Re-evaluating Abba’s Rich Man’s World…

Abba famously sung, ‘All the things I could do If I had a little money It’s a rich man’s world’. Many share the sentiment, dreaming of the bigger house, the better car, winning the lottery…

The other day I was musing on Jesus’ story about the sower… in particular: ‘The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.’

…So the rich man’s world can choke us, prevent maturity?

This morning, I was reading Ecclesiastes. Solomon, a wise, powerful, exceedingly rich king describes his houses, gardens, his extensive range of wine, women and song… ‘I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.’

After a lengthy description of this rich man’s world he concludes: ‘Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.’

Yesterday, in conversation with friends, we recalled the old children’s hymn:

Daisies are our silver,
Buttercups our gold:
This is all the treasure
We can have or hold.

Raindrops are our diamonds
And the morning dew;
While for shining sapphires
We’ve the speedwell blue.

These words about the treasures of God’s creation may have be written for children, but they challenge us to re-evaluate what a ‘rich man’s world’ might be.

In ‘Coat of Many Colours’ Dolly Parton describes her poor childhood and how her Mum was given a box of rags:

Momma sewed the rags together
Sewin’ every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors
That I was so proud of

The other children laughed at her, but she was proud of her coat that represented her mother’s love:

Although we had no money
I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me

Again I re-evaluate Abba’s ‘Rich Man’s World’.