When our work is done.
They say the love of money is the root of all evil. If you look around the world, there are many people who have let money go to their head, and rule them instead of them ruling the money! I personally have never had that problem, lacking the evil money to contend with! But if history is to be believed, money has done many people more harm than good.
For instance, why do people smuggle drugs into this country? Do you think they sit back and enjoy hearing or seeing people strung out on drugs? They really don’t care one bit, they are in it for the money.
Do you think a young woman thinks I will go downtown and let random men abuse me and my body because I want to be treated like a second class citizen and feel bad about myself? No, she does it because she needs and wants the money.
These are just the obvious cases about money ruling over good sense. Have you ever seen something in a magazine or on television that you thought you just had to have? Instead of saving and planning on the purchase of said item, you go out and put it on a credit card, even though you know you cannot afford it and cannot pay it back. What were you thinking? Well, you weren’t, but the money had a mind of its own!
The Bible tell us: Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. That is because if you have to work for it, you ponder what you are going to buy. Wonder if you really need it, and enjoy it more after you have worked for it. We are also warned not to lay up our treasures on earth, but in heaven. How, do you ask? You do the work of Christ, spreading the Gospel and teaching how to love thy neighbor as thyself. More satisfaction is garnered by thinking of others than of ourselves. There will come a time in life when we must face our mortality and our ability to do any work, including God’s work, will be over. Nothing of this world can be taken with you into eternity, except the work you did for God. That is what will truly make you rich! Jesus said: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. You know me and songs: Well this one was written by an 18-year-old young lady in 1854, and says it all:
WORK, FOR THE NIGHT IS COMING
Written in 1854 by Anna L Coghill
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flow’rs.
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.
Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is dark’ning,
When man’s work is o’er.
What will you have accumulated when your work on earth is done?
As parents we need to teach our children to live within their means. It is only when we teach them to be satisfied with what they have that they will appreciate those things that fill their life with joy. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your children is tell them no when they want something because you love them and want them to live a full and meaningful life.
We as authors often have our heroes and heroins struggle with poverty and through hard work become successful. Is this so different from our real life? I think is important that we keep a goal in mind and what is spurring us on toward that goal. The old adage, ‘you can’t take it with you’ is based in wisdom. Something we might all do better to remember.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I Timothy 6:10
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
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.
Matthew 6:19, 24
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth
Luke 12:15
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Proverbs 13:11