Life is full of inconveniences and annoyances that would not exist if everyone could be trusted. If no one wanted to steal anything from my house, I wouldn’t need a key to lock my door. If no one wanted to sabotage my flight, I wouldn’t have to wait in a TSA line in stocking feet. If no one wanted to steal my identity and syphon away my money, there would be no reason for passwords, encryption, or two-factor authentication.
Life would be so simple if only everyone loved their neighbor.
Instead, in this world, greed runs rampant causing vast inequities in resources. The weight of envy and bitterness is too heavy for many who rationalize thievery, vandalism, and chaos. For others, jealously guarding their hoard, they turn to hatred, fear, and selfish manipulation for increased power. It’s an ugly cycle.
The saddest part of our story is that all of this grabbing and hoarding, stealing and guarding is done over things that are temporary and will never fully satisfy.
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19, CSB)
There are countless stories of very rich people finding that their wealth has not made them happy. When asked how much money it would take to make a man happy, John D. Rockefeller’s answer was “just one more dollar.” Jim Carrey said, “I hope everybody could get rich and famous and have everything they ever dreamed of, so they will know it’s not the answer.” Elon Musk, the current richest man alive, suffers from “unrelenting stress” and bouts of depression.
The goals the world sells me are backwards. Wealth, fame, and power are too fragile, too temporary, and unsatisfying in the end. Instead, if I focus on God’s goals, I will find something that is eternally satisfying. Loving God by loving my neighbor will fill me up with the joy and peace I have been looking for, and no one can steal that from me.
Dear God, more money always seems like the answer. But I believe you when you tell me it is not. Teach me to share generously, to love boldly, and to trust you with everything I have. I eagerly anticipate your kingdom where locks, passwords, and gates are not necessary because everyone has all they need and thieves do not exist.
CamDevo 