Thursday 10 November 2011

Money Vanishes

Benedict XVI observed a few years ago that the global financial crisis ‘shows the futility of money and ambition’.

‘He who builds only on visible and tangible things like success, career and money builds the house of his life on sand. We are now seeing, in the collapse of major banks, that money vanishes, it is nothing.’ ‘The only solid reality is the Word of God’.

I'm analying Shakespeare's images in the history plays. It suggests that Shakespeare was in favour of what "reformed theology" supports which is:  
  • strong support for social order and education
  • loathing of lawlessness, rebellion, ignorance and anarchy. 

Shakespeare saw the Monarch - the ruler (in modern terms "Government") as the deputy of God, His Minister, His Substitute, our "God on earth". 

Obeying a reasonable Monarch was obeying God, the duty of a Christian to hold disorder and darkness at bay. "Our God on Earth" obeys the "Word of God".

Diversion from Scripture such as living luxuriously and unwisely on borrowed money at variable interest, leads inevitably leads to chaos, death, economic meltdown, and even war. As "deputies", all leaders need the wisdom of God in the Scriptures and to apply it.

Queen Elizabeth 1st, a great ruler, spent every Christmas Day, locked away, in self-examination and prayer. As I pointed out in an earlier blog, her private motto was:

Sola Salus Servire Deo; Sunt Cetera Fraudes - Our only security is to serve God; aught (everything) else is vanity.

One could say "All else vanishes".

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