“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Pretty interesting words to listen to regardless of what faith (if any) you may follow.
Makes you wonder where we are as a society when many state we were built on Christian fundamentals and others say secular fundamentals. Regardless what you believe, these words do ring very true, and here is why.
Matthew 6:19-21;24
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
If these words are truly the words of God, how can we really call ourselves a Christian nation? Capitalism is supposed to have morals and ethics but I do not see them? Where did they go? Many people blame the Bush administration, and many blame the Clinton administration. I blame the corporations more then anyone else.
Ever since deregulation and NAFTA began, we have seen behemoth corporations and banks rise up and crush what we used to call the middle class. These corporations have forgotten their mother country and all sense of morals. Today we see citizens of third world countries forced to work in sweatshops and unsafe working conditions. We see the same corporations running overseas where they do not have environmental and safety laws.
We also see greed running rampant in our own country. We see many families losing everything they own because of high interest rates, predatory lending, and wages going down while the basic necessities like food, water, utilities, and gas all going up. We see our neighbors evicted from their homes because the banks refused to work with them during trying times; instead they make the home even more unaffordable.
The real sad part about all this is the CEO’s, employees, and government officials allowing this to happen call themselves Christians.
How can you say you’re a Christian when you yourself continue to allow this happen, yet you hide behind the free market like it is an excuse not to be a Christian?
If Jesus was truly a capitalist, I am sure he would of kept the 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread and charged for each piece before giving, yet he chose to help the poor and give freely.
You would think that in times of economic distress, the people that supposedly call themselves Christians would do the right thing by assisting those in need so they could feed and house their family. You would also think that the interest rates would be lowered to help those suffering get back on their feet, but no, you see greed.
In my opinion, the banks would not of needed a bailout if they just left the interest rates alone on all those mortgages they freely gave. Many people blame the government for making them give home loans to the poor, yet I still blame the banks. Many of these poor people tried to do the right thing and these banks chose to raise interest rates and destroy what were once happy homes. Like I always say, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. If Christians are supposed to be “Christ Like” I am sure that Jesus would of chose a different route.
Deut. 15:10. You shall give generously to [your poor brother], and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.
Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.
Luke 14:12-14. “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Mt. 19:20 The young man said to Him, “All these commands I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Mt. 5:42. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Prov. 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks
So with these words I ask you, do you serve your God or do you serve your Money?
