Is Mammon Taking Over Our Lives?
Your Turn to Weigh In
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
— Matthew 6:24
Following the Call—Chap. 41: God or Mammon
Your turn. Is this hyperbole? Mammon overreach. Input welcomed!
Money reduces human relationships to a materialistic association until the only value left is money itself. Satan uses property and money to destroy the highest goals.
— Eberhard Arnold
Your Turn
This chapter is hard-hitting. It not only consists of many emphatic statements, but the selections are radically contrary to how most of us view money and wealth. For this reason, I think it is fitting for you to weigh in and express your own thoughts. Question: Which of the following statements from the chapter do you agree or disagree with? Why?
· We have become used to countless people being crushed to death because of our affluence.
· Mammon and big business rule through lies.
· Capitalism itself involves injustice.
· Material affluence and financial security are the real enemy of God.
· Money and love are mutually exclusive.
· Mammon never motivates people to work toward fellowship.
· Money is a power that tries to be like God.
· We do not use money, money uses us.
Is This Hyperbole?
Jesus’ words, when taken at face value, pit mammon and God against each other. To love and devote ourselves to God means hating and despising wealth. Question: How seriously should we take Jesus’ words? Or is he just using hyperbole to get our attention?
Mammon Overreach
I had a conversation recently with a mother of two young girls. She wanted them to experience farmyard animals firsthand, with real sights and sounds in their habitat. Try as she might, however, she couldn’t find anyone who would let her come to their farm. Granted, the three of them were strangers, but the main problem was the issue of liability. Eventually, someone told her about a family-owned farm that, for a hefty fee, allowed families to visit and pet the animals.
I find this sad. Many Americans are rightly concerned about government overreach. But what about mammon overreach? Twenty years ago, the Hedgehog Review devoted itself to the topic of “The Commodification of Everything.” A slate of books and critical essays followed, addressing the commodification of children, culture, the self, the outdoors, and so forth. Each in its own way addressed the deleterious effects of mammon overreach. We get only what we can pay for.
Today we have to pay for pretty much everything. What we used to do for free in our families—yard care, pet care, child care, pickup games at home or on the street, cutting hair, painting the house, fixing bikes and tires—and what we used to give to one another merely on the basis of human solidarity—caring for grandma and grandpa, celebrating a wedding, having a baby, going for pastoral counseling—we now have to pay for, whether we can afford it or not. Question: Why have our lives become so commodified?
Input Welcomed!
I would love to know what you think about the above questions or anything else. Is mammon taking over our lives? Just reply to this email.
Glad you jumped into the discussion Alyssa. I agree with much of what you express. The love of money is the root of evil. But I also believe that money (or be it bread or whatever) is the fruit of evil. I don't believe God ever meant for us to have to use money, which is "mine", to by something that is "yours." Money exists because we don't see each other as one family under God the father. We don't (or shouldn't) use money as a medium of exchange within a family, so why should we do this as brothers and sisters in Christ? The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. He means for us to share this (not buy and sell it) together in love and unity. If we are governed by love for God and for one another, by the spirit of sharing, I think our world (and "economy") would look very, very different. In the meantime, and like you express, we need to do everything we can to be "in line with the truth of Jesus' words" in which people are more important than possessions. Thanks for your input!
I find what you write Joshua very interesting. I've recently met a man who is a professional therapist who has a huge heart for the underclass. These are the folks who are often in need of counseling. He decided several years ago to offer his services free to them. He invites them to offer a donation with the understanding that they don't have to. To his amazement, he is "earning" more than he had before. So now he is offering his services for free to anyone. What is he doing with his extra money? He hopes to start a community that offers free housing to those who want to live a different life, free of consumer capitalism. What he is doing is quite inspiring to say the least. All the best!