The Bottom Line In Our Lives

Colossians 4:1 – You know that you have a Master in heaven.

The book, The Screwtape Letters, is a Christian classic. In it, C.S. Lewis tells the story of a junior devil who is trying to gain the soul of a human, with some help from his uncle, a very senior devil. At one point in the book, the senior devil is berating the young devil for lack of progress. He says "We are only interested in results — bring us back food, or be food yourself."

For Lewis, that was the philosophy of hell. For too many people, that's a workplace reality. For millions their only "god" is the bottom line on the balance sheet. And the people who work for them suffer accordingly.

Hope is not absent here. At this time of year, even the most Scrooge-like among us know that there is more to this world than a good year-end's accounting. Turn on the TV, and the seasonal TV specials call us all to being open-hearted and open handed toward others. Christians know that their "boss" doesn't occupy a corner office. They can use their faith to be salt and light, and yes, add some hope to wherever they work.

One of the symbols of Advent is a candle. It is a simple thing. Just wax and a wick, and you have light. We light candles at Advent to mark the passing of time toward the coming of Christmas. We light them to dispel both the darkness of the season, and the darkness in human hearts. The ever-growing rays of light from the candles being lit, week by week, symbolize the Light that comes into the world in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Oh Lord, may the Christ-light, that fills the world at this time of year, stay with us and light the road ahead into a new year. May we remember that You command us to seek first the Kingdom as the bottom line in our lives. Amen.