ധ്രുവദീപ്തി // Religion
Seek True Wealth
- by Elsy Mathew -
All we do is for nothing; we gather wealth, but don’t know who will get it. (Psalms 39:6).
There
is nothing that makes men rich and strong
but that which they carry
inside of them.
Wealth is of the heart, not of the hand (John Milton).
 |
| Elsy Mathew, Bangalore |
Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, “Master, tell my brother to
share with me the family inheritance.” He replied, “My friend, who has
appointed me as your judge or your attorney?” Then Jesus said to the
people, “Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though
you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life.”
And Jesus continued with this story, “There was a rich man and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought:”What shall I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest.” So this is what he planned: “I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I may say to myself’ “My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.” But God said to him: “You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you; tell me who shall get all you have put aside?” This is the lot of the one who stores up riches instead of amassing for God.” (Luke 12: 13-21)
The attitude we need to have towards money and wealth is always a complicated one. It is not possible to say a hard and fast “no” to wealth, because it makes our lives meaningful in numerous ways. At the same time, it is not a good thing to consider it the most important purpose of life. You might have surely thought of the usefulness as well as the dangers of fire. When under control, fire is very helpful. But if it goes beyond control it is highly destructive. It is true with money too. Money is good as long as man remains the master, deciding how to get and how to spend. However, it becomes highly dangerous when money acts as the master and man is reduced to a slave. In such situations it is not the man who dictates terms, but money. It is called a dangerous situation because in such cases money will be considered more important than human values and relations. Gradually, man may demerit himself to the position of animals that do not hesitate to do anything for their selfish motives.
No matter how rich and affluent a person is, he would find that this world will not give him lasting satisfaction and true contentment in all the possessions he might have. They give only temporary satisfaction and drive people forward for more and more. So when a person puts his trust in the affluence of this world, he would find it to be smokescreen or fog. It would look so real, but will be blown away by the winds of the changing world. But a child of God would leave such mirages of possessions, positions and popularity behind and seek to find full satisfaction in the Lord and His dwelling place.
The many mansions in this world offer satisfaction and plunge people into despair, but the presence of God would give them lasting satisfaction. It is like a tent in which they can live and rest. This tent of the presence of God is a promise for the future when God will take His children to His abode to dwell with Him forever. While on earth, it is a refuge for His children to find safety and security from all the diabolic things that this world offers. The heart of a child of God can never find solace in any thing that the world offers, but will give them fear and insecurity as they are gripped with the uncertainties of this world. At such times, all the possessions and positions this world offers would not give them any confidence and strength in life. But the hope that God gives to those who live in His tent will fill them with peace, joy and satisfaction. They can go to confide in the Lord and find lasting rest in His presence. This rest is available to those who have a deep longing to be in the Lord's tent and take refuge under His wings.
And Jesus continued with this story, “There was a rich man and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought:”What shall I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest.” So this is what he planned: “I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I may say to myself’ “My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.” But God said to him: “You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you; tell me who shall get all you have put aside?” This is the lot of the one who stores up riches instead of amassing for God.” (Luke 12: 13-21)
The attitude we need to have towards money and wealth is always a complicated one. It is not possible to say a hard and fast “no” to wealth, because it makes our lives meaningful in numerous ways. At the same time, it is not a good thing to consider it the most important purpose of life. You might have surely thought of the usefulness as well as the dangers of fire. When under control, fire is very helpful. But if it goes beyond control it is highly destructive. It is true with money too. Money is good as long as man remains the master, deciding how to get and how to spend. However, it becomes highly dangerous when money acts as the master and man is reduced to a slave. In such situations it is not the man who dictates terms, but money. It is called a dangerous situation because in such cases money will be considered more important than human values and relations. Gradually, man may demerit himself to the position of animals that do not hesitate to do anything for their selfish motives.
No matter how rich and affluent a person is, he would find that this world will not give him lasting satisfaction and true contentment in all the possessions he might have. They give only temporary satisfaction and drive people forward for more and more. So when a person puts his trust in the affluence of this world, he would find it to be smokescreen or fog. It would look so real, but will be blown away by the winds of the changing world. But a child of God would leave such mirages of possessions, positions and popularity behind and seek to find full satisfaction in the Lord and His dwelling place.
The many mansions in this world offer satisfaction and plunge people into despair, but the presence of God would give them lasting satisfaction. It is like a tent in which they can live and rest. This tent of the presence of God is a promise for the future when God will take His children to His abode to dwell with Him forever. While on earth, it is a refuge for His children to find safety and security from all the diabolic things that this world offers. The heart of a child of God can never find solace in any thing that the world offers, but will give them fear and insecurity as they are gripped with the uncertainties of this world. At such times, all the possessions and positions this world offers would not give them any confidence and strength in life. But the hope that God gives to those who live in His tent will fill them with peace, joy and satisfaction. They can go to confide in the Lord and find lasting rest in His presence. This rest is available to those who have a deep longing to be in the Lord's tent and take refuge under His wings.
"When the wealth in the house increases,
When water fills a boat,
Throw them out with both hands!
This is the wise thing to do!"
-Sant Kabir
No
one who loves money can be judged innocent; his efforts to get rich
have led him into sin. Many people have been ruined because of money,
brought face to face with disaster. Money is a trap for those who are
fascinated by it, a trap that every fool falls into. (The Bible,
Sirach 31:5)
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