BLOG 7/11/19. POSSESSIONS/MAMMON: THE NAMED COMPETITOR WITH GOD

It won’t hurt us as Christians to surface the danger of wealth, and take a sober look at its dominance as a major force/influence is our current political landscape.  For One major billionaire, who ran for president has just died, another has just been indicted for sex crimes against minors, one has just announced that he is entering the presidential race, … and on and on. The teachings of Jesus include major warnings about wealth. As a matter of fact, it names affinity for wealth and possessions as the major competitor with God: “You cannot serve God and mammon.”

When a wealthy young man approached Jesus with the desire to be one of his followers, Jesus told him to go and sell al that he had, then come and follow him. He underscored that you could not serve both God and mammon. Wealth easily becomes an idol, not to mention that it often makes us indifferent to the desperate poverty and helplessness of most the world’s population.

It is easily to become callous to this need of basic human needs when we read daily of the massive amounts of money necessary to become a political candidate, or the huge sums invested by Political Action Committees in order to influence votes … while remaining indifferent to a minimum wage that is insufficient for meeting basic needs. We spend unbelievable amounts of money on military armaments in countries that have desperate humanitarian needs. And it seems so normal.

And, from the mouths of so many who profess to be followers, one seldom hears his word: “Woe to you rich!” So, allow me to alert my readers to the reality that the gift of the daily necessities—our daily bread—is one for which we may pray and for which we can give thanks, the obsession with wealth in our culture (even in too many churches) should turn on our yellow lights. The lifestyle of God’s new creation people is a calling to simplicity of living, and of generosity to those in need.

On the political scene, it should focus our attention on a politician’s values and on the desperate, daily struggle for survival of the majority who are not rich. It should focus on being content with basics, since this is the focus of Jesus and the apostles. It should focus on a quest for justice for the helpless, the stranger, the refugee, … and not on tax-breaks for the wealthy. If you think I am being just a bleeding-heart, go back and read your New Testament and see where the values of the kingdom of God are focused.

“By this shall men (and women) know that you are my disciples,” in that you have an affinity for the poor and oppressed (Matthew 5).

Blessings on those who share the heart of Christ in tangible ways in this earthly sojourn.

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