The Great Adventure

“I wanna be a billionaire so fricking bad
Buy all of the things I never had…”

Bruno Mars’ song Billionaire is a reflection of the way most people in the Western world think these days. If only I had enough money, I would be happy. There are so many statements that talk about money, because our society, for the most part, is built around self-gratification. The old saying goes, “Money can’t buy happiness” and others have added, “but it can buy things that provide happiness.”

As a writer, I’ve always wanted people to read my stuff, and as an ambitious writer, I have set lofty goals for myself. As a kid, I told myself that I wanted to win the Nobel Prize for Literature some day. Later, I got more realistic and said that I would settle for being listed on the New York Times bestseller list.

But as a Christian, I am called to a different set of goals. The Bible tells us that: “The love of money is the root of all evil” and “It is harder for a rich man to get to heaven than a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.” That’s because God is trying to tell us that being rich is usually built around being selfish, and selfishness is the root of all evil. Sin started because Lucifer (Satan) wanted to be “like the Most High.”

And contrary to what the world says, God is trying to tell us that happiness and richness are not synonymous. Micah 6:8 says “He has shown thee, oh mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of thee? But to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.” My own personal theory is that we could truly retain humility and continue to serve God rather than ourselves, God would be happy to give us all the riches and fame we deserve.

But that’s the rub. Why are we writers? Are we putting words on paper to draw attention to ourselves, or to God? Be honest with yourself. God is more concerned with what happens to us for eternity than He is concerned with 70 years of our lives. And our daily goals should be to share with others how God has blessed us.

As always, I am writing this blog as a message to myself just as much as a message to others. These are words that I need to remember every day, because, just like everyone else, I get caught up with the idea of fame and fortune. But I have to remind myself that God has already given me a rich, happy life. To much of a good thing could actually be, well, too much.

In the meantime, I need to take solace that my writing can have a positive influence on individuals every day…regardless of whether I make it on the New York Times bestseller list.