Thomas Mathew Vattakunnel
If you keep all your savings in the bank or
stock markets, will it help you? Jesus says it’s meaningless. Bible gives clear
answers. It’s not worth storing up wealth in this world, which is a short period.
There are people who store up vast treasures
for themselves, much more than what they need. They own wealth which will last
for several generations. But they don’t give anything to the needy or poor. There
are others who store up wealth for their children, forgetting the fact children
are capable of making money of their own. Instead, you must worry about your
place in heaven – which is going to be perennial and not 70 or 80 years in this
world. This is one thing that I always remind myself.
However, I must admit that huge wealth gives a
person a false sense of respectability or some sort of aura. This wealthy man
gets special privileges even in the church. He throws some dollars into the
church kitty and the church hierarchy – some of them, not all – pampers him
back in return. Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t want to criticize anybody.
This is just a real life observation.
Last week, Pope Francis also spoke
against storing up treasures on earth. The first of those earthly treasures, he
said, is money which is always at risk from thieves and from the whims of the
stock market. Money, he said, is necessary to provide for ourselves and our
families, but he warned that those who are always seeking ways of accumulating
wealth will end up losing their souls.
Please
read Mark 10:17-31. As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him,
knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call
me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your
question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit
adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat
anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” the man replied,
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your
possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this
the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.Another earthly treasure the Pope spoke about is prestige or the vanity of those who are always showing off, just like the hypocrites of Jesus’ day who made a great show of their prayers and almsgiving. Thirdly, Pope Francis warned against the allure of power, saying, “How many proud and powerful men and women have ended up in anonymity, in poverty and in prison!”
If you seek these treasures, Pope Francis said, your heart will be in chains, but Jesus wants our hearts to be free. And our hearts can only be free if we seek the treasures of heaven, that is love, patience, service of others and adoration of God. These treasures will lead to a free and luminous heart that will also age well – like a good wine, the Pope said. We need to have the spiritual prudence to discern and free out hearts from the slavery of earthly treasures, so that we may know the true joy and freedom of living as children of God.
Bible also gives clear direction about the strategy to be adopted by a believer. Mathew 6:33 says, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Don’t worry about the money. You should worry about your place in heaven.
