One problem with our society today is the emphasis we put on money. Think about it. Realistically, 99% of people on the planet are obsessed about money. That is a sad but true fact. It isn’t because of greed. Well that isn’t entirely true. It is because of greed, but it’s because that’s how we were all raised. But if you think about it, look how little it really means. Think about Steve Jobs. He died recently. Does his wallet matter now? No.
This issue isn’t only with America. It’s with the whole world. The heart of this post comes from a thought I had back in May. I was on a cruise with a friend of mine, and began thinking about all the food on board. It’s sad to me that there is enough food on that ship to feed an entire country. Don’t mistake this post for me promoting communism. That’s not entirely true. In America, people can work. But there are some places in the world where individuals have no choice but to suffer. I’ve been there and seen it first hand. Backwards societies where kids have been raised, abused, and are afraid of the world. I’ve been to places where they had never seen anything but other asians, and the mere presence of a caucasian scared them.
At the end of the day, life is not about what you have in your wallet. I used to be obsessed about money. I’d do whatever I could to make a quick profit. And to an extent, I’m still like that. But I’m a biproduct of my society, just as the other 99% I was mentioning. Whatever God or gods you believe in (assuming they are good/just/lawful), do you think that he, she, or they are going to judge you based on how much money you made? Or do you think they will judge you on how you loved your fellow man? I encourage you to help beggars or those in need.. You know what? Does it matter if they are going to spend it on alcohol? Does it matter if they are going to spend it on drugs? That isn’t really for us to decide. Who knows when we’re actually being tested.
Unfortunately money is something we have to have to live. There is no changing that fact. One solution to the problem would be everyone working for the good of their fellow man. Today, that could never work. It would require restructuring the planet. But I can only hope that some day, we will wake up and see what is important and what isn’t.
