I’m not the first one to say it, and I don’t think I’ll be the last, but consider all this news about the economic crisis and the findings of corruption in banking and the amount of bail-outs that countries need.
Consider it carefully.
When I was I started thinking about things like bills, mortgages, credit cards, pay-day loans, shops, shopping, online shopping, petrol costs and so on and so forth. I’ve already hinted previously, but look at the state we’re in when debt is considered as normal, acceptable and even in this credit society as necessary to make progress in life.
It is as though there is a narrative that operates through the money-makes-the-world-go-around mantra. We see ‘successful’ people worth millions of pounds and we’re pointed to them as the role models to pursue. Our lives are dictated by the various financial ‘needs’ and we are in the condition where we depend on the very people who have placed us in the crisis in the first place/
When I think of all that I think about what it means to be a slave, and it seems to me that once again the forces and systems that seeks to keep people in darkness can easily do so through seducing people into slavery via the love of money.
We speculate what we would do if only we had the money. Nothing wrong with that in a sense, but it can dog us, especially as it appears others are thriving who make their gains illicitly. We really think our lives can only make progress if we have the money to do the things we want to do and our dispositions are drastically changed by anything that happens to ‘our’ money.
I am reminded again that something has to be different as far as the follower of Christ is concerned. We are to be good stewards of what God gives us and money falls into that, but we cannot afford to become enslaved to what we are meant to be steward over. That is why a life of generosity is liberating because we declare again to God that our lives are not defined by possessions and money, but they are defined by a love that gave the best.
Generosity is not dependent on our financial situation. A mind free from the concerns of the world that is often pressured by those cares of life can again focus our mind on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Our hearts can be less callous to the plight of others, less cynical in relating to others and far more compassionate to living the life of peace, love and righteousness that Jesus displayed in His time on earth.
It continues to challenge me – it is a reminder of what the real important things are in life.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 