Even More Seductive than Money

We’re considering the “flip side” (the B-side for those who remember 45 records…) of Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I AM.”  Which is, “What other things are you allowing to take My place?”

An obvious answer is moolah.  Denaro.  Wampum.  Quid.  Wonga.  Dough.  Cabbage.  Clams.  Dead Presidents.  Simoleons. 

It’s gotta’ be good with that many slangs.

But it turns out to be true that shekels don’t buy happiness.  Enter Prof. Dan Gilbert.  He’s a happiness expert.  Who knew?

His happiness research reveals findings like this one, which you may have heard - that on average, after about $70k, more money doesn’t buy much additional happiness.

What money does buy is distraction.  

It turns out, according to Prof. Gilbert, that what makes people most unhappy is having time to rest.  Why?  Well, according to Dr. Happy, when we’re at rest our minds have time to think about very unrestful things – worries about the future, regrets from the past, and especially, questions about how we’re living our life, questions about the meaning of life, and so on.

Greenbacks may not buy happiness, but they buy stuff and experiences that at least keep our meddlesome brains from causing trouble by thinking about the things that matter most.

This also explains the addiction we all have to our soul-sucking-devices.  Yes, they give us the infamous “dopamine hit” – but the reason for the dopamine response is that they scratch the itch of distraction.

Jesus desires that we be distracted with Him – so distracted that our mind keeps turning to Him – day and night, rain or shine, in good and bad.  Because that’s how “distracted” He is with us. 

There’s a word for that type of distraction  …  love.

Blessings on your journey with Christ -

Steve and Karen Smith

Postscript:  “Who do you say that I AM?”  Mt 16:13-20

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, and he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.  For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.  And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.