While speaking to the bishops who had gathered at the Vatican recently, Pope Benedict stated that people who seek “success, career or money are building on sand,” according to an article on bbcworldnews.com.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church went on to say the recent downfall of the economy shows wealth means nothing and people should instead live their lives based on the word of God.
We so often hear how wrong it is to focus on material objects. Even the apostle Paul said, “the love of money is a root of all evil.”
Instead of focusing on wealth, we should be focusing on God.
As great as that sounds, faith doesn’t pay the bills, faith doesn’t put food on the table and faith won’t let me sit on my butt all day doing nothing and still be successful in life.
So why do I have to choose between one and the other? Well, apparently, because the Bible tells me to.
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money,” according to Luke 16:13.
While I would not consider myself a deeply religious person, I believe in God and I have morals.
I work hard for what I earn, and I don’t believe that because I do work hard to pay my bills and live an enjoyable life, that I hate God.
In such an expensive world, it’s no wonder we focus so much on earning money and supporting our family. In fact, if we weren’t concerned with doing so, we would be ridiculed.
Yes, I do like to live in a nice place, drive a nice car and wear nice clothes, which would make me someone who apparently, according to the Pope, loves money more than God.
If I truly loved God, I wouldn’t care about nice things or my outward appearance. If I truly loved God, I wouldn’t be trying to live the American dream.
If that were so, then why do they send around collection plates at the end of church services? Why are we expected to give 10 percent of our yearly income to keep the church in good condition so that it is viewed well by the community? After all, outward appearances aren’t supposed to matter.
For a topic that seems so black and white, there sure is a lot of gray area that can be considered.
Amanda Moerlien is a sophomore in English. Please send comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.
Desire for success should not go against faith
Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
you can spend all your life running only behind money and forgetting about god and when just you want to enjoy that money the dead cut you in the middle of your life
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."While this may have been a hard topic to write about because of ridicule, it is very honest.
I am tired of seeing these self proclaimed Christians, such as you Amanda, live a life NOT according to God's will. Christianity is the largest religion in the world, and that is only because of association. How many christians go to church every sunday, pray every day,...even before meals, have a cross in their house, don't say God's name in vain, & follow the churches teachings (ex. opposing abortion)? Christians should act like Christians or else stop calling themselves one.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."While this may have been a hard topic to write about because of ridicule, it is very honest.
I am tired of seeing these self proclaimed Christians, such as you Amanda, live a life NOT according to God's will. Christianity is the largest religion in the world, and that is only because of association. How many christians go to church every sunday, pray every day,...even before meals, have a cross in their house, don't say God's name in vain, & follow the churches teachings (ex. opposing abortion)? Christians should act like Christians or else stop calling themselves one.
2. Christianity could be considered the "norm," tbone. It's likely the majority of students on campus are Christians or claim to be.
3. God does not say, "If you love me, be a bum." Genesis 2:15. God creates Adam and puts him in the garden of Eden to WORK and to care for it.
4. Common misconception: Christians can't be rich. God blesses so many people throughout the Bible with money. He doesn't condemn it, but...
5. you cannot make money the Lord of your life if you claim to have Christ as the Lord of your life. Luke 16:13 is talking about not serving both money and God. You can't have two masters. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? Is it your love for Christ or your love for money and making money and buying things (which you can't take with you when you die).
6. Dave M. is an Atheist probably because he buys into these same lies that you seem to be believing. It's simply not Truth.
7. Pope Benedict was sensible in saying that pursuing money right now is like building on sand...have you heard about the state of our economy?! Go throw your thousands of dollars in the stock market and tomorrow it will likely be gone. Now that's building your house on sand.