Jimmy Cliff: "The Harder They Come"

This reggae artist had a hit in North America in 1969 called "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" but no other hits that I can recall. Even so, this song from 1981 showed his talent wasn't a fluke.

Listen to the song here:

This song certainly portrays the attitude of worldly people. They figure we only live once so why not grab all the gusto while we can?

We who follow Christ know better. He said in Mark 8:36 (Bible in Basic English) in regard to eternity, "What profit has a man if he gets all the world with the loss of his life?"

Many non Christians figure we'll only have God's provision of our needs in eternity. But we know what our Lord said in Mark 10:29 and 30 (BBE). "Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, There is no man who has given up house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, because of me and the good news, Who will not get a hundred times as much now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land--though with great troubles; and, in the world to come, eternal life.'"

Furthermore, the alms we give to the poor aren't wasted. As Proverbs 19:17 (BBE) reminds us, "He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward."

Non Christians also figure we're depriving ourselves of fun. In fact, we're much better off being sober and prudent with our lives and money. As 1 Peter 4:3-5 (BBE) reminds us, "Because for long enough, in times past, we have been living after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images; And they are wondering that you no longer go with them in this violent wasting of life, and are saying evil things of you: But they will have to give an account of themselves to him who is ready to be the judge of the living and the dead."

This even helps us in our walk with the Lord. Ephesians 5:18 (BBE) advises, "And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;"

If Christ hasn't returned by Saturday, I hope to feature one of those social comment songs about society.

Saturday Song: BB Gabor, "Consumer"

This time of year is the most profitable for stores. I've heard that the last two months of the year make up for the previous ten in sales. That's why the day after American Thanksgiving Day is called Black Friday.

A singer named BB Gabor released this social-comment song on an album in 1980. It highlights our consumer culture and how fanatical some folks are about getting inside the stores first.

Listen to Mr. Gabor's song here:

The problem with possessions is that they sometimes possess us. We buy a smart phone but it needs apps. We buy a DVD player and it begs us for disks. We buy a car and it requires insurance, gasoline, and oil changes.

Jesus spoke about the eternal worthlessness of possessions in Mark 8:36 (KJV) when he said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

Jesus might have had Proverbs 11:4 (BBE) in mind regarding riches and Judgement Day. "Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death."

And as Solomon also wrote, riches are fleeting. Proverbs 23:4 and 5 (BBE) reads, "Take no care to get wealth; let there be an end to your desire for money. Are your eyes lifted up to it? it is gone: for wealth takes to itself wings, like an eagle in flight up to heaven."

We also need to remember that God is our God, not the things we own. A rich, young temple ruler asked Jesus how he could gain eternal life. When the man told him how he kept all the law from his youth, Jesus saw that his wealth was his god. That's why the Lord said in Mark 10:21 (BBE), "And Jesus, looking on him and loving him, said, "There is one thing needed: go, get money for your goods, and give it to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven: and come with me'".

On Monday, I'll post about how Jesus is the saviour of all his people.