The Pursuit Of An Illusion

I happened to turn on one of the national christian networks the other day, and they were well into another marathon of empty promises, also known as a telethon. The same botox infused faces stared back at me, spouting the same tired stories, urging me to break the back of poverty in my life, with a mere pittance of an offering, namely one thousand dollars.
I was about to turn it off, since I'd heard the same uninspired story more times than I could count already, when a new wrinkle was added to it. The man looked into the camera, and unflinchingly said, 'if you don't think money makes you happy, then you've never had enough of it.'
Rather than hearing crickets through the silence that should have ensued at such an absurd comment, the auditorium burst into enthusiastic applause.
For some unexplained reason, the words money and happiness have become not only synonymous, but seemingly interchangeable within the house of God. If you've got money, then you're happy, and if you're happy than you must have money.
Now I know we can quote the Bible here, and say 'the love of money is the root of all manner of evil', but who pays any mind to what the Bible says anymore anyway? If by some miracle or divine intervention, the magnitude of the parting of the Red Sea, it registers that you've quoted scripture, they're quick to come back with the old standby, 'we're not preaching the love of money, we're just preaching gettin' money.'
We've replaced worshiping Jesus, with worshiping Benjamin Franklin, Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Jackson and Alexander Hamilton. I could mention Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, but you can't do much with a five spot, or a one dollar bill nowadays.
I know there are at least fifty books, DVDs and teaching series out there, trying to teach the children of God how to get rich, acquire wealth, have everything they've ever wanted, and have fun doing it. Before you go and spend your hard earned money on one of these tutorials and instructional materials, ask yourselves the following question: Does money really bring happiness, or are you about to embark upon the pursuit of an illusion?
If your reason for pursuing money is to acquire happiness, you may want to take a second and gaze upon the human disasters walking about, with millions of dollars in the bank, yet with no sense of self worth, no dignity or self control.
Every time I'm standing in line at the supermarket there is another face staring back at me from the magazine racks, a face attached to a prominent name, attached to a bank account, attached to the deed of a palatial estate, who's just gotten out of rehab, or went into rehab, has developed an eating disorder, has admitted to being an alcoholic, a drug abuser, or has attempted suicide.
If money made you happy, and one's happiness was directly proportionate to the amount of money in your bank account, these people should be dancing down the street, skipping up the sidewalk, and smiling at every passerby.
Some years back there was a young musician, who having upwards of thirty million dollars in the bank, found this life to be so bleak, so pointless, so painful, so empty that he saw fit to take a shotgun blast to the face rather than live one more day. But hey, maybe thirty million wasn't enough to make him happy.
Remember now, if you don't think money makes you happy, you've never had enough of it!
I'm passed shock at this point, and am simply disgusted. I often catch myself thinking how long can this go on, then have to shake the thought out of my head, and replace it with the idea that one more day, may mean one more soul.
Since I'm feeling charitable today, I will give you the keys to true happiness, and it won't cost you a dime. You don't have to order a DVD, you don't have to buy my book, just read the following lines.
How to be happy: Keep your heart from hate, your mind from worry, live simply, expect little from this life, give much, sing often, pray always, be selfless, be loving, be gentle, be godly. All these are made possible, by serving Christ, and Christ alone.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.