Words of Life: An Enduring Legacyনমুনা

The love of money.

King Farouk of Egypt was immensely rich and lived in fabulous luxury while most of his people lived in grinding poverty. His European shopping sprees were legendary, although he sometimes withheld payment for years. Despite his colossal wealth, he seemed to have no concern for the poor.

Paul Getty II had an enormous fortune. Just the interest on his investments would have made a lottery winner green with envy. Yet Getty lived a lonely life, distrusting everyone and everything. When he died, his will ensured that his executors bought priceless works of art for his private collection for a tiny number of people to view. This prevented other, less-funded public galleries from having the opportunity to exhibit them.

William Morris began work in a small bicycle shop in Oxford, England. He ended his life as Lord Nuffield, head of the motor industry in Britain. He was a millionaire who used his wealth to save thousands of lives through the medical institutions he founded and the work that he made possible.

What was the difference between these three rich men? One was a Christian – guess which one?

Jesus made several references to money and its use, including a warning not to let it replace trust in God. That includes the use of our resources. Money, in general, is amoral, neither right nor wrong; everything depends on the motivation for getting it and what we spend it on. It is easy to become devoted to money-making, using up irreplaceable time and expending our energy and brain power on getting it.

But even more important is whether our hope and goal in life is based on money or on God. The love of money can lead people away from faith in God. A person’s life should consist not just of possessions, nor reliance on money. May Christ help us get the right perspective, and may our true being brim over in helpful words and useful deeds.