God or Nothing!

'Rock or Sand?' is the title of a book edited by Archbishop John Sentamu, with articles by many, including Archbishop Justin Welby. 

In this book, they confront the present attitudes of the prevailing climate in politics. 

The Huffington Post has provided this comment. "The Church of England has labelled income inequality "evil" in a scathing assessment of the coalition, in which it questions how David Cameron has allowed entire communities to be "cast aside."

In one of the Church's biggest ever political interventions, timed to coincide with the general election campaign, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York said valuing communities on purely economic output was a "fundamental sin", and claimed Britain has become dominated by consumerism and selfishness."

Put very starkly, the two archbishops are following the teaching of Jesus, who was very clear about the challenge we all face. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6.24)

It clearly appears to the two archbishops that too many politicians have been serving the idol of money and economic growth.

We all know that money is a necessary item in our lives. But, as we often realise, it is a good servant and an extremely bad master. If we base our lives on the security that comes from money and possessions, we shall find the house of our lives come tumbling down, sooner or later. 

But Jesus offers a much more wonderful prospect, as put our lives in his hands.“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7.24-27)

Today, we can choose to reset our priorities, so that we place ourselves under the wise authority of Jesus, and find the peace and contentment that only God can bring.

Best wishes,

Richard