Money money money

Money money money,  Money makes many,

Let us pray. May the Words of my mouth and meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you O Rock and Redeemer.

James is a very practical book. James chapter 5 directly addresses to “you rich people”. And today’s passage is Warning to the Rich. But don’t come to a conclusion to that all rich people are bad and these verses are for all the rich people because even in bible we can see many godliest people who follows God, like Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, Job, etc.

James is addressing this passage to the unbelieving jews, being exceedingly addicted to sensual pleasure, and  of course oppressors of the poor.

Throughout most of the rural areas of the Roman Empire, including much of rural Galilee, rich landowners profited from the work hard, middle ages.  Most of Jame’s writing takes the form of an Old testament prophetic judgment oracle, paralleled also in some jewish wisdom and apocalyptic texts.

Here this text was weaved in a way to give warning to the rich.

During that time clothing was one of the primary signs of wealth in antiquity; many peasants had only one garment.

And also the rich consumed much meat at a feast; once an animal was slaughtered, as much as possible was eaten at once, because the rest could be preserved only by drying and salting. Meat was generally unavailable to the poor except during public festivals.

So this was the context where this passage was written. There where social injustice happened at that time.

In present day context we can see these type of things where rich gets richer and poor gets poorer.

Recently I saw a movie, name of the movie is Kakka muttai. In that movie social injustice was clearly captured by highlighting the problems faced by poor and the injustice in society today.   I think that was the main reason where that movie received national award for best film.  

I would like to share a story which I heard in FM yesterday.

Antony and Jacob were neighbors. Antony was a poor farmer. Jacob was a landlord.

Antony used to be very relaxed and happy. Although he had no money he shared with his friends what he had.

Jacob used to be very tense always.  Even though he has many money, he does not have happiness which Antony has.  He envied Antony. He keenly  started to observe Antony.

So one day Jacob called Antony and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “look my dear friend.  I am blessed with plenty my dear friend.  I am blessed with plenty of wealth.  I find you in poverty.  So, take this cash and live happily”

Antony was very happy. He was happy throughout the day.  He finally repaid his debts and slept very well that day. 

Next day Antony went to Jacob. Antony said “dear friend after a long time I slept very well with repaying all my loans, thanks a lot for giving this money”. Jacob replied “Dear friend after a long time I also slept very well because I realized what is the purpose of money”.

 The famous Tamil poet Vairamuthu says,

If you have sufficient money in your hand, you are the master for that.

If you have money till your neck, that money will be the master for you.

God never judges us by a bank account.

God’s concern is not with actual wealth, but with our attitude towards wealth.

Proverbs 13: 11 says Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it.

I believe in hard work. Our motto should be. Word hard and trust God. Word hard and trust God. At the same time there should be a balance in work. Work is just a tool but not a goal.

God’s counsel is not against people who are wealthy, but against the wrong priorities of the wealthy. Let us think about it!

May God bless these words. Amen!

Let us intercede,

Let us pray for the whole world and its leaders. Let them be mindful of all the sufferings of the people especially people who are denied of equality and justice by the dominant structures of this society.

Let us pray for the universal church and its leaders, organizations and missionary agencies. Let them be faithful and committed to their calling and let them be channels of God’s love in this world.

Let us pray for the people who are suffering from various diseases especially who are suffering from incurable diseases and also people with terminal illness.

Let us pray for the people who are differently-abled. Lord we ask you to give us the mind to stand in solidarity with them and also to accept them with their own talents and gifts and to live in harmony with them.

 Let us pray for our Gurukul community and also for the sick among us. Let us also pray for the Alumini of Gurukul and their ministries.

Let us pray for our own Personal Needs.

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayers.

Let us say our Lord’s prayer together

Our parent God who art in heaven, Hallowed be your name,  Your kingdom come

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our sins

As we forgive those who sin against us

And lead us not into time of trial

But deliver us from evil

For the kingdom, power, and the glory are yours

Amen.

May the Blessing of the Triune God, CREATOR REDEEMER AND SUSTAINER be with us now and forever more. Amen.