Basically talking about Regis and winning at Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and burying the money in a coffee can.
This always makes me think of the parable of the talents, told by none other than Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:14-30
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Now in this song, he is using his talents given to him by God, but yet...the concept of not using the money to do God's work should he have acquired it startles me.
Edit: This comment (in the comments section) from Karen is the alternative way of viewing the song, and most likely the correct way from the artist's POV if I had to guess. You should all read it if you bothered to read my post. ;)
2 comments:
I found your blog while searching for news of Steven Curtis Chapman and how their family are handling the death of their daughter Maria.
So, I'm a total stranger...
But can I suggest I think you're confused about the song?
Steven is not suggesting he would or should bury the money or wouldn't use it to do God's work.
He is saying the OPPOSITE.
He's saying "imagine if very quietly I buried a million dollars I won and never told anyone about my excitement that I'd won" -- that would be crazy! You don't see people doing that. They want to share their good news, and we Christians have the best news in the world! Let's get out there, make some noise and SHOUT OUT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS that Jesus lives and has saved us.
Being quiet about our faith is the equivalent to "burying the money in a coffee can" -- we shouldn't do it!
This comment from Karen is the alternative way of viewing the song, and most likely the correct way from the artist's POV if I had to guess. You should all read it if you bothered to read my post. ;)
Post a Comment