I Wanna Be a Billionaire
I wanna be a billionaire is one of the new catchy tunes that find its way through our ears into our soul via radio, Travie McCoy: Billionaire ft. Bruno Mars. Songs are a medium that displays the latest trend and mood of our society. If there is a war (and there is always one somewhere), that receives enough media attention, then songwriters will soon pen down words about universal love, drop the guns and let’s embrace peace brother. Ex: Bob Dylan’s “Blowin In The Wind” and Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction”. Freedom songs are a forerunner to prepare a society for change and usher in a new government or political party, like Gimme Hope Jo’anna by Eddy Grant in 1988 during the apartheid era in South Africa. So, messages through song and music are compelling!
The song says: “I wanna be a billionaire so freaking bad, buy those things a never had. I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine, smiling next to Ophra and the Queen”.
It goes on to say: “Every time I close my eyes, I see my name in shining lights. A different city every night; I swear the world better prepare for when I am a billionaire”.
Switch on your TV, and most reality series are about improving your image, your body, your house, your love life and while you’re at it, go ahead and ‘make yourself over’ completely. Songs about “Don’t you wish your girlfriend were hot like me” and “I am the world’s greatest” frequently hit the number one spot on world charts.
The celebrity phenomena have hit us BIG TIME. We ALL want to wear the celebrity coat and make our claim to fame, even if it’s just for one night. The ‘desire industry’ tries to persuade us that we are ‘entitled to have it all. You have a ‘right’ to glory they say. The modern word for false glory is ‘celebrity’.
Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires – the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance – these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. And this world is fading away, and this evil, forbidden things will go with it, but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever. 1 John 2:15 – 17 Living Bible
It is not wrong to work hard, make money and enjoy the fruits of your labour. In fact, it is recommended. The sad part is that we are told through songs, TV and society that our self worth and the quality of our lives or happiness are measured by how much money, fame, beauty and bling-bling we possess. The message of this new society is clear; ordinary is boring.
On the contrary, Jesus said: lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust spoils, and where thieves dig through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust spoils, and where thieves do not dig through nor steal; for where thy treasure is, there will be also thy heart. Mat 6:19-21
Jude warns us in verse 16: These men are constant gripers, never satisfied, doing whatever evil they feel like; they are loud-mouthed “show-offs,” and when they show respect for others, it is only to get something from them in return.
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. Amen 1 John 5:21