By Mark Azzara
Dear Friend,
We have become a prodigal nation. “Prodigal” doesn’t mean sinful. It is defined as lavish to the point of excess – offensively lavish.
Example: A New York City museum recently allowed visitors not only to see but to use an 18-karat-gold toilet. Example: A Texas school district will build a $70 million high-school football stadium, vastly eclipsing the $60 million spent to erect another high school stadium in that state just a few years ago. Others debase themselves to profit from the excess. Example: Some historically black colleges fund their athletic programs largely with huge payouts that come from playing powerhouse football teams. But profit comes at a high price.
These sacrificial lambs are crushed physically and psychologically as well as on the scoreboard. These examples remind me of Scripture readings I recently heard in church. In Amos 6 and Luke 16 we are bluntly warned about the consequences of living in luxury while ignoring the poor. The examples say we don’t care about consequences. Do you?
All God’s blessings – Mark
