and change. Believe it or not, that was for a full week.
That Friday night, we went to the Farmer's Market on Long Island, a multi-vendor establishment that had everything from produce to clothing, and my father and I walked through the art gallery there.
It was a favorite place of his and he had purchased several prints and had them framed by the couple that ran the shop.
I don't know why was compelled to invest my entire paycheck on a work of art, but that's what I did, and a couple of weeks later, I had a framed print of an old sailing ship hanging on the wall of my bedroom.
Back then, it never occurred to me that I could have done something else with that money. It was mine. I had earned it, and I was treating myself to something I wanted.
Nearly a half century later, I ask myself what would I do with that money today?
Where would I put a week's pay?
Chances are, as much as I would like to believe I am more focused on the needs of others, I would still think of my needs first. But needs and wants are two different things and I wonder, would I put the needs of others ahead of my wants?
That is what I think Jesus is talking about. We tend to be self-serving instead of God-serving, and it isn't until we truly mature spiritually that we get the priorities straight.
So, am I closer to getting it right than I was as a teenager? I think so, but I am not there yet. I had better start working at it. If it has taken this long to get here, I had better pick up the pace.
More to come...