Devotion
Rich or poor? That is the question
David Jacobs
I lived in China for a few years, and the desire for wealth there is as much as I have ever seen. A famous celebrity gained infamy for uttering these words: "I would rather be crying in the back of a BMW than smiling on the back of a bike." The urge to obtain and collect possession is an obsession, greed on of the seven deadly sins. If it is considered such a sin, how have we allowed the consumer culture that we live in to grow to the extent that it has?
Much has been forgotten and most of our society does not consider the scriptures. This is why we, as devoted followers of Christ, owe it to ourselves and to all of society to be learned and knowledgeable in the ways of the Lord.
This proverb begins praising the poor but righteous and bashing the fool that is perverse in speech. If someone speaks without knowledge, they are a fool and a sinner, wicked in the eyes of the Lord.
The last verse is most striking to me: wealth may make many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbor.
Prayer
However, what kind of friends are attracted to wealth? Are they not using you simply for your material belongings? When trouble hits you and you need a true friend, who would you be able to rely on? Some of the most generous are the poorest, as was the case with the widow's offering in the temple (Mark 12:41-44). She may not have a BMW that she can cry in, but she will have access to the kingdom of heaven, more riches than even the wealthiest on earth can possibly imagine.She shall inherit the earth. To the wealthiest among us: where will your false friends be?
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Devotion
Martha or Mary
Frances Taylor
The age old question of who's right! There's a commercial for an automobile company that uses the slogan of "either/or, or both/and" that I kind of like. Not that I'm supporting the company, but because I believe we sometimes think in an either/or way when it's really important to be a both/and kind of person. In today's gospel, Martha is busy about hospitality and Mary extends hospitality in a quieter manner. We need both, and we need to be both. There are times when we need to be about doing what Jesus tells us to do, but if all we do is "do" and we don't take the time to listen, we just might get it wrong. Mary sits and listens to Jesus while Martha feels overwhelmed with her tasks. When Martha complains, Jesus tells her not to be anxious and worried, and I think that here is the key. When we take the time to sit and listen to Jesus and then move on to follow the will of God, we don't have to be anxious and worried; we can relax in the knowledge ...
