I Liked You Better

Wet is the story of the morning, but it is still begging for a jolly "Good morning!" to you and me! What if you traveled down a road many seek and came upon that big idea that made you rich. You did all that you had hoped walking toward that destination and gave away tons of loot to help others. But, somehow, slowly and undercover, those riches affected you until that day came when you come back home to find someone you love saying, "You know, I liked you better back when you were just one of us."

Maybe it isn't the lure of riches. Fame may do the same thing to a person. You take a vacation to the big town of L.A., and sitting down at a cafe for a quick meal you are discovered as they say in Hollywood. The resulting television series becomes a huge success and runs for several years. One day, your agent gives you a call, "Hey babe! Your numbers are a little down. Can we get you to do something a little outrageous for us?" Next thing you know, the papers are full of another story of the celebrity that seems just a little like you doing something you wish you hadn't done. A quick trip home will allow the story to die out, and you definitely want to hide from the press and paparazzi for a bit. Trouble is, while you are there at home, a childhood friend says, "You know, I liked you better back when you were just one of us."

It isn't that people wish to keep us down. The things we think we want in this world are dangerous for us. Paul testified that he had learned to be content in his situation. We can learn from the great apostle in this. Many set out to become rich or famous or both, and some do achieve it. The things of this world cannot satisfy the longing of our soul, but they can change a person into what they would rather not become. The change may be gradual and almost invisible to the victim until someone starts the terrible statement, "I liked you better..." Maybe, where you and I are today is not so bad as we think. After all, the Son of God lives in us, what can the world offer to beat that?

Have a great day in Christ Jesus,
Bucky