For the Love of Money

Don’t Let Money Rule You

Happy Wednesday, Golden Divas!

One of my all-time favorite music groups is The O’Jays; I grew up listening to some great songs by them; Love Train, Backstabbers, I Love Music, Use Ta be My Girl, Livin For The weekend, and ‘For the Love of Money!’

The beat and buildup of  ‘For the Love of Money’ always drew me in when I was little. However, as I grew older, I started paying attention to the powerful message behind the music.

The group’s excellent vocals describe what ‘Greed and the hunger for money can do to a man and the lengths they will stretch to acquire more and more.’

The song’s title comes from a well-known Bible verse, 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

You have to let the scripture sink in; after all, money makes the world go around for good and the bad.

The song was also used as the opening theme song for NBC’s The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice. Long before Trump took up residency at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I must admit I love watching the show.

If you’re not familiar with the show, Celebrity Apprentice was an American television reality

competition series. ‘The Ultimate Job Interview’ featured fourteen to eighteen business people who competed throughout a season, with usually one contestant eliminated per episode.

Unlike its precursor, Celebrity Apprentice consists of celebrities as competing apprentices rather than unknowns. Some of the stars featured were contemporary, while others have been out of the public eye. The reality television program judged the business skills of celebrities.

The song ‘For the Love of Money’ started me watching the show. Eventually, I got into the celebrities battling it out on screen.

The message behind this particular song always haunted me like the other great hit The O’Jays made ‘Backstabbers,‘ a song about betrayal.

When I look at how much money evolves around the world and what people will do to attain it, The O’Jay’s lyrics ring true and hit the mark every time.

Check out the lyrics, ‘For the Love of Money.’

Money money money money, money [Repeat: x 6]
Some people got to have it
Some people really need it
Listen to me why’all, do things, do things, do bad things with it
You want to do things, do things, do things, good things with it
Talk about cash money, money
Talk about cash money- dollar bills, why’all
For the love of money
People will steal from their mother
For the love of money
People will rob their own brother
For the love of money
People can’t even walk the street
Because they never know who in the world they’re gonna beat
For that lean, mean, mean green
Almighty dollar, money
For the love of money
People will lie, Lord, they will cheat
For the love of money
People don’t care who they hurt or beat

For the love of money
A woman will sell her precious body
For a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight
Call it lean, mean, mean green
Almighty dollar
I know money is the root of all evil
Do funny things to some people
Give me a nickel, brother can you spare a dime
Money can drive some people out of their minds
Got to have it, I really need it
How many things have I heard you say
Some people really need it
How many things have I heard you say
Got to have it, I really need it
How many things have I heard you say
Lay down, lay down, a woman will lay down
For the love of money
All for the love of money
Don’t let, don’t let, don’t let money rule you
For the love of money
Money can change people sometimes
Don’t let, don’t let, don’t let money fool you
Money can fool people sometimes
People! Don’t let money, don’t let money change you,
It will keep on changing, changing up your mind.

Make sure you listen to the video on the sidebar

However, money can be and is used for good things as well. There’s another Bible verse that talks about money. Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much will be required.”

That line of wisdom means we are held responsible for what we have. If we have been blessed

with talents, knowledge, time, wealth, and the like, it is expected that we benefit others.

The phrase ‘Good Trouble’ was coined by Congressman and veteran civil rights leader John Lewis, who said…

‘ It’s time for us all to stand up, make our voices heard and get into some ‘Good Trouble!’

When I think about the phrase, ‘Good Trouble,’ I think about the feel-good story we talked about on our radio show ‘Let’s Stay Together Talk’ last night. Yeah, yeah, shameless plug. You can watch and join in every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm on Facebook LIVE or tune in at www.soarradio.com.

Think about all of the good trouble you can get into with your money. That feel-good story involves two mogul giants Tyler Perry and T.D. Jakes. The two leaders will work together to build a new entertainment district for the city that will include theaters, retail shops, and restaurants.

T.D. Jakes and Tyler Perry Purchase 132 Acres in Atlanta for Entertainment District and Affordable Housing

You can read all about this incredible story at:https://www.blackenterprise.com/t-d-jakes-and-tyler-perry-purchase-132-acres-in-atlanta-for-entertainment-district-and-affordable-housing/

Let’s make a change for the good to help one another. Remember, we are all in this together!

Golden Divas, don’t let money rule you. Do what you can to help your fellow man. Let’s all get into some good trouble with our money!