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