God Said It First: For the Love of Money...

So me and my homie Dave were chit-chattin on the porch today about the times. It was a good discussion, but we both knew what was up from jumpstreet. It all boils down to what God said in the first place: the love of money is the root of all evil.

So, I know there's people that think the phrase is exaggerated, for whatever reason. Well... I don't like arguing with people, I really don't. Demonstration and example is always the best way to silence speculation, get to the heart of the matter, and deal with what's real. So, in case you have any doubt that the love of money is the root of all evil, chief on this for a minute...

It's the love of money that makes hospitals charge 3-4 times what it actually takes to give people treatment and put the value of a dollar over the value of human life. Better yet, it's the love of money that makes hospitals prefer to treat rather than cure people; because, as long as patients are on treatment, they keep feeding money into the system. Meanwhile, as they get no closer to being cured, they slowly die with every passing day, more-than-likely waiting for something that the hospitals have available, but won't make affordable. Or something the hospitals have in possession but won't disclose to the public for fear of losing profits. lol, I asked this question before, but it just rolls off the tongue so sweetly: Is it profitable for hospitals to cure people? For the love of money, H3LL no...

It's the love of money that makes the hardest workers in our communities get paid as little as they do. The janitors that keep our places of work hospitable, the graveyard shift workers stocking the stores, the factory and textile workers, agricultural workers that grow the food that you breakfast, lunch, and dine on every day: the people that actually do break a sweat in this world. How is it that they get paid as little as they do? Well see, there's a megadon buzzard somewhere, sitting at his desk, that doesn't actually do any work at all for these institutions, but he owns a share in it. And to keep him happy, the man beneath him shanks whoever's at the bottom of the food chain of his fair share to keep the profits sizable for that sponsor. I know a once family-oriented store that even now is going corporate to keep up with competition; so quick to let go of our values to keep up with the bizness of it. And I might sympathize... were it not for the fact that the people who profit the most from this are already well-off enough for 3-4 generations. It's called greed: for the love of money.

And speaking of corporate thinking, aren't you in school for the love of money? Be serious: how many of you students are REALLY in college to get an "education"? Naw, you're in college to get a DIPLOMA and access to higher pay. If you could make the same amount with no schooling, you never woulda set foot on a college campus. So go on, nod your head and say "for the love of money..."

To my people in the struggle: we even think that the answer to our problems is more money. We talk about getting reparations for slavery, and heck, we probably DO deserve payment. But not for you to spend on rims. Money won't save us any more than backwards thinking. But we're convinced that what we have to spend and what we buy is what's gonna take us to the next level. Most of the time, we're not even talking about needs; we're talking about wants and needless material things. Guess what? That's the love of money baybuh!

And on that note, I could get into the music... Heck, I will. Yeah, even our music is for the love of money. Cats aren't trying to make good music; they're trying to make marketable music. Trust me, there is a difference. I jokingly told my sister one day, "Some R&B singer is going to put a naked shot of himself or herself on the cover one day just to sell a record." And she'll be my witness: I'll be a monkey's pet if a certain singer didn't release an album entitled "Naked" not long after that. I'm seeing some of the best producers and artists of the decade making half-a$$ed music because they know you'll (yeah, YOU'll) go out and buy it. Don't get mad, just take this simple test: check your CD collection and ask yourself "how many of these cats are gonna be hot or will be remembered in 10 years?" ...It hurts doesn't it? For the love of money...

For the love of money, cats won't even get jobs when they can. Why? Sometimes because of racism, etc; most times because of the thirst for quick money. Now don't get me wrong, I know there's people in need; I never agree with selling drugs period, but I understand the logic at least (i.e., I empathize, not sympathize). But real talk, most drug money does NOT go to necessities; it goes to rims, expensive clothes, music, electronics, women, and... more drugs ironically. People, progress can be a slow process, yes. But if you're wise, you know how to take a little bit, do a lot, and keep it legit. The problem is, you put your love and trust in the money itself, and that clouds your field of vision when it comes to options in life--- for the love of money...

For the love of money, we're over in Iraq on a killing spree right now; 'might as well say it... People, do you notice as election time approaches how gas prices all of a sudden drop? That's because the Capitol knows your love of money will leverage your decision THAT MUCH! Their target is to build false confidence within you via gas prices. And it's working, I dare you to say it's not...

For the love of money, the Katrina effort was quarter-a$$ed. Why? Because there's no PROFIT in helping people in Louisiana thru a crisis. You wanna know where the profit is? It's in buying up the land once the natives of the N.O. clear out; we get a lot of oil from that area, and our government would like nothing better than to have full control of the areas worst hit by Katrina. For the love of money, it's better to let people DROWN and abandon their homes than to come through for em! And don't say we did the best we could, cuz that's just plain brainwashed-fool jargon; when the tsunami hit in friggin Asia, how fast did we get over there? And I'll say it again, cuz I just love Canada that much and they keep giving me more reasons to; the friggin Vancouver Mounties beat most of our own people to the crisis, and they're from another country absolute-North AND Westward from Lousiana. No excuse: for the love of money.

For the love of money: moral standards get lowered in this country, because it sells. The deeper in sin we go, the more people love it. And those who control what's on the shelves on the big and small screens will always lower their guard if you flash the right amount of revenue in their faces. Maybe not all in a single moment, but over time, it has happened. And the love of money was the great motivator to all of it. The love of money fostered the products, the love of money lowered the moral standards, and the love of money distributed and carried to stores. Granted, from there it's our own destitution that caused us to make the purchases, but we can only purchase what's available. You can call me tight if you want to, I don't mind. And no, it's not a store's responsibility to control what we buy... SYKE!!! It's also wrong to knowingly put a stumbling block before another person. Look it up.

But I'll even take this a step further. The love of money not only lowered the moral standards, but the love of money even lowered the safety standards. Did you know there's certain household products that we get over here that other countries won't even carry because they're hazardous? But nah, this country doesn't give a f#ck what we're exposed to; the purchase keeps the economy strong and that's all that matters. I should talk about how Ontario (Canada again) doesn't even permit guns to be purchased or brought into the area; meanwhile, I can go cop a gun right now with ease. Yeah, we live in a more dangerous country, tell me something I don't know. Now tell me how you think we got that way? D@mn right: the love of money.

I don't wanna give a history lesson: Hollywood glorified and romanticized gangsters in the movies of the 1920s as the gangsters bootlegged in real life. Both made beaucoup profits, and became best friends. Don't believe me? 2006, video game just came out: Scarface. You got a Scarface poster on your wall or Myspace page RIGHT NOW; if it's not that, it's the Godfather, or some rapper who idolizes one of these two images. And even the games, movies, music... it's all about getting money. Granted, the stories usually start with poverty, and no one should stay in poverty. But think about the saying people! "Rags to riches". Where exactly did the in-between go? Trying to get out of poverty is one thing; trying to get fat is something altogether different. It's called greed. For the love of money...

And you know what? I could go on and on about this. But guess what... I'm not getting paid enough to do this, lolol. Nah, but seriously, people don't seem to get how true the scripture is. Did I give enough examples for ya? If nothing else, when the love of money destroys us, I just want you to remember Who said it first:

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil.

And I'ma throw this in to help ya'll out a bit too. Know this: if what you do is guided by the love of money, then you're automatically playin the wrong side of the fence. Want proof:

Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

And for the record, "mammon" means money...


Now marinate on this for a while; talk to your friends about it. See how your world is starting look a little different? Do somethin' with that...

That Money Mayn B-\