I’m a Millionaire [Part 2]

The world promotes a craving for physical pleasure, pride in our achievements and possessions. You can find evidence for this by watching MTV for one day, maybe even half and hour in some cases. From MTV cribs to Making the Band with P Diddy there is a constant message in the media that motivates us to chase after the cars, the house, the lifestyle etc. In other words “the American Dream” meant happiness. But at what cost?

I was guilty of buying into the “American Dream”, I followed the worlds patterns of promoting music, this included false hype [Lying], focusing too much time and energy on CD sales and all sorts. I had started out with good intentions, to make positive music to make money to help my friends, family and fellow country men but was lured in by the patterns of the modern world as we know it, all of this while I was a professing Christian.

I had wondered from true Christianity, How do I know this? Well, 1 John 2:3 says “we know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

So I was what you would call, “The reason why people mock God” but thankfully I had people praying for me. During this time one of the things that God used to get my attention was a song called “Millionaire” by Andre 3000 and Kelis. At this point in my life I was still trying and struggling and this song helped me see that its not all good at the top as portrayed by world. I wrote some lyrics to the same song that expressed my feelings at the time

[click the mp3 icon below to listen & you can also read the lyrics]

“I’m just trying to get by, trying to make a record so yall can buy, I need my first million bucks coz working really sucks, I really need this cash gotta make it real fast,I’m getting old, its getting cold, I’m awake on the grind looking so i can find, a richer place a happy place, Living under strings up and down like i was a clown, Living in debt, 20 percent 30 percent, Wheres all the money going? and why am i working if i never see my son?Am i never having fun on a Sunday afternoon? Maybe go to the park? no, I will be working till dark! This life is crazy, I’m trying to be a millionaire so i can help my people, Help my brothers help my sisters,Why am i sad, is it the end ? is it the end ? is it the end ? I’m just a I’m just a sad wannabe millionaire!!”

Looking back at these lyrics and remembering what I was going through when I wrote this, I realize that God was allowing a lot of things to go wrong in my life to break me down. I was trying to do it all on my own. I was prideful, arrogant but in desperate need of help.

I remember some of my last days in this state, one particular morning when my friends found me in my room with vomit on my bed. I had been out the night before trying to drown my sorrows with alcohol and drugs thankfully a few weeks after that incident I allowed God to take me out of that lifestyle. I committed my life to God, got plugged into a church and kept God as my first love and everything else took second place. Now four years later God is using me and my music in an amazing way all because I allowed God to strip me of my self dependence and pride. No I am not rich or famous but I am content. [Not complacent]

What happened with me can happen in any industry, its not exclusive to the music. It could take many forms of the same thing so even If you are a doctor, Pastor, lawyer or teacher you can till be tempted to leave God for money no matter how noble your intentions. I gave my life as an example and I urge you to look at your life and ask yourself, A) Is God included in your life decisions? B) What are your motives? C) Are they selfish or selfless?

And always remember Paul’s Advice to Timothy,
“True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses”

Posted by Baliva