This generation of Americans is beginning to experience just a taste of what an earlier generation went through in the 1930’s and early 40’s. It seems like a lot of us have shockingly had the rug pulled out from under our feet. People are losing their jobs, others their homes and many have seen a steep erosion in the value of their investments especially those who thought that the place to be was in stocks that were largely outpacing other investment instruments like CD’s. Even many seniors who are in retirement or at the entrance to retirement were caught off guard because they were overinvested in “go-go” stocks that had the potential to go “down-down” a lot faster than they went up. But all this is not a lead into what we can do to recover our losses or how to preserve what we have remaining. It’s not a primer on job searching nor how to make sure we have a roof over our heads. Then where am I going?
I would like to say that this current crises for those who have lost alot and the rest of us who wonder how secure we should feel, can be a blessing in disguise if it helps cure us of a spiritual epidemic that I believe has plagued most Americans, namely, “contented cow syndrome.” Now what in the world is that? Jesus spoke of it and it is found in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). I refer to the rich young ruler, who had it all: money, position, comfort,
status and security. And to top it off he had much of his youthful vitality. But he wanted more. Having achieved success in mundane pursuits, he thought he could advance to the next eschelon of success by working his way into heaven or as someone has said, “all this and heaven, too. And he thought he had a good track record even in spiritual matters until Jesus told him, “Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up your cross and follow me.” (Mark 10:21 NKJV). Although Jesus genuinely loved the man, our Lord exposed the one fundamental flaw in the conduct of his life. The rich young ruler was addicted to his wealth in which he staked his well being. He had a false security in that he trusted in his wealth over his trust in God. He also thought he could earn his way into heaven (e.g. “what shall I DO,” verse 17.
Most Americans today including many church people pursue the proverbial “American Dream” and when they think they have achieved enough of it they don’t even ask about eternal matters because of the widespread focus on material things. Most of us do not want a large piece of the pie, just enough to feel secure, get along and maybe enjoy a good time at least once in a while. But this contentment with “our piece of the pie” resembles the contentment of a cow comfortably reclining on the green grass. But this dulls our senses to what really is important and makes us rule out any consideration of the meaning of the cross for us or what the true meaning of life is. But as Jesus told the Devil: “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4 KJV). These words were intended for people and not cows. Maybe the current crises will remind us of that.
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