The American Dream

[eyeSalveRich]

This morning on the radio I was listening to Alistair Begg preach about Naaman. He went on and on about how he was wealthy, powerful, highly respected, and lived in a highly desirable location. Then after specifically reiterating only wealth and power he said Naaman lived the American dream before there was an America. This was only an incidental statement in the scope of his sermon, and maybe he would back away from it if pressed upon, but I take strong exception to that idea. Is it just me, or is the idea that the American dream is about wealth and power a corruption?

I think of the preamble “in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity”. I am missing the whole wealth and power thing there.

I think of the Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. I am missing the whole wealth and power thing there.

I think of the pilgrims who came here with nothing, at great risk. I remember how of the original 102, 71 died by the next year. They must have been dreaming about wealth and power when they fled religious persecution. Not.

I think about Song Ee Han who managed to escape North Korea’s oppressive regime to avoid starvation of her family. I think of the German family in Tennessee now who fled here from Germany so they could homeschool their children. I am missing the whole wealth and power thing.

 

[If Not For Grace]

Perhaps it is a matter of simple perception-think of it as Abundant Life..Those with material riches are not necessiarly obsessed with them any more than those with out them are walking around in jealousy or self-pity. The two ideas are not in conflict.