February 18, 2013 (Monday)
“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”
― Socrates
Traveling at 40,000 mph, a twenty-million-pounds meteor exploded a few days ago with the force of more than 30 Hiroshima bombs, injuring 1200 people. The event took place in Russia, 900 miles east of Moscow near the border of Kasakhstan.
Immediately, on the internet, ads for disaster-related products began showing up. One energetic entrepreneur offered meteorite fragments for $15 and another company tried to persuade owners of shattered windows to replace them with their plastic ones.
Some folks are very aware of opportunities to make a buck. Somewhere there is a grave marker with this message engraved on it: “Here lies Jane Smith, wife of Thomas Smith, marble-cutter. This monument was erected by her husband as a tribute to her memory and a specimen of his work. Monuments of the same style, $250.”
Doubtless, some people are horrified by the crass insensitivity of the marble-cutter, while others admire his initiative.
Jesus warned us about money. The desire for more of it is a seductive siren’s call to sacrifice one’s love for all else upon the altar of material gain. Money can be potentially good; the love of it is the root of all evil.
Let us make sure our priorities in life are in the right order. Nothing and no one except God, who has revealed Himself as the One who loves us all, should take first place in our hearts.