Money, Money, Money

Daniel 5:17  Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.

In Daniel 5 we see King Belshazzar showing off some of the spoils of King Nebuchadnezzar by drinking wine from the goblets and cups that were taken from God’s temple. While they were showing off, they saw a human finger write on the wall, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.” Nobody could read it or interpret it. Finally, Daniel is called in to interpret. Belshazzar offers him purple robes, a gold chain and a promotion.

Daniel turns him down. “Keep your money,” Daniel says, “I don’t need it, but I will do what is needed.”

I remember as a kid hearing that what the hand wrote was, “Money, money tickles the Parson.” And there are pastors who don’t do anything to dispel that myth. You’ve seen them, groveling on TV for more money to buy a Lear jet, or to build their latest house. There is an incredible Instagram feed called @preachersnsneakers that points out pastors wearing $1,000 sneakers and other clothing while preaching.

We need to remain humble and not get too full of ourselves, or we may end up like King Belshazzar, who died that very evening. Daniel did the right thing because it was the right thing, not because he could enrich himself by doing it. That is a lesson that we can all learn.

Today’s Readings: Daniel 5,6: Psalm 130; Luke 3

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