15.9

 Disclaimer: This is not a political post. We have just experienced probably one of the most divisive presidential elections in recent history. This blog entry has no intention to make a judgment about the outcome, rather it reflects something that has been bothering me for the duration of this campaign.

It’s been reported that $15.9 BILLION has been spent on all of the political races in this cycle. I suppose the lion’s share was spent on annoying ads that supposedly tout what the candidates plan to do if elected, but more often than not, viciously attack their opponent’s record or character. If one seriously listens to these attacks and does a little research, they realize that these ads are often flawed at best and downright misleading and untruthful at their worst. And neither side is innocent. But that’s not what bothers me.

$15.9 billion is a lot of money. Anecdotally, if one spent a million dollars a day, every day, it would take 43 years to spend all the money. I think some of this obscene amount of money could be spent on meeting other needs: food insecurity, housing shortages, disaster relief, medication, just to name a few. 

Is there a message here for each of us? What can we do? Is there something expected of us?

Maybe this scripture might help put this into perspective. I don’t have $15,900,000,000, but I am responsible for how I use what I do have.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”
“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;”
“I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’”
““Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?”
“When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’”
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭34:40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬