How rich do you want to be?

"Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6: 9).

Friday of the 24th week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr and the Korean martyrs. 103 martyrs gave their lives to Christ between 1839 and 1867.

Our Scripture for today is wringing indictment of love of money.  When I was in college, it was vogue and smart to want to be rich. Still the same today. "Make all the money you can and then retire early." Even without knowing what I needed all the money for, I fell for the madness. Also in fashion at the time were self-help books like: THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON and THINK AND GROW RICH.
I am glad to say that God in His mercy rescued me from such evil thoughts.

Sacred Scripture has a lot to say about money both as filthy lucre and genuine riches. Let us take a few sampling from the first Reading from 1Timothy 6:

"For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it."

"If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that."

"For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains."

These are plain truths for anyone to see.

The Korean Martyrs we celebrate today attained to everlasting life because they rejected the culture of money, money, money.

How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com