| I will never forget the day that my | | | | who spin it the other way around, as if |
| daughter's sixth grade friend told me | | | | God don't like poor people. They act |
| that. We had been discussing someone | | | | like they're closer to God because they |
| who had recently lost a fortune and had | | | | have money. Funny thing money, it can |
| become very bitter as a result. She | | | | buy a lot of things, but I was under the |
| suddenly piped up with that all knowing | | | | impression that God wasn't for sale. |
| scowl that only a twelve year old girl | | | | Rumor has it that some churches and |
| can truly master while proclaiming, "God | | | | individual clergy can be bought, but not |
| don't like rich people!" She said it as | | | | God Himself. Nowhere in the bible did I |
| if it was a mortal sin worthy of an | | | | ever read that you could bypass the |
| eternity in hell. She immediately made | | | | rules and just pay an entrance fee to |
| a snap decision from that point forward | | | | get into heaven's gates. |
| to dislike the person we'd been talking | | | | I thought that money was a tool |
| about. I've met her dad. He's a nice | | | | sometimes used for testing us. Do we |
| enough guy and from what I can tell, he | | | | remain spiritual while humbled and poor |
| agrees with his daughter. They are very | | | | or do we become bitter and turn our back |
| regular attendees at their church. I | | | | on God? Do we remain spiritual while |
| don't know what church they go to, but | | | | spoiled and rich or do we become self |
| all I could think to myself at the time | | | | righteous and turn our back on God? And |
| was, "Who in the world is teaching her | | | | what about the way we treat each other? |
| that!?" | | | | Does the amount of money we have dictate |
| For my daughter's sake, I bit my tongue. | | | | how much love we are to receive from |
| I wanted so badly to quiz her friend | | | | each other? "Congratulations on that |
| and find out the roots of that belief | | | | job promotion you worked so hard for, |
| system. How does one logically come to | | | | buddy! But hey, you're too rich now, so |
| that conclusion? I was under the | | | | me and God aren't going to hang out with |
| impression that God was known to shower | | | | you anymore." |
| you with riches if he liked you. | | | | What a silly concept that money would |
| Solomon was extremely rich and God liked | | | | have anything to do with one's spiritual |
| him. I thought that God's opinion of us | | | | self-worth. I'm sorry for those |
| had more to do with our character, not | | | | children who have been raised to believe |
| our bank account. I could even see that | | | | that the amount of money they do or do |
| how you amassed your fortune could be | | | | not have dictates whether or not God |
| important in God's viewpoint. I think | | | | will like them. Personally, I've raised |
| about Job and how he was tested to see | | | | my kids on the idea that you behave |
| if money was the reason for his devotion | | | | yourself as best you can, and I do mean |
| to God. Upon passing the test, didn't | | | | 'best.' Heed your spiritual calling. |
| God dump piles of money back into his | | | | Love one another. Everything else will |
| lap again? And what about the father in | | | | fall into place as it's meant to be. |
| the prodigal son story? He had money | | | | Oh, and be thankful for what you have. |
| and God liked him. | | | | God don't like people with bad manners. |
| Just as ridiculous to me are the people | | | | |