It is more blessed to give than to receive

I recently came across a very interesting article on the Telegraph website by George Pitcher entitled "Who cares if Robbie Williams is worse off", referring to the Sunday Times Rich List 2009 and seemed to suggest that our attitudes are changing (for the better) towards people who have got more money than they will ever need in their lifetime. The views expressed in the article seemed to reflect an almost Christian perspective on the credit crunch and how we should be viewing our fellow man, plus Mr Pitcher's article also suggested that "Giving it away could be the new making it."

"It's more that the richer you get, the more you worry about money. There is a worry about losing money that can be as preoccupying as worrying about not having any." says the article's author George Pitcher, who suggests that "while we greet the news that Robbie Williams is £25 million "worse off" with some satisfaction that this bumptious singing waiter has been separated from so much unwarranted dosh, our glee is short-lived. We go "Yeah right, like he's going to care" when we clock that he's getting by on £80 million. Actually, the rich care very much when they lose money. This isn't the rather silly idea that they care about their public status: in my experience, the wealthy would rather stay out of the Rich List and out of sight of the Inland Revenue, burglars and kidnappers."

The bible suggests that "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6v6) and that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20v35). This is not something that modern society has really encouraged, it has been more look after number one and lots of dosh will bring happiness, but does it? My dear old mum when she was alive taught me that whilst wealth can bring comfort, it can not bring happiness, in fact, some of the wealthiest people are the unhappiest in the world, as the very thing that they thought would make them happy can not. Simply look at the ruined lives of many of past lottery winners! As Jesus said in Mark 10v25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God"

I was well impressed with George Pitchers article as he asks some interesting questions about our attitudes to both the rich and society, and observes "there can be little doubt that during the boom years there was some desire, born of prurience and envy, for us to press our noses up against the securitised double-glazing of the very wealthy. In those years, making money seemed natural. And making lots of money seemed healthy; it showed that we were at one with the nature of the markets and its fruits. And the Rich List suggested to us that we could all make it. Frankly, so long as Victoria Beckham is one half of a partnership worth £125 million (426th equal) there's hope for us all. The list was aspirational. Now it just looks pointless, vacuous and a little vulgar. Money no longer defines us. To be rich is no longer what it is to be human. We are re-defining what we admire."

In life we tend to find out who are true friends are during the most difficult and trying times, plus the depth of our own characters and what we believe. There is nothing wrong with money itself, however it is whether or not you let it become more important than family and friends etc. The Bible makes it clear that "the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6v10 King James Version), money is not evil, loving it is! Could this be the root cause of the Worldwide banking collapses and subsequent credit crisis? You decide.