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Women Living Well Blog: Michael Jackson Dies Unsatisfied

Women Living Well Blog

Monday, July 6, 2009

Michael Jackson Dies Unsatisfied


Tomorrow a mother will bury her son - a tragedy. Michael Jackson's memorial service is scheduled to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angelos. It is a tragedy to see a man die at the young age of 50. It is a tragedy to see an amazing artist in such physical pain that he begs for strong medication. It is a tragedy to see a man worth millions of dollars die 400 million dollars in debt.

The AP (American Press) reports:
After selling more than 61 million albums in the U.S. and having a decade-long attraction open at Disney theme parks, the "King of Pop" died Thursday at age 50 reportedly awash in about $400 million in debt,One of Jackson's shrewdest deals at the height of his fame in 1985 was the $47.5 million acquisition of ATV Music, which owned the copyright to songs written by the Beatles' John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The catalog provided Jackson a steady stream of income and the ability to afford a lavish lifestyle.

He bought the sprawling Neverland ranch in 1988 for $14.6 million, a fantasy-like 2,500-acre property nestled in the hills of Santa Barbara County's wine country.In March of last year, the singer faced foreclosure on Neverland. He also repeatedly failed to make mortgage payments on a house in Los Angeles that had been used for years by his family. *Associated Press

61 million records he sold! This man had it all - talent, fame, and fortune. As you can see from one photo to the next he was dissatisfied with his looks - so he altered them (a picture is worth a thousand words!). As we can see from the financial reports he was dissatisfied with his wealth - he overspent to the point of going 400 million dollars in debt. The hundreds of millions of dollars he earned was not enough for him - he was compelled to want more.


The traps that Michael fell into are the same traps we fall into...we think we will be satisfied if we just weighed a few pounds less, had a bigger or smaller cup size, if we just had that new house, that new car, that new outfit, that new purse.


The truth is the girl with the $500 shoes and Prada purse over her shoulder may look impressive, but that purse still holds junk - every person deals with secret pain - dissatisfaction - the desire for something more to fill that inner emptiness!


But Paul says in I Timothy 6:6-9:"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 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 griefs."


Notice this verse does not point out folly in being rich but in the person who "wants to get rich". It is a trap that leads to destruction and griefs and it all starts with discontentment - not being fully satisfied in God. How can we find contentment in America where the majority crave for more more more? Our culture screams at us that we need more - and sometimes our prayers turn God into a heavenly pinata as we beg him to give us even more.


Did you have leftovers last night? Be thankful - that means God has given you food in abundance. Are you exhausted with overflowing laundry baskets? Be thankful - that means God has given your family clothes in abundance. Are your closets a mess and need reorganized - be thankful - that means God has given you things in abundance. Is your housework overwhelming? Be thankful God has given you a home to clean. If your family makes $50,000 or more, you are wealthier than 99% of the entire world (World Vision Statistic). One reason we Americans pursue more is because we idolize pop stars, movie stars and television stars who literally have so much more. All of the overspending both in our private lives and in the government are destroying our country.


Contentment is a spiritual issue - not a money issue. Contentment is not about how much money you have - contentment is learning to see money as God does. Contentment is learning to see God as He is and to trust in Him alone. Let this free you - money IS NOT the key to contentment - as we see clearly in Michael's case. The secret to contentment is finding satisfaction in God alone - then any extras are simply a cherry on top.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." Pursue God - pursue contentment - and you will have more than an infamous multi-million dollar man ever had.


Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/

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10 Comments:

Blogger Regina Coblentz said...

Thanks for the reminder. So many times I can look on the negative side instead of the positive. After reading your blog I went about my day and then as I was dealing w/Olivia & potty training. I guess right now I am trying to be thankful for my little girl right now. Potty training is going ok but I just got done cleaning her up twice for going #2 in her underwear. Times like that is very frustrating but on the other hand I am thankful that she can "go" and that God made her body to know how to handle food,etc. hahaha... I know, kind of grouse but this is my struggle right now. I decided to come back to your blog and write that you did get me thinking while I was cleaning her up about being positive in the situation.

July 6, 2009 at 12:38 PM  
Blogger Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Gina - I love your tender heart!! Thank you so much for sharing this story with me - and trust me I have BEEN there with the poopy pants situation and it's not easy to be thankful in moments like that!

But yes - if we are cleaning up poopy pants - that means God has blessed us with children - and there are so many today who cannot even conceive - we are so blessed to have them!

Keep up the blessed thoughts and you will find that there are more things to smile about in your day than you ever imagined. And when we are full of joy and contentment we shine like lights in this very dark world!

July 6, 2009 at 3:20 PM  
Blogger Morgan said...

Very well written Courtney. It's hard to remember that we don't have to keep up with the wealthy. Being content with what you have is a very good thing to learn.

July 6, 2009 at 4:50 PM  
Blogger Stacey Kay said...

Wow. Thank you for this post.

Stacey

July 6, 2009 at 6:02 PM  
Blogger Diana said...

Visited Bridge Bible Church this past Sunday and Pastor Embleton preached from Acts 5 about Ananias and Sapphira and the idea of keeping up "appearences"... it was great and this goes right along with it! Do we rejoice when others succeed or do something great for the "Kingdom"... are we secretly jealous? Do we want to impress one another with what we have or do? Barnabas was generous and sold property to bring and place at the apostles feet for the benefit of the "church" and to God's glory... Ananias and Sapphira wanted to "keep up with the Jones'" and look good to everyone... it wasn't that they had to give all the $ they made, but they lied about it to impress others... God was not impressed! We have an audience of ONE to please and He knows our hearts, minds, and pocketbooks! :-)

July 7, 2009 at 8:02 AM  
Blogger turtleracing4 said...

Excellent post. Thank you for for reminding me that there are others out in the world who aren't striving for "more" (things), but who are running the race that the Lord has put before them. God Bless!

July 7, 2009 at 9:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It is a tragedy to see an amazing artist in such physical pain that he begs for strong medication."

Were you there?

July 7, 2009 at 11:34 AM  
Blogger Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Dear Anonymous...

Nope, I was not there - but Cherilyn Lee was...

Cherilyn Lee, is a registered nurse who was hired to help Michael with his come back. She said that she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug, Diprivan, which is given intravenously.

She has told this to several news sources including associated press.

Courtney

July 7, 2009 at 1:21 PM  
Blogger kimmy said...

Thanks for focusing on contentment!! i struggle with it everyday and as you sadi we are all just as guilty of it as Michael Jackson. I really am going to work on seeing the positives in all issues....so sad that some have to focus on negatives and out of all the awesome God inspired verses and wisdom you shared...one can only find negativity!! Thanks for shedding light on this issue in such a positive Godly way!

July 7, 2009 at 2:06 PM  
Anonymous KellyL said...

Great post, courtney. You hit on sooo many important things that we all need to remember!

July 7, 2009 at 2:08 PM  

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