MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 GREED

 MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 GREED

Oh oh, I’m writing about money and greed today - that sounds like a troublesome topic!!!

Let’s go to the extreme.  In the last few weeks, Jeff Bezos (of Amazon fame), and Richard Branson (of Virgin Atlantic fame) both were shot off into space.  Branson paid $841 million, and Bezos paid 5.5 billion. 

I heard friends talk about the expense and couldn’t the money be better spent on other things.  Good question.

How about this from Matthew 26:

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”

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Growing up, I remember the outcry at the cost of Dean Martin’s third wedding (or rather, the reception).  (I tried to find the amount on the internet and didn’t search too hard!!)

“That was expensive.”  “They could have eloped and donated the money to good causes” “They spent more on flowers than my entire wedding cost”.

That could be true.  But, who am I to say how a person should spend his or her money?

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But, in another way, the money did go back into the economy.  Some manufacturers were paid for making the rocket body.  Others developed the engines.  And still, others made the fuel, the launch pads, the special fuel, booster rockets, retro rockets for the return, and the workers got paid.  All the parts were probably taxed by appropriate government authorities.  (I said “probably” as it seems that some enterprises can get exemptions for some taxes).  

The old statement “You can’t take it with you” refers to death.  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,  and naked I will depart”. Job 1:21.

Sure the rich can pass their money on to children and heirs through their heirs but eventually, it will “trickle-down”.  

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But, greed happens. (From: https://www.flextalk.org/5-problems-that-come-with-greed/)

-Greed will make you jealous because you’ll always compare yourself to others – and someone else will always have more than you.  You never have enough.  You don’t have the biggest car, the biggest house, a personal (and the biggest) jet, enough staff (servants) to take care of you. 

- If you’re a greedy person, you’ll eventually end up lying and cheating to get more for yourself.  Greed comes with a deep passion, an unholy drive to get to the top in one way or another.  Lying and cheating justify the methods to get there!! 

- A jealous, dishonest person will only have relationships with people who can help you get more, and those relationships are always shallow. Greedy people will use you to get their goals for more money.  

- Greed makes you lose sight of your true mission in life or business because your focus is on yourself and your money.  “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

- At the end of the day, you’ll never be satisfied with life if your heart is full of greed because if your goal is always to have more, you’ll never get there.  You can never get enough if you are greedy.  

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I think I’ve had some aspects of greed.  (Maybe not to the “take over the world” greed, but personal greed).  I hope I have lost that greed in my transition - but can one ever stop wanting more?  While I was working, many summers I worked as a consultant/programmer for Citibank and doing other consulting.  Was that greed, or just a little bit more into our savings account - or just want to keep busy.

I’ve found myself this last year doing part-time jobs (elections clerk, substitute teacher), to both earn a little money and to keep myself busy.  I’m trying to do some life coaching but haven’t found many takers yet.  I don’t like to be idle - or not too much, or I won’t get my daily blogs written!!! <grin>.  Or I will end up doing more jigsaw puzzles.  I  have goals for the money - to increase my endowment at Dakota State University; and to have enough to have a paid version of Pandora music!!!  

I don’t know (and I will NOT judge Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos (mentioned at the top of today’s blog) about spending their money on going into space.  Yes, it cost a lot, but the money did get spread around.  Are they greedy?  I don’t know.  They have been very successful with their businesses and do employ many people.  And, ideas, entrepreneurs are worthy of their successes (and pay).  

So, be at peace in the world. Hebrews 13:5 says “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!!

Karen