BBD 07.26.02 Living Large
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
07.26.02
Living Large
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon
you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your
gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against
you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the
last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which
you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached
the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure
and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You
have condemned, you have murdered the just.." - James 5:1-6a.
The corporate crooks like former WorldCom chief financial officer Scott
Sullivan who was fired because of a $3.8 billion cooking of the books are
living large. Sullivan is proceeding with the building of his new mansion
on 4.3 acres of lakefront property with an estimated value when completed of
$15 million. Sullivan's little home on the beach will have an 18-seat
theater, domed exercise room, library, art gallery, wine cellar, 80 ft.
heated pool, and his and hers 500 sq. ft. walk-in closets off the master
bedroom. The estate will also include a guesthouse, a private lagoon, and a
two-story boathouse.
The words of James take on new meaning for us in these days of corporate
crooks that have ruined the lives of thousands and thousands of people. In
a time when these self serving people have taken the millions and run we
have congress ready to tighten bankruptcy laws and the President ready to
sign their bill. Sadly this is at the very time those bankruptcy laws may
have desperately been needed by some laid off from their jobs because of
corporate greed. The change in bankruptcy laws is being brought about by
credit card companies to protect their loan sharking activities. This is
just another example of corporate greed and the complicity of our government
in their activities. (Please forward this devotional to your
representatives in Congress and to the President. The President may be
emailed at president@whitehouse.gov)
For those of us outraged by this conduct and for the thousands who have been
directly damaged by their criminal activities James has words of wisdom and
comfort. James says, "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of
the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You
also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at
hand (James 5:7-8)." James makes it clear that the Lord will be our avenger
and that day is rapidly approaching for these selfish people.
While these corporate crooks are living large in material things through
their evil activities we should live large spiritually. Let them not rob us
of our joy in the Lord. James tells us to be "patient" and to "establish
your hearts." Our Lord tells us in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled
(Matthew 5:6)." While the evil prospers for a time let us live large
spiritually knowing that our joy comes not from the material world but from
our relationship with our Lord and Savior. Our "hunger and thirst for
righteousness" will "be filled."
Copyright © 2002. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited.
If I can help you in any way please contact me at wrather@logixonline.net
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