Greed

Thursday night, September 25, 2008 [beautiful and 700],
For some reason, I have believed for some time now that I was relatively intelligent; however, the events of the last couple of days have just about convinced me that I am dumber than dumb. Hopefully, I am not the only person in the good ole USA, who is having trouble following all of the political rhetoric regarding the "imminent" collapse of the US economy, unless $700 Billion dollars are placed into the hands of Paulson to dole out as he sees fit.
I really do believe that someone of my intelligence (or the lack thereof) can readily figure out that a $9 Trillion debt (or $10, or $11, or whatever it is) is a bad thing, but for the life of me I cannot figure out how anyone can borrow his/her way out of debt. On second thought, I guess I could explain how that could come about, but, OBVIOUSLY, it is a very dangerous gamble, one that no one should try at home (as the warn us on the TV, when something foolish is about to be shown). I do know that Paul said this: "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another" (Romans 13:8). Oh, I forgot: We cannot use Biblical principles as guidelines for solving problems in the US! Excuse me; I really didn't mean to sound like a religious zealot! Yea, right!
Regardless of who can figure out what, the fact is this: many Americans are very anxious about their futures, and for many of them, their future is no farther down the road than tomorrow morning. Trying to figure out how to purchase enough gasoline just to get to work will keep many of them awake tonight. Of course, there are also those who have worked a lifetime, consistently adding money to a 401K, only to find that most of it was lost in one fell swoop. Yes, the market did recover somewhat, but concern about what it will do tomorrow will keep many of them awake tonight. I just heard a prediction that it will drop at least 100 points immediately because there is "no deal" to solve this crisis on the table tonight.
Even the thought that we could experience another Great Depression scares the wits out of most, but the truth is very few people have any real clue, as to just how devastating that would be. Trust me on this one: those who experienced the Great Depression of the 1930's would be quick to tell you that it was a very, very difficult time, one they would never want to repeat.
Now, let us face a fact: For the most part, the financial problems we are experiencing today are the result of greed, as in GREED; however, this greed is only a symptom of the problem and not the problem, itself. This is the problem: God decided that we should have no other gods before Him [Thou shalt have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3; the first commandment!)], and we decided, like Israel of old, that He didn't know what He is talking about, and, as a result, we created our own golden calf, aka money, and began to worship it. I do remember this: Moses got very angry and pulverized the golden calf and poured the pulverized gold into the water and make the Israelites drink it (Exodus 32:19-20).
Maybe, just maybe, we should consider the lilies of the field, and maybe, just maybe we should remember that the value of one's material possessions does not determine the quality of his life. This is what Jesus said: "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions" (Luke 12:15).
I hope I can remember this!