Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
(Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.)
I must have been really bored, but for some reason, I was flipping through the television channels, and I stopped on MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16 Party Reunion.” I could not believe what I was seeing. Over and over again, these soon-to-be-16-year-old girls were planning birthday parties that would rival anything Hollywood has ever produced. There were several key ingredients… 1) a big-name guest entertainer; 2) special clothing… usually more than one outfit; 3) an elaborate arrival for the honoree; and 4) selected party guests.
Most of the girls featured were from wealthy families, with parents who worked in industries such as entertainment, oil and gas, car sales, or real estate. Over and over the party planners would ask what the budget should be, only to be told, “Money is no object.” One girl flew to New York with her parents and two girlfriends to spend a single day picking out a couple of dresses that cost $3000. Another delivered her invitations to friends in a horse-drawn carriage, and each individual invitation was frozen in a block of ice. Yet another landed at her party in her dad’s helicopter and was escorted to a tent fashioned like a castle in a horse-drawn vintage “Cinderella” carriage. Still another had Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia, blocked for a parade in her honor, complete with marching bands, horses, dancers, and acrobats. Over and over the girls would say, “They are all looking at ME! It’s all about ME!” And more than once, guests were told what to wear, who to bring as a date, and how to dance. One girl screened her girlfriends’ dates, calling some on the phone to tell them their attendance was not necessary! Another rudely told “party crashers” to go home.
By the time I had seen this play out for three or four girls, I was thoroughly amazed and disgusted. What were these people thinking? Thousands of dollars were spent on these few hours of celebration by teenagers who should have been thrilled with a backyard cookout and some burgers and hotdogs! And almost every party culminated with a “gift” for the honoree… a Jaguar for one, a Lexus or Mercedes for another. Some had received diamond bracelets earlier in the day. One father suggested to his daughter… “If you get all of this now, what will you have to look forward to when you are 25?” The girl rolled her eyes, hugged her daddy and gave him “the look,” and he smiled and laughed, then took her to buy a $1250 bracelet!
I heard someone who had married into a wealthy family once say, “I was happier when I had absolutely nothing.” And this is what Proverbs 13 is telling us. Money doesn’t buy happiness. Having the biggest, most lavish party for your 16th birthday doesn’t mean anybody loves you any more. (Having a hotdog cookout doesn’t mean you are loved any less!) Having money is not a bad thing. But using your money to manipulate people IS despicable. Love God and serve Him. If He has given you great wealth, ask Him what you should do with it, and then be sure that is exactly what you do. If you use whatever level of wealth you have to honor God, He will greatly bless your efforts.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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