For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. --1 Timothy 6:10
We all know the trouble that money can cause. The Bible obviously tells us to be cautious of money. But oh, how easy it is to forget. Tonight I went to a meeting about the pharmaceutical industry. The focus of this meeting had nothing to do with money; it actually consisted of 4 IU bio alumi who currently work for companies such as Cook, Baxter, and Eli Lilly, all discussing how they came to work in pharmaceuticals. It was very informational and I am assured that the kind of job I would like to have after school actually exists!
One of the speakers talked about different aspects of pharmaceutical business including ethics. During part of his presentation he gave us a couple of situations that were conflicts of interest. He then proceeded to tell us about some of the regulation that is required in industry to ensure that these problems are dealt with ethically. One situation he gave us was that of a doctor. This hypothetical doctor is paid through a "fee for service" process. In this case, he gets paid per patient per procedure instead of a salary. Now, the job of a doctor is to take care and try to improve a patient's health. It is fair to say that a doctor's job relies on sickness and disease. When you add in the "fee for service" aspect, there is potential for problems. Where do the doctor's priorities lie now? Does he put the patient first and give them the best health care possible at any given time? Or does the love of making more money take over? Conflict of interest. One would hope that a doctor's priority would lie with the patient. My optimistic side assumes that this is the case with most doctors--that they truly care for their patient's well-being. However, I have no doubt that making money is the draw for some doctors.
Health care brings up some very real issues regarding the evils of money--the one mentioned above being one of them. Another interesting aspect is that of pharmaceutical drugs (also brought up by this speaker.) There is sickness and disease in the world. Scientists and doctors have found ways to treat and cure many problems. Treatment (surgeries, medicine, etc.) cost money. Companies that produce these products have costs to deal with and also have to make a profit in order to stay in business. Where do you draw the line here? Our dream is to help those that are ailing. Reality is that everything costs something. How do we maintain the right priorities (people before money) while still being realistic? I don't have an answer. Something to think about.
In life in general, I think the main way to do this is to keep our eyes on the real prize.
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. --Matthew 6:24
If we are relying fully on God, then money becomes less important. We aren't attached to material things here on earth. After all, you can't take it with you.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. --Matthew 6:19-21
I think complete trust in God to fulfill our needs is the only way to truly dissolve the hold that money has on us.
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. --Matthew 6: 31-33
Take home point(s): Don't rely on money. Do not make it a top priority. Make heavenly things your treasure. Trust God to supply your needs.
Easier said than done, right?
It has just come to my attention lately how much our world is dependent upon balance. On Sunday, Pastor Bob spoke about the need for a balance between individualism and fellowship. Erring too far on one side or the other can drastically alter the equilibrium that we need. To be too focused on the individual causes self-centeredness and a lack of community, among other things. While focusing too much on fellowship removes the personal aspect of a relationship with the Father.
The Bible shows us examples of both of these activities. In Acts, time was devoted to fellowship--for believers to be in each others' company.
Acts 2:41-43
41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Matthew 18:20
20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
This one is easy, right? Who doesn't like getting together to enjoy the company of their brothers and sisters in Christ? Sure, it seems simple, but sometimes we have to rethink our priorities. Our busy schedules get in the way and we don't set aside time to just be with each other. I've found my time with my Christian siblings to be priceless. They excite me and encourage me--not necessarily through words, but by just being there, walking together through life.
We also see examples of being alone with God. Jesus, himself, did this.
Mark 1:35
35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 14:36
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
I think it is also important (as always) to look at the context here. In the verses just before each of these, Jesus was surrounded by people. In chapter 1, (the night before 1:35) the whole town of Capernaum was at his doorstep, bringing their sick to be healed. In Mark 14:36, the Last Supper had just occurred and Jesus had spent the evening preparing his disciples for his death. Remember how confused they were? Have you ever tried to teach someone and they just weren't getting it? Scripture doesn't show Jesus getting frustrated with them, but at the very least I am sure he must have been exhausted. The common theme here is making sure you're in communion with God--that you're plugged into the vine. It can be really easy to pour ourselves out whether it's with church activities, Cgroups, service projects, or day-to-day conversations with others. But while you're pouring yourself out... are you going to God for a refill? I've found this to be a big problem in my life. My quiet times have never been as steady as they should be (and as I would like them to be.) Work in progress...
So let's shift gears a bit. I've been noticing a lot of "balance" in my studies lately too. Science is full of it, and I've never taken the time until recently to really appreciate that. I'm taking a class called "Preventing Cancer" (disclaimer: the class is total crap; I don't recommend it) and we've been doing individual research on different topics all semester. One of the topics I am looking at this week is estrogen and breast cancer. Balance is incredibly important when talking about hormones. For example, estrogen is involved in the development and regulation of... feminine characteristics (I won't go into all the details here.) Too little estrogen and you end up with developmental problems. Too much estrogen and it ends up "feeding" cancerous cells. It's all about being Goldilocks here--gotta get it "just right." I could come up with other examples as well, but we'll leave it at that. This whole idea of equilibrium and balance is just like seeing God staring at me through the scientific data. I'm sure there's some "sciencey, evolutionary" explanation out there that someone has come up with. But I think if you look closely it just screams creation. Amazing... Do you see why I love science?
We've been studying 1 Peter in Cgroup this semester. Last night, I was reading through this weeks passage (4:3-11) and it hit me in the face (figuratively, of course). Not the whole passage, but one verse in particular:
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Now, normally I like to think that I'm pretty decent with hospitality. My mom is definitely skilled at making visitors comfortable in our home, and I think I've learned some of that from her. Mi casa es su casa. However, lately that has not been the case.
My friends and I are planning Practice Thanksgiving. At first, I was really excited about this event--a chance to spend a Thanksgiving meal with my closest friends here at school. But lately, I have been grumbling about it a lot--and not for good reasons. Just because it hasn't been going my way, I've been taking it out on everyone else. More people were invited than what we expected, we aren't going to have enough chairs, a couple friends have decided to protest the event and not come (mostly just to get a rise out of us, I think), we aren't going to have enough dishes, the food is going to cost more than planned. None of these are actually problems worth worrying about. They can all be dealt with and easily fixed or managed. So why am I making a big deal out of it? Me, My way. I am far too focused on what I want and not how I can serve others. What is hospitality all about anyway? Putting guests and friends first, and myself last.
So there you have it... God smacked me on the forehead with Scripture. Thank goodness. I needed an attitude adjustment.
