Reversal of Fortune:
What Happens When A Homeless Man Is Given $100,00?
Today I watched a documentary about a certain experiment: what would happen if a homeless man is given $100,000? While I think it was a good and noble thing to give such a substantial amount of money to this man, I firmly believe that money, in and of itself, could never solve problem affecting him, or anyone else for that matter. While money may help for a period - and the film does show this - it will not; indeed it could not, totally assuage the root of the problem. This, after all, is the crux of the matter - the "root issue." Once when asked by Time Magazine "what is wrong with the world," famed writer G.K. Chesterton wrote, in pithy fashion, the following reply:
"Dear sir,
In response to your question 'what is wrong with the world,'
I am. Yours Truly,
G.K. Chesterton."
What Chesterton aimed in conveying is simply what Jesus taught when he said, "for from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery" (Mark 7:21). The problem with man isn't homelessness, famine, wars, or any of these things that truly plagues the human race, but rather man himself, who is the cause of all these things. As I watched this documentary, my heart broke for this man. I did not know him, but I didn't need to. I only needed to know myself, and what the bible says of man to accurately guess what would be the outcome of such a generous gift. The outcome? By the end of 6 months, the man who was given such an amazing gift, totally squandered it all. You may ask after reading this, "if money cannot help man in his situation, what will?" I answer in the words of Jesus, "that which is flesh is flesh...you must be born again." What does this mean? It means that we are born sinners; we are weak and prone to do that which is consistent to our fallen nature. We must be born again - i.e., undergo a spiritual birth given by God himself. This new birth will give power to go against the sin that comes so natural to us.
This is the true cure! It entails a heart and mind change (the born again phenomenon), which goes right to the root of the problem. Money will not cure the problem of greed or laziness or the numerous addictions that the man in the film had, but a change in the very being of the man will. If he is a lover lusting - as the film demonstrated, the cure is to change him from being a lover of lusting, to hating it. This is the power of God in his gospel. This is the truth, and it will set anyone who aims to be free, free indeed
This is the true cure! It entails a heart and mind change (the born again phenomenon), which goes right to the root of the problem. Money will not cure the problem of greed or laziness or the numerous addictions that the man in the film had, but a change in the very being of the man will. If he is a lover lusting - as the film demonstrated, the cure is to change him from being a lover of lusting, to hating it. This is the power of God in his gospel. This is the truth, and it will set anyone who aims to be free, free indeed
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