Being Rich, Famous and.. Religious?

I have always been amused by the notion of highly religious people, who simultaneously are very rich and/or very famous. We read about celebrities and how they follow a certain religion, and a lot of the time I'm surprised (and then amused) by the very notion of it. Why? Because of how they live their lives! The rich and famous live and breathe in a world of money, plastic surgery, and image control moreso than anyone else, and the idea that the faked boobed, lip injected, botox-smooth skinned, singer/actress who lives in a 17 bedroom mansion in Malibu is in fact ALSO a Buddhist leaves me feeling.. bemused. Am I saying that because you subscribe to Buddhism, you should give away everything you have at once? No. But what do you really need 17.5 million dollars for, Jennifer Lopez? That's what she got for returning to American Idol. I understand - as a celebrity you really do need to spend more in order to just be safe; there are some sick people in the world just gagging for a sniff into your underwear drawer. I am not familiar with the exact costs of this, but she has so much else going on besides American Idol (her fragrance line that sells more than any other celebrity fragrance, for example), I'm pretty sure she doesn't need one cent of that salary. Therefore, Jennifer, I propose, in the name of Buddhism and not feeling attachment to material things (money is neutral, but demanding so much of it shows attachment which is exactly what you want to get rid of) that you donate your entire American Idol salary to various charities and funding for research into serious illnesses.

"Hi, my name is Jennifer. I'm a Buddhist."

Even more funny that the wealthy Buddhists are the wealthy Christians. First of all because there are so many of them which really opens up the door for ridicule - lots more to choose from! Second of all because many of them are politicians and who doesn't love hating on those? I'm sure there are Buddhist politicians in the West as well, but they don't usually feel the need to talk about it as much as the Christian politicians do (shut up about it, please!). Anyway, instead of me rambling, here's a little of what the Bible says about wealth:

Matthew 6:19 - 21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 


Luke 12:15
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:32 - 34 

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (I know this is a repeat of the first one, but I really like the message.)

*BONUS SCRIPTURE SPECIFICALLY FOR POLITICIANS*:

Philippians 2:3 - 4
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.


I could write all sorts of comments (and usually I would), but the Bible has spoken for me.

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Yours,