I face some pretty tough times - as we all do - in having enough work for us to take care of our household needs. The writing profession is not immune to the financial trials of the nation, and each assignment is met with great appreciation. As I pray for guidance and direction each day so that I might receive the work and payments to take care of our household, I am reminded of the balance to be struck so that greed doesn't enter the picture. The fine program Discover the Word (www.rbc.org) had this as a great explanation:
The Greeks tell the story of rich King Croesus who wallowed in his gold. But he became beside himself with mortification because he could not make the Athenian philosopher Solon envy him.
There is a Yiddish tale about a poor man who was given three wishes. But there was a condition: whatever he wished for would be granted to him, but the same would be given double to his neighbor.
First, he wished for a beautiful wife and got her, but his neighbor received two beautiful wives.
Second, he wished for a palace and got it, but his neighbor got two palaces.
Third, so filled with jealousy, he used his third wish to be blind in one eye and it was so, and his neighbor became blind in both eyes.
... people who have accumulated money are not necessarily happy.
A reporter asked Nelson Rockefeller, “How much money does it take to be happy?” He replied, “Just a little bit more.”
Accumulating money has been compared to drinking salt water. The thirst remains ...
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s" (Exodus 20:17).
Source for story: http://www.rbc.org/radio-tv/discover-the-word/2009/07/15/program.aspx Brad Zockoll, 2009
