Jesuin George Fernandes
We are a nation of rather stark contrast and contradictions: on one side we are launching rockets into space and at the other end we have a whole sections of our hopelessly gullible populace falling prey to fake Babas and Godmen – from Babas who force themselves on female devotees to those who break coconuts on their heads! We are the most religious people in the world and interestingly also the most corrupt.
“God will give back a hundred fold” is the typical selling pitch of those seeking money in the name of God. Quite an alarming number of our religious men want us to believe that God blesses those who give money – which simply means that God’s blessings can be bought. Can we really tap into the favours & blessings of God with our money & wealth? If we can do that than most certainly we can also buy ourselves a place in heaven!
The notion that God blesses those who give money has been kept burning by crafty men to keep the moolah flowing. Drug dealers, contract killers, corrupt politicians & businessmen, builders & destroyers, pimps and prostitutes of all kinds, offer part of their ill-gotten wealth to ‘God’ on a routine basis. Obviously, they always receive a red carpet welcome and are told that God will bless them abundantly. Yes, God in his infinite wisdom may even choose to bless them abundantly, but certainly not because of the money! In the kingdom of God nothing is on sale: neither can we buy blessings & favors nor can we escape divine retribution by giving money to holy men, temples and churches.
Our religions are there to help us live a good life and thereafter find eternal peace and happiness. Why is such a grand purpose sometimes overshadowed with so much emphasis on money? It is our duty to give money to the temples, churches, mosques or wherever our faith lies to ensure that these religious bodies have enough money to meet their needs and also to help the needy on behalf of the congregation. But by believing that we can influence God and get Him to do whatever we want for us by giving money, we are foolishly trying to reduce the Almighty God to our level. Outside the realm of religion such a transaction is simply known as bribing!
How much did the blind man pay before Jesus restored his sight? Nothing! He was blessed and cured because of his faith. Jesus commended the poor women in the temple who gave little, but gave with a good heart without expectations of returns. God wants a clean offering from us; He wants us to be fair before being generous – we have to first return the loot before making an offering in thanksgiving!
Many people quote Jesus on the hundred fold return promise. But Lord Jesus promised a hundred fold return in context of those who abandon their farms & homes to preach the word of God, and that too, not in terms of material wealth. It only means countless homes will open their doors & hearts to accept them as family. If you want to multiply your money, give it to Mukesh Ambani or Tony – but here again the past does not guarantee the future!
