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.

Saturday Song, Simon and Garfunkel, "My Little Town"

I'm sure that many older folks can identify with this song. Canada and America were once populated by farmers and ramchers. The countryside bustled with agriculture and small towns were meeting places where people bought supplies. Industries moved in and farmers often took side jobs in town.

Big cities and changing demographics changed all that. Jobs migrated to big cities and young people followed them. Hamlets, like the one I live in, are becoming ghost towns due to this trend.

Simon and Garfunkel came together in 1975 to record this poignent song of the decline of small town life. Hear the song here.

Cities have always had a bad reputation in the Bible. They inevitably became centres of debautchery and immorality as people became less accountable to one another.

Two notibly wicked cities show just how perverted folks can become. Jude 1:7 (KJV) explains, "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

The places in which Christ preached and performed miracles were even worse than those cities. Mark 6:11 (KJV) quotes Jesus as saying to his disciples, "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city."

Even today, I notice that people in highly-populated areas are generally more immoral than country folks. What do you think? Have you noticed that too?

On Monday, I'll post about the gift of faith and what it means to us.

Saturday Song: Simon and Garfunkel, "Save the Life of My Child"

One thing I loved about the sixties was that artists started singing about substantial subjects. There were still plenty of what Paul McCartney called "silly love songs," on the air but songwriters became more introspective than in previous decades.

One song which touched me during my teenage years was "Save the Life of My Child." It's about a boy on a building ledge about to commit suicide. The reactions of the bystanders, police, and the crowd of curious onlookers were most revealing.

Listen to the song here.

This might not seem obvious to some but suicide is self murder. People feel so desperate that they see no other way out of their emotional pain.

But ending it all is a terrible idea. Matthew 27:5 (KJV) shows Judas' irrevocable mistake. "And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."

Judas would have been better off doing what Peter did in Matthew 26:75 (KJV). "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, 'Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.' And he went out, and wept bitterly." Peter was forgiven but Judas could have been if he had repented.

People familiar with Luke chapter sixteen would also know that there's no turning back from one's sins after death. Though I can't say for sure what happens to Christians who kill themselves, I do know that those who rebel against Christ's dominion end up forever in hell.

What do you think of this song and what I wrote? I'd love to hear from you. Have a great weekend as well.

Saturday Song: Simon and Garfunkel, "I Am a Rock

I certainly relate to this song. Because I wasn't close with most of my family members, I don't bother with celebrations as others do. In fact, I resent all the bother associated with holidays, especially Christmas.

As a result of this, some people wonder if I'm a Jehovah's Witness. I most certainly am not. Even so, it's the sense of obligation which upsets me. People often go to ridiculous lengths. They get so involved with shopping for that "perfect" gift that they come home angry. People spend a lot on Christmas cards. Then they have to buy stocking stuffers in addition to the presents. Baking and cooking for relatives keeps folks too busy to relax.

Whatever happened to relaxation and enjoying the company of friends? The Christmas rat race takes away so much joy. Then the bills come in at the end of January, ruining more happiness. There are times when I wish I could be left alone, like the man in the song.

Hear "I Am a Rock" here.

People also eat too much at this time of year. They also invite their own friends rather than the poor and disabled folks among them. As Jesus noted in Luke 6:32-34 (KJV), "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. "And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again."

I personally would rather stay home and relax but others feel isolated while everybody else is celebrating. My living room is filled with many wonderful movies which I haven't even seen yet. I also love petting my beloved bunny, Deborah and she enjoys being petted.

So, what's your opinion of the song and what I wrote? Please leave me a comment. I also hope you will have a joyful and restful Christmas.