COVET-22: Combating The Super-contagious Omega Variant Of Consumer-virus

"If you see a brother or sister in need and have the means to do
something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what 
happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear."
 I John 3:17 (the Message)

The Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron and other variants of the coronavirus have proven to be deadly, but according to Jesus and the prophets, there is a form of soul infection that is far worse. 

Knowing our tendency to look out for our own interests above practicing a passionate love of God and a compassionate care for our neighbor, our scriptures strongly warn us of the dangers of this virulent strain of affluenza. 

Our only protection is to become fully inoculated with the joy-filled conviction of God's shalom, so much so that the seductive power of Mammon loses its grip on us. 

For surely, as in Mary's Christmas song,  God will bring down the powerful from their thrones, lift up the humble, satisfy the hungry with good things, and forever bless the repentant with abundance. And as in Isaiah's bold pronouncement, every valley of poverty and want will be elevated and every mountain of privilege will be leveled. The crooked path will be made straight and the rough places made a well paved highway for God.

In this season of hope let us mask our souls and keep ourselves at a safe distance from the infectious influences of Wall Street, Hollywood, the Market and Madison Avenue.

“Blessed are you who are needy

   God’s kingdom belongs to you.

Blessed are you who are hungry now.

   You will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are sad now.

    You will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,

    when they have nothing to do with you

    and say bad things about you,

    and when they treat your name as something evil.

They do all this because you are followers of the Son of Man...

How terrible it will be for you who are rich! 

    You have already had your easy life.

How terrible for you who are well fed now!

    You will go hungry...

How terrible for you when everyone says good things about you!

    Their people treated the false prophets the same way long ago."

Jesus, Luke 6:20-26 (NIRV)