Vicarage Thoughts

We are in a time at the moment of incredible insecruity in the financial markets of the world. Globalisation is so ingrained in our culture that a trader sneezing in Hong Kong causes a flu epidemic in London. The whole thing feels like a house of cards, and yet the lesson is still not being learned by so many of us.

I remember a Queen song from many years ago where the lyrics said this

I want it all, i want it all, I want it all.

And I want it NOW!

That is a very different way of looking at things than our Grandparents. They used to have Savings clubs and Christmas clubs where they would put money away weekly and at a certain time of the year they would buy as much as they had saved.

Contrast that with todays philosophy.

Its buy now and pay later.

Here at St.Barnabas we are thinking about the incredible relevance of the 10 Commandments, and we kicked off with 'Do not Covet'. This is not a command that is in the law of our land and yet it is the key that causes us to break all the other commandments, including a few British laws along the way.

God knows that we will never find true satisfaction in life apart from him, thats why he points us to a life based not on possessions but on relationships, relationship with him and with one another.Jesus said 'Seek first his Kingdom and the rest will fall into place.

The world says 'If I own a lot - I'm worth a lot. God does not say that. He says 'You are significant and special regardless of what you have and what you own. So significant that Jesus died on the cross for you.

I like J.Johns phrase to finish with

'The grass is not greener on the other side.

The grass is greener when you let God water it'

Grace and peace

Rev Geoff Boland