The Who: "Too Much of Anything"

This is one song which wasn't originally on the Who's Next album. It's about sensory overload. Unlike machinery, we need variety to help us stay sane. Listen to this previously-unreleased track here.

Agur, the son of Jakeh, certainly knew about the danger of having abundance or lack. Proverbs 30:8 and 9 (Bible in Basic English) says, "Put far from me all false and foolish things: do not give me great wealth or let me be in need, but give me only enough food: For fear that if I am full, I may be false to you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or if I am poor, I may become a thief, using the name of my God wrongly."

The Apostle Paul warned his prodigy, Timothy, about the dangers of greed in 1 Timothy 6:9 (BBE). "But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction."

Likewise, too much food and slumber, rather than labour, impoverishes people. Proverbs 23:21 (BBE) warns us, "For those who take delight in drink and feasting will come to be in need; and through love of sleep a man will be poorly clothed."

Punishing somebody too much, even if that person deserved it, is also wrong. As Paul penned in 2 Corinthians 2:6 and 7 (BBE) about a certain church member, "Let it be enough for such a man to have undergone the punishment which the church put on him; So that now, on the other hand, it is right for him to have forgiveness and comfort from you, for fear that his sorrow may be over-great."

And as Hannah prayed in 2 Samuel 2:3 (BBE), talking proudly is foolish. "Say no more words of pride; let not uncontrolled sayings come out of your mouths: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, by him acts are judged."

Fortunately for us who believe in Christ, the happiness we'll feel when God lives with us will never be too much. Revelation 21:3 and 4 (BBE) is so encouraging to us in this age. "And there came to my ears a great voice out of the high seat, saying, 'See, the Tent of God is with men, and he will make his living-place with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. And he will put an end to all their weeping; and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain; for the first things have come to an end.'"

If that ecstatic time hasn't arrived by Saturday, I hope I can post about a song inspired by a dystopian novel.

Saturday Song: Simon and Garfunkel, "Richard Cory"

This song shows how riches by themselves don't satisfy. The man in the song envied the owner of the factory where he worked. But when his boss committed suicide, he couldn't grasp why anybody with wealth would ever throw it all away.

Listen to Simon and Garfunkel's story song here:

The Bible has much to say about wealth. Chiefly, wealth can't save a person. Matthew 16:26 (BBE) Reminds us, "For what profit has a man, if he gets all the world with the loss of his life? or what will a man give in exchange for his life?"

Long ago, God reminded Israel that he's the one which allowed them to gain riches through the plunder of the Canaanites. Deuteronomy 8:17 (BBE) informs us, "Say not then, in your hearts, 'My power and the strength of my hands have got me this wealth.' But keep in mind the Lord your God: for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, so that he may give effect to the agreement which he made by his oath with your fathers, as at this day."

Remember that Solomon asked for wisdom in that dream when God asked him what he desired. The Lord's answer is recorded in 2 Chronicles 1:11 and 12 (BBE). "And God said to Solomon, 'Because this was in your heart, and you did not make request for money, property, or honour, or for the destruction of your haters, or for long life; but you have made request for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so that you may be the judge of my people over whom I have made you king: Wisdom and knowledge are given to you; and I will give you wealth and honour, such as no king has had before you or ever will have after you."

So, should we live in abject poverty to avoid the traps of riches? We read a wise prayer in Proverbs 30:8 and 9 (BBE). "Put far from me all false and foolish things: do not give me great wealth or let me be in need, but give me only enough food: For fear that if I am full, I may be false to you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or if I am poor, I may become a thief, using the name of my God wrongly."

On Monday, provided the Lord doesn't return before then, I hope to post about Christ's disciples' misplaced expectations.