Column by Manning Pastor Sam Livingston: What are you reading?
The well-informed person spends several hours each day reading something. We read books, magazines, papers, blogs and a ton of online materials. We read fictional, nonfictional, novels and a whole lot of junk. We are inundated with reading opportunities minute by minute. The well-informed person is that person who reads constantly. However, given the pool of information available, we are constantly trying to determine which ones are credible. We have to fact check and cross reference practically everything we read and especially that which we hear.
This world has become one big game of who can become the wealthiest and who can control the continent on which they live. Most people assume leadership, almost unanimously, to improve their net worth and to diversify their portfolios. The manager of a company possesses a certain number of benefits, but the president of a company receives more benefits. The higher a person climbs the ladder the more benefits accompany the position. Too often, the person at the top of the food chain begins to transform into a greedy control freak. Every individual who finds themselves in a position where the people they report to have fallen victim, by choice, to an egotistic self-centered leader should carefully read the signs of the time.
Reading the signs of the time requires effort and dedication by each of us. We live in a very dynamic world that can leave us behind quickly, thus making it imperative to not just read, but to read the handwriting on the wall. This is a phrase often used in conversation, simply meaning, how could you miss that? People often utter incomplete sentences which point to what they really wanted to say.
I am reminded of one Old Testament prophet named Daniel. We are living in a similar time like that of Daniel and King Belshazzar. Daniel wrote, "They drank wine and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote," Daniel 5:4-5. Let's examine the text. Most of us would have been busy kissing up to the king, drinking and chewing on the fat at every statement he made. We would have sobered up when we saw the handwriting on the wall. Our attention would have been solely on the hand that was writing and not what was being written before our very eyes. The king and his thousand lords were praising the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone. These items were perhaps the top commodities of their time, each of which had a god with representation.
When we look at these metals today, who are the lords and/or countries sitting at the table? Which country is among the top producers in the world? The leaders are, Gold: China, Australia and Russia. Silver: Argentina/Mexico, China and Bolivia. Iron: Australia and China. Aluminum: China and India. Platinum: South Africa and Russia. Mercury: China and Mexico. When we look at fossil fuel and gas, China and India lead in coal, and the U.S. and Russia lead in natural gas and petroleum. After presenting this list, the handwriting on the wall is becoming a little clearer. China, Russia, Mexico, Peru and the U.S. dominate when it comes to which country produces the most natural commodities (These positions can change depending on who collected the data.). These are the countries at the table making decisions for the world. Who are the people at the tables making the calls? You guessed it, the billionaires. Guess who is not at the table? You guessed it again, you and me.
We must spend more time at the feet of the Lord in prayer and fasting asking for the abilities to read the handwriting on the wall for the people who are depending on us. The top leaders of this world have been fueled by greed and control for decades; "we the people" have been left by the wayside. The ability to jump on board is becoming almost impossible. What are you reading?
Sam Livingston is pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Manning.