Material Wealth

Material wealth is the most widely accepted measure of social status in America.

1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. Working for material success takes our focus off living the life of Jesus. 

Matthew 6:24 “You cannot serve both God and Money”

“Clueless” – Cher is oblivious toward the world around her. The practices and attitudes of Cher in the first half of the movie are problematic for Christians because she is clueless to the needs of others in the world around her. When Cher first sets out to do her community service, she does it so that others will know how she helped these people.

As Christians, we are not supposed to do things to make ourselves look better.

Matthew 6:1-4 – Jesus said, “… when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets… to be honored by men. …When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

In contrast to “Clueless,” “Scrooged” critiques material wealth as an excepted measure of social status. Frank is a television executive who is only concerned about ratings and money. Money has an important part of his life. Frank is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, which makes him realize how wrong he has been throughout his life. Frank’s attitude is problematic for Christians because he is engrossed in his greed.

Luke 6:24 – Jesus said, “woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” 

Luke 12:13-34 – …Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ …The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' ‘Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ ‘But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”