WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?
MONEY PRESTIGE POWER
The world today, measures man's success by the amount of money he earns or possesses. People tend to look at
others with special respect, honor and admiration by the material wealth accounted in their name. With the
abundance and sufficiency of resources at one's disposal come power, prestige and recognition. For this reason,
possessions - and how to accumulate even more have become an overpowering priority instead of pleasing God.
While writing this article, an American citizen from Kuwait sent me an e-mail with the information that I am a
recipient of a US$4.5 million dollars deposited by her husband in Abidjan Cote d'lvoire. She told me that her
husband has worked with the Kuwait embassy for sometime but died in 2002. They were married for eleven years
without a child. She emphasized though that both of them are born again Christians. The sad part of her story
is that the doctor had already diagnosed her of cancer giving her only eight months to live the most. Before her
husband's death he had his wishes known that the money will be donated to a church that will take charge of an
orphanage, widows and the less fortunate among our brothers and sisters. They do not want their relatives inherit
the money because they are unconverted. She made it clear that the money will only be entrusted to someone who
can take care of the maintenance of the church while propagating the word of God. Out of a bombshell from
nowhere, I was the chosen one.
What a noble endeavor! Somehow, somewhere at the back of my head I keep asking myself just how many of
us in the world must have already received a similar message? Just how many times her husband must have
already died and risen from his grave that I supposed never existed? Just when will she be really inflicted with
the dreaded disease so that she would no longer be able to fool others? Notwithstanding, I still hope against hope
that the proposition by some sheer luck of fortune will come true. On second thought, with enough money in my
hands I feared the possibility of changing my priorities on what to live for and usher the worst scenario of my
eternal damnation. To the two, I convey my prayers - confident that may they find some ray of light unto their
darkened world. It is a fact, known almost to everyone that some enterprising individuals now-a-days have made
use of their expertise in siphoning other people's hard earned money through the wonders of the internet. What
a way to live. And what a way to make a living! [Side note-these scams have been going around the internet for
several years. They want you bank account number so they can steal your money. [Remember-if it sounds too
good to be true-it is!! Editor].
There are people regardless of the method used will even risk their lives in the pursuit of their dreams. They
spend most of their time and energy accumulating money. Some engaged in illegal activities like extortion, drug
trade, human trafficking, gun running, car napping, kidnaping and the like if only to satisfy their own lust for
pleasure and follow the proverbial human tendencies to take their ease, eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we
die. "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink,
and be merry" (Luke 12: 19). They kill and defraud others to make a living. To this group, human life is
expendable. God, to them, is but an invention of the human mind.
The Holy Bible doesn't say that money or the acquisition thereof is evil. It is the love of money that is. Money
is a neutral thing that can be used to love or hate, to build or destroy, depending on how we use it. In other words
it can make you holy or it can make you evil - much like anything else in life. It all depends on whether you
follow or violate the unbreakable written laws that govern the universe. The tragic story of man reveals that all
who had ever lived have broken God's eternal law. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
( Romans 3:23 ).
Others work just to make a living. Their minds are too preoccupied with the basic essentials of life Beyond that,
they have not really thought what they are living for. In effect, they are simply drifting through life. They passed
away without even knowing the grand purpose of their existence. One day, in due time, when they will be given
the opportunity to live again, when God's Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh, when the Holy Book will
finally be opened to their understanding then they will appreciate the enormous value of their being. What a
joyous time in God's redemptive plan would the Last Great Day be? Meanwhile, survival is the essence of their
game. Deceived as they are, they innocently follow the pagan practices of the adversary. Sometimes, in their
moments of desperation, the master of deception, the prince of the power of the air even serves as their last
source of inner strength. Sham as it is, it temporarily eases the pains and hardships of their lamentable situations.
Others are born with a mission to serve and care for the sick, the downtrodden and the outcasts. An exceptionally
few in this category who have more than enough in life even sell their properties and give them to the poor as
they travel along the road of their chosen vocation. They often live in cathedrals. convents, monasteries and
orphanages. They maybe honest, sincere and dedicated to the furtherance of their worthy cause, yet, they are
innocently involved in the propagation of the subtle lies of a counterfeit god. No matter how good their motives
and intentions are, their effort cannot bring real peace and joy that only a right understanding of what the true
God can bring.
Hidden from the consciousness of an unsuspecting world, a minute few have been destined to be called ahead
from the rest of the human race .. Though they are the weak, the despised and the based of things yet, they are
privilege to understand the fantastic good news about the coming Kingdom of God. (Matthew 1 :23) While many
of them labor hard to make a living yet, material possessions is counted last from among their priorities. They
are more concerned with heavenly investment rather than the accumulation of perishable earthly things. Christ's
admonition to "Seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto
you," rings a familiar tone in their hearts (Matthew 6:33). They also know that they are more than sparrows and
care not seriously what tomorrow may bring for they are aware that they are strangers, pilgrims and passers by
from the earth. Wealth and possessions to them are a gift from God and consider themselves mere stewards to
share it with others.
They are made to understand that the ultimate purpose of their calling is to develop God's holy righteous
character in preparation for their majestic role of being kings and priest in the world to come. The earth is merely
their training ground while practicing in their present physical state the true meaning of love - the summation
and embodiment of what a divine God can be. The kind of love from God that carries with it an unconditional
commitment that transcends and rises above the physical requirements of the law made possible only by the
presence of God's Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
Are you in pain right now? Are you sick and suffering, perhaps physically blind or deaf? Do you grieve the loss
of a loved one? Have you lost a job? Are you financially hard up these days? Do you wonder where your next
meal will come from? Has anyone taken advantage of you? Don't be seriously alarmed, " .... My son, despise not
thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loves He
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are
partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons" (Hebrews 12: 5,6,8).
Do you want more of God's character of love in you? Do you want God to express His love to you more and more
each day? Then welcome God's loving correction here and now. Those chastisements are meant for the polishing
and refinement of our character so that in due time we can effectively teach others surmount their own trials and
tribulations which they will likewise be exposed to in a new world to come. All of us, consciously or
unconsciously have priorities. Our priorities affect the way we think and do. They determine the direction of our
lives. Take heed and consider what we have really been living for. ☜
Romeo Samudio