Beautiful Empty People Waiting To Be Filled
Mankind desires to love and be loved.
People yearn for acceptance and to be included.
One way people sense inclusion and acceptance is in reflecting people and things they admire.
The most obvious sign is by appearance; clothing, mannerisms, speech, attitude.
It shouldn't be surprising then when women layer on makeup in attempting to reflect some ideal of beauty.
Same goes for the man who surrounds himself with expensive things to bring value to himself.
For a woman who is already accustomed to having the makeup, to go a day without anything put on her face would be quite difficult.
Same for a man to take public transportation who is used to traveling in his expensive car, or to patronize the dollar menu at a fast-food eatery when he is used to filet mignon and caviar.
The external things, although serving a purpose in themselves, are usually absorbed into the psyche to support and supplant a concept of value
Yet the values in society can be vacant of the order society's building blocks have been built upon.
Vanity.
We all have a taste of vanity.
Even the most hardened religious zealot is replete with vain aspirations regarding the manner they religiously carry themselves around other zealots.
Certain sects of Islam vainly argue over how many times a 'true' believer is to pray throughout a regular day; their justifiable external evidences somehow implying an internal righteousness and bringing a sense of God's acceptance of their efforts.
Certain sects of Christianity argue over a plethora of issues having little to do with love for one another and being gracious and understanding of others; their vain quibbling over words somehow marking others as unrighteous or unsaved, making themselves feel secure and saved.
The philosophy of those too afraid or too uninformed to acknowledge a God may agree with other philosophies; adopting a vain religious rhetoric denying evident eternal attributes, reflecting the conceit they may point out in believers.
Sadly we see the world in default worship of itself, of things made by man's hands - from the money used to buy and sell things, to the imagery of others unconsciously imitated by so many... all in attempts to find that love and acceptance that every human being cannot deny they want, but are confused as to how to realize it.
Comments
The contextual quote is "...the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..." or something similar, depending on the translation one reads.
The fuller contextual message is:
"All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s Name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Yeshua Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
- 1 Timothy 6: 1-11
What I find very valuable in this context is how slavery then, as is still today, is something no one desires to be subject to. The desire for financial freedom is very real, but as it says, some pursue a vocation in peddling the Word of God for financial gain ( and fall into ruin and public disgrace, as we can point out to many examples Today ).
The broader message I think it speaks to is to the typical person sans religious perspective or spiritual aptitude. The regular person also desires a better life. The possibility of plaguing oneself with many problems is quite real ( and this I think was why you responded with what you did and was a them I was messaging in this particular article ).
There is no "evil" in desiring a better life or for a semblance of freedom, but I do think when people are willing to do any and everything for $$ is when ethics and morality become arguable and many justifications are heard.