Vol. 3 #15 July 4, 2004

Your Soul for an Omelet?

Written by Christopher Mentzer

Ever thought of putting a dollar amount to your life or, better still, your soul? In Matt. 16: 26 Jesus asks, “For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?” How about an omelet? The following news article comes from New York (AFP):

The concerned item is a 1,000-dollar, caviar-laden omelet being served by "Norma's" -- the restaurant inside the swanky midtown Manhattan hotel. The ultimate breakfast bank-breaker is made with six eggs, chives, butter, cream, an entire lobster and 10 ounces (280 grams) of servuga caviar. "Every six months we come up with new dishes for the menu," the hotel's general manager, Steven Pipes, told the New York Daily News. "We don't like things to get stale."

Nobody has yet risen to the challenge of ordering the omelet, with most diners more shocked than tempted by the price tag. "I couldn't believe it was the price when I first saw '1,000' on the menu," Virginia Marnell, 59, told the newspaper. "I thought it was the calorie count. It's outrageous!" For those of more modest means, the restaurant offers a budget alternative containing just one ounce of caviar and costing a mere 100 dollars. "It's not just a gimmick," said Norma's executive chef Emile Castillo. "It tastes good."

It may taste good but is it worth the $1000 or even $100? As a person who used to spend frivolously, I usually have something to show for my waste of money. $1000 should be used as a down payment on a car or house or even saved towards the kids’ college fund! Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 20. but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21. for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21)

Oftentimes we look at material things as more important than spiritual things. Paul disposition was more of a spiritual nature as he was always forgetting his personal belongings. In his second letter to Timothy this is what he wrote, “The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments” (2 Tim. 4: 13). This is not a case of old age and forgetfulness. Paul was simply in a hurry to move on to the next city to preach the gospel that he left his possessions behind. He also had this to say in his first letter to Timothy, “17. Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not high-minded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19. laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is `life' indeed.” It’s not a sin to be rich but you should always think ahead before buying anything.