I once heard “the upper crust” defined as a few crumbs held together with a lot of dough. It was a clever knock at the very rich, but clearly such a generalization is both unfair and untrue. Among the wealthy is a host of personality types, just as there are in any group sorted according to the amount of money they have. Each group contains the miserly and the generous, for example. People’s innate qualities are not purchasable.
What then do we make of the often-quoted Bible verse 1Timothy 6:10? “Money is the root of all evil.” If money is evil, how can having a lot of it be good?
First, we have to recognize that the quote from Timothy is, in fact, incorrect. Often those trying to prove a point only quote a portion of the whole. They then can make the Bible, in this case, say anything they want it to say. The full quotation greatly changes the meaning.
1Timothy 6:10
“For the love of money is the root of all evil.” To me this means that it is not the money that is evil, but the way in which it is used. People can use their wealth for good or evil.
The so-called class warfare that is going on in this country at this election time is all about money. Are those who have the great wealth using it for good purposes or bad purposes? I don’t think this question requires much thought. It just requires people to be observant. Those few with the greatest wealth are using it to purchase influence and power. They are “purchasing” people to do their bidding. They are buying the United States of America to remake it in their image. This will result in adding much to their already overflowing coffers, giving them more money to love.
Both Sharron Angle, Republican candidate for United States Senate in Arizona, and Christine O'Donnell, Republican candidate for United States Senate in Delaware, stated this week that God is leading them to run for public office. Both candidates are being heavily financed by anonymous wealthy donors and corporations. In exchange for this money, Angle and O’Donnell are speaking the message their corporate sponsors want them to speak. Is this where God has led them?
For those of you who are in concert with the Angles and O’Donnells of this world, for those who think that your involvement in the Tea Party movement is God’s will, for those of you who are willingly or unwittingly serving the cause of the rich lovers of money, consider this Bible verse that is often overlooked.
“Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (money, wealth).
And one more:
“…choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15
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Southbridge and Beyond
Good for you, Brent. You always tell it like it is. There's money, and then there is MONEY, one version meaning something much different than the other.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if God told Meg Whitman in California that she should vote that one time that she managed to vote in 1984, and he if whispered in her ear that she should vote for Bush and McCain. Something (Let me guess, God or money?) must have made her vote those very few times that she did manage to vote. Oh, she did mention that business (Ebay) opened her eyes to the importance of politics. Now, a billionaire, she has spent something more than one hundred forty million of her own dollars on her campaign for Governor, and is willing to spend more!
Jerry Brown, whose father before him was a politician, came from a reasonably wealthy home, spent no where near that kind of money, and my guess is that if God was to speak to either of them, he would speak to Jerry Brown who has used his life doing his best for others. When this visionary Governor ('Remember Governor Moonbeam?) of California, came into office many years ago he even refused to live in the Governors House or Mansion, and drove his own car, refusing to waste government money on himself.
Somehow I think these two candidates have differing ideas of "God."
Maple Leaf,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Your examples are right on. It seems that those who claim the leading of God have the same difficulty interpreting the Bible as they do the Constitution.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Brent
Brent, A "little" knowledge is putting it mildly!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we both know truly good people who never had access to a Bible or a religion but live what we call the Golden Rule every day of their lives - and even some of them know that the Constitution calls for the separation of Church and State.
Brent, if you haven't seen this CNN article about the latest Sharon Angle rally, here's a link. She claims to be a Tea Party supporter and for the regular folk? How could anyone ever believe her? Angle's got an Angle for sure!
ReplyDeleteMaple Leaf,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I really believe that talking to Tea Party members is like trying to address a cult. They have been thoroughly brainwashed.
Here is the live link for the article you provided:
Shock and Awe Coming to Washington
Thanks, Brent. I think you're right. It's just amazing how people can rattle off "their own" opinions about ideas and plans which will so obviously hurt themselves and their families if they come to fruition. It's like an old horror movie where people's minds are taken over and they can no longer reason. 'Walking with arms outstretched,"Yeeess, Master. I will vote as you say, Master. What else do you want me to do, Master?"
ReplyDeleteYikes! I'm going to lock my door! 'Will run out and vote, though!