Greed Creates Contempt

Keeping up with the Joneses.  Where exactly did this phrase come from?  Curious, I googled it.  From Wikipedia:

"Keeping up with the Joneses" is an idiom in many parts of the English-speaking world referring to the comparison to one's neighbor as a benchmark for social caste or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating socio-economic or cultural inferiority.

The phrase was popularized when a comic strip of the same name was created by cartoonist Arthur R. "Pop" Momand. The strip debuted in 1913, distributed by Associated Newspapers. The strip ran in American newspapers for 26 years, and was eventually adapted into books, films, and musical comedies. The "Joneses" of the title were neighbors of the strip's main characters, and were unseen characters spoken of but never actually seen in person.

I was surprised it had been a comic strip! And, ran for 26 years!  Why are people so obsessed with having more than their neighbor?  A bigger house, a prettier wife, or a fancier car reflect what is on the outside.  But do people really think about the blood, sweat and tears it took to acquire the big house or the heartbreak endured behind closed doors with a beautiful mentally ill wife? Usually not.  Yesterday after we finished with patients, I showed one of the young girls a video book trailer my youngest daughter produced and directed on my computer (ok, plug for my baby girl and author Joseph Rakowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhdh7ASinKY).  After watching the very impressive video, with a sigh she commented I had such an exciting life with so many good things happening to me.  I looked at her, gave her a hug, and said, "I am 50.  You are 19.  I better have some exciting things happening by this age!"  She smiled and said that made sense.  She doesn't know what I've been through in my life.  She is only able to see what I reveal externally. There is always going to be someone with more than we have and some with less.  Be thankful for what God has given you. Whether it is for good health, a job, or food and shelter, appreciate your circumstances. Becoming greedy and wanting what others have can generate negativity leading to disrespect or dislike for nothing other than they have a fancy car and you drive a lemon.  Is that really worth stealing, hating or criticizing for?

In todays Gospel (Matthew 20:1-16), Jesus uses a parable which may find greedy people agreeing with the first laborers.  But look deeper into what Jesus is explaining:

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

In Volume One, Anne a lay apostle has some good advice when it comes to our role on earth:

"I often compare my parenting of my children with God’s parenting of us on earth. He hates us to fight. He loves us to give in and make peace, forgive, and console each other. He must get so aggravated when we fight over possessions, thinking, I gave you that and it is Mine. I can easily take it away. If you want to know how to please our God, just consider a child, and what that child would have to do to please his parents. Be good. Be nice. Be obedient. Take direction when it is given. Laugh a lot. Smile. And clean up your messes. Don’t be greedy or unkind and whatever your job is, do it cheerfully."

Lay apostles, no matter what your circumstances, praise God.  The Lord knows much better than we do what is required to get to heaven.  Have faith He knows what He's doing. Don't look at others for their value on the outside.  For within each of us is something priceless . . . we are children of God!

Thank you, Lord, for helping me focus on being thankful for what I have, not greedy for what others have.  I will continue to build my worth internally in anticipation of the day You call me home!

God bless,
Bonnie