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