Mammon-Itis

I was just thinking about - - -

In our lifetime, we have witnessed globalization expand at a rapid rate. The great shift in industry and the emergence of more centers of commerce in our world is occurring currently. In this great expansion, we can be blind to the realities of poverty, "sweat shops", extremely low wages and compensation, etc.

It is difficult to comprehend that in our nation, 12% of our fellow citizens are classified as living in poverty. At the same time, as preposterous as it seems, this occurs while certain corporate executives receive millions of dollars in bonuses. We look at our world, and some nations that produce the items we want and demand, are marked by rampant poverty. One should cringe when looking at the label in a garment that is being purchased and observe the country of origin - asking - "Who is being adequately compensated at the country of origin?"

With poverty, other ancillary concerns are realities - hunger, health-care, living conditions, education, etc. In many places, young children - by necessity - are forced into manufacturing plants, some with deplorable working conditions, and spend long days trying to produce what the more affluent peoples want and expect. We buy clothing for our child or children and hardly pause to wonder whether it has been made by a child close to the age of the one for whom we made the purchase.

While yesterday's blog focused on the danger of being enslaved to debt, a comparable concern is the enslavement to affluence and money. Financial gain and advantage can have a serious affect in terms of one's commitment to matters of important value. Just think of the implication of Jesus Christ in His Sermon On The Mount (Matthew 6:24 KJV) - - - "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." The word "mammon" is an untranslated Greek Word meaning: worldly gain, wealth. The connotation along with this is that it can too easily become ones "god" and be an evil influence. The New Living Translation accurately states these words of Jesus: No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

There is an interesting application for us in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, "We want you to know...about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means...and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints, and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us."

It brings with it a further application and admonition for those who may not be impoverished. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-12, "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that...you may abound in every good work...He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God...(It) is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God."

It would behoove us all to get both our house and priorities in order. Rather than merely looking inward at what "I" want or think "I" need, to looking outward to our world and the many who do not even have pure water to sip or nourishing food to eat.

We can and should make a difference! Think about it...