Friday, July 30, 2010

The Power of the Serengeti

The other day I overheard someone say "money talks". I started to think about that phrase. I'm sure I have said the same thing hundreds of times; "money talks". If so what does it say?
* If you have me you will be strong.
* If you want me bad enough I will come to you.
* If you don't have me you have nothing.
* If you have enough of me you will be safe.
* If I am with you you will be loved.
* I will make you happy.
Interesting. These are the same things that Jesus said we would have when we have him (or more exactly when he has us).

I have alwasy thought that money is neutral. I've said many time that money is neither good or bad. It just is. Wealth merely provides a window into our hearts. Our interaction with money provides the evidence of what we believe. But is all that true? Is money really neutral? Is it merely a touch stone to test man's heart?

For the first time, when thinking about the phrase "money talks", I started to think that maybe wealth is not as benign as I once thought. Maybe it's not so easy to "master" the power of money as I have alwasy hoped. I confess that I think of myself as the Ring Master at the three ringed circus. I hope to direct the wealth that I have been entrusted with into three areanas;
1) to buy fun stuff for me and those I love
2) to buy eternal stuff that will provide dividends in heaven and
3) to buy investments that grow here on earth so that I can have more money to buy more fun stuff here and more eternal stuff.

But maybe the lion isn't so tame. Maybe the Ring Master is a fool to think that with a mere whip and a chair he can harness the power of the Serengeti.

No comments:

Post a Comment