Daily Devotional for April 13, 2010

April 13 ~ Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
If you love money and wealth, you will never be satisfied with what you have. This doesn't make sense, either. The more you have, the more everyone expects from you. Your money won't do you any good - others will just spend it for you. If you have to work hard for a living, you can rest well at night, even if you don't have much to eat. But if you are rich, you can't even sleep.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

One of the best new shows on television is CBS’s “Undercover Boss.” Chief Executive Officers of major corporations put on disguises and “go undercover” to see what really is happening in the workplace in their businesses. In every episode, the executives have lived what would be considered “wealthy” lifestyles… big homes, nice cars, fancy suits and more. For one week, they exchange all of this for more “common” clothing, stay in low-budget motels and eat TV dinners, and work alongside the ordinary workers. These CEO’s have done everything from clean port-a-potties and pick up trash to washing streets at a theme park to waiting tables, and cleaning out sewer lines for Roto Rooter.

Without exception, each CEO has encountered people who were doing difficult – and sometimes nasty – jobs… and doing them with a smile and a genuine desire to be the best they possibly could at doing their job. They encountered single parents who could barely make ends meet – and some who were behind on mortgages. They met students who could not afford to go to college and were happily working at a menial job for meager wages. They met fathers who were working long hours and nights and weekends to support their children. They met a lot of “unwealthy” people who were enthusiastically working in their companies – and often at jobs the CEO’s were totally incapable of performing…much less with a smile.

The CEO’s all came away with a realization that their concept of “wealth” was skewed at best. They realized that what makes one happy is not a lot of money or a top-level position. And that’s the point of this scripture passage.

Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying you shouldn’t work hard – or that it is a wrong or sinful to be wealthy. Plenty of wealthy people have used their money to help others, support worthy causes, and further God’s kingdom. But wanting that new pair of Nikes for basketball and having to worry about leaving them in your locker during class may not be worth it. Do you really need a new phone when yours is perfectly good? Will another 1000 square feet of house and a couple of extra acres be worth the extra time and energy required for cleaning and maintenance? Why are you really getting a new car?

The bottom line is that having more “things” and more money may not make you happier – and it certainly won’t make you more of a Christian! Even if you give much of your wealth to charity, you need to be sure that your motives line up with God’s will. Does God want you to spend your time and energy gaining more money and “stuff?” Or does He want you to be happy where you are and spend more time serving Him and learning more about His will for your life?

On “Undercover Boss,” many of these employees whom the CEO’s encountered were given promotions, money to help pay their debts, raises in pay, and more. But this didn’t necessarily make them happier or more productive. They already seemed to have their priorities straight. What about you? Where are your priorities? What are you working to achieve… joy, contentment, and a Christ-centered life? Or are you chasing the wealth at the end of the rainbow? How well are you sleeping at night? What truly makes you rich these days?

©2010 Debbie Robus