YEAR-END
MUSINGS:
Mammon
rules the world… devil is tightening the grip
Yet another
year passes by. The scramble continues. The mad rush for wealth, power and
position continues. Everyone is in a hurry to conquer some material things in the
world. It’s money and position that matter for most people. The unsatiated demand
for wealth is driving people to new vistas, new areas and new ideas, while
trampling down others in the process. Mammon rules the world and devil is
tightening the grip.
People are
chasing money as if wealth is going to disappear from the earth. They want more
and more money. Nothing satisfies them. They might have amassed wealth that can
last for ten generations. Even then they want more. Yes, money makes the world
go around. We forget the fact that Jesus Christ was born in manger. Born poor. Our
Saviour had the simplest and humblest birth.
What we have
seen, in most cases, is that people who amass huge wealth are unable to enjoy
even one per cent of it during their lifetime. It goes to others. They forget
the fact that man is mortal. Nothing is permanent in this world. They forget
the fact they are not going to live beyond 100 years.
They
challenge the creator, Almighty God, in the process. They think money can buy
anything, but forget the story of the rich man in the bible who wanted to make
more money. Jesus told people in this
parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded
an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have
no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do.
I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my
surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of
grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life
will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for
yourself? “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves
but is not rich toward God.”
In another
place, Jesus told a young man who wanted to follow him, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell all that you
own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come
and follow me!” But when the young man heard
Jesus tell him to give away his money, he was sad. He didn’t want to do this,
because he was very rich. So he left.
The bottom line is: share the wealth. Don’t
keep the wealth that we accumulate to ourselves. Give it to the poorest of the
poor in this world. As Mother Teresa once said, “give away your wealth until it
hurts you.”
The phenomenon of amassing of wealth is visible
in all the religions. Even churches and various Christian denominations work
hard to amass wealth. They build palatial buildings, institutions and roll in
money. Baby Jesus Christ in the manger is conveniently forgotten. The world has
become too commercial and a throw-away consumer culture has gripped the people.
Yes, money is everything. Mammon rules the
world. We want to make more and more money. Buy houses, properties and material
things. Kingdom of God is far away.
Life goes on
and on. Bible is ignored. Jesus teachings are ignored. Race to acquire wealth, position and power continues. Remember, nothing in this world is permanent or indefinite.
