As we know, the American dream is becoming a nightmare for many these days. But the United States is called the land of opportunity. How better to get paid than live in the good old U. S. of A. It gives the working poor hope; it gives the middle class the desire to keep pushing forward; it gives the rich more chances to get richer. But the American dream isn't for everybody - "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15)." The worlds high hopes and dreams are not for Christians - "we are in the world not of the world (John 17:11-16)."

I'm ashamed to say, God's best (His Son) and His way of living (sacrificial) is not enough for many of us. The almighty dollar and what it can bring has a strong pull even on many Christians. Christians love this me-first society just as much as the world at-large it seems. We have to have money and stuff to be worth somethin'. Many of us look beyond the necessaties of life God promised. We want more than to make do, we want easy street. Hard times are for somebody else and somebody else's problem. We just can't accept 'doing without' or 'going without.' We won't accept don't have or can't have. Making ends meet isn't enough, it's too much trouble. We aren't successful unless we have a big bank account, a lot to show in material goods and the social privileges that come with such a lifestyle. We just have to be among the movers and shakers of this world in terms of gain and having. Those greenbacks and what they can buy means as much to us as they do to the unbeliever. Not supposed to be that way: 1 John 2:16 - "Hence, the ungodly passions that drive the ungodly behavior of the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

But we have to have it all. Having it all means being financially secure. Being financially secure is beyond no more money problems, it's buying what you want when you want. But too many things can happen that can neutralize the networth of the rich such as a falling dollar, a recession, a depression, a sickness that money can't buy a remedy for or trouble that the almighty dollar can't get 'em out of.

Because we are imperfect people, we find ourselves looking back into the huddle of the world far too often. Sometimes we look back too far, it still looks good. Sometimes we even make our way back there. In our minds, the things of the world move from bad, to less bad, to not so bad to ok. Eventually

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