Money can’t buy happiness or health. Money is a terrible master but an expedient slave. From the market commodities reeling down to the basic necessities of life, money is indispensable. In today’s milieu, survival in such a commercialized world is inconceivable for the downtrodden and common people. Perhaps we are living in the times of prophet Amos where the poor are bought with silver and needy being sold for a pair of sandals. Without money, you can’t step out of your confinement. Now, the education based on business outlook has created a huge gap between the rich and poor. It’s not about competence or the desire for learning on the part of the kids anymore. It’s about whether the parents can afford to support them financially. Maybe that’s an overstatement in some sense but the fact of the matter remains. Poor families struggle to pay their school dues while the rich kids spend lavishly on their branded apparels. The poor have to be satisfied with two meals per day while the rich tosses the food for disposal. The poor and the rich have one thing in common: their Maker but it is not so while we live here on earth.
In a striking poem, “Money Madness” penned by DH Lawrence, he pointed out that the world has gone mad because of the seductions of money. Money makes people tremble and fear. Money enslaves and counts people on the basis of how much they are worth. If he has no money, then he is left to eat dirt and go cold. This thing called money has made every human a fool. The poem woefully retorts and ends with these lines, “We must have money to save us from eating dirt and this is so WRONG. Bread should be free, shelter should be free, fire should be free to all and anybody, all and anybody, all over the world. We must regain our sanity about money before we start killing one another about it.” Indeed, we have lost our saneness in our rush for selfishness, possession and material gains.
Not only that, money seems to be the hidden face behind every profession of works. From the political arenas ranging to educational and religious spheres of responsibilities, the word “money” plays a major role in the decision process. Of course, none can escape from that reality but my point here is if money takes the upper-hand in every role, then truly and sadly, humans have become a slave of money. Dr. Ravi Zacharias in his book, “Recapture the Wonder” narrates a meeting that took place with an ambassador of the United Nations. Dr. Zacharias asked the ambassador if he was optimistic about the world scene and the role of United Nations. To this, the man gave a staggering reply. There was a tone of sadness in his voice as he quietly said, “I’m afraid that in the end it all boils down to money. Whoever has the money calls the shots.” The spiralling of money-madness from the international politics down to national and state level is uncovered right before our eyes. The hunger for money has become insatiable. The rich craves to become richer and richer at the expense of exploiting the less fortunate while some wanting to get rich overnight has become the prey of the racketeer. Many unsuspecting Nagas have been hoodwinked by the money-monger from within and without. We love money too much but we don’t have enough! The delirium of seeking money is killing our society, families and individuals. Money is dividing walls between ‘the haves’ and ‘haves not.’We are not living for money nor are we living for ourselves! But when will we gain our sanity before we spin out of control? When will we realize that human lives are much more valuable than gold or silver? When will we, before we all get lost in a money-madness world?
The Bible says: For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10).
Vebu Khamo
Bible Student
