Mamonas
February 11, 2010 by aubrey
Filed under Devotionals
Recently I met someone, a gentleman who just may be the most impressive individual I’ve ever come across. He is strikingly handsome, tall and well-proportioned, his posture erect, his bearing athletic. Though obviously a man of some years, I cannot guess his age as he still has a full head of hair and exudes vitality. I was especially stuck by his clear and penetrating eye; when he looked at me it was as though he knew me, almost as though he could read my thoughts. His suit was tailored, his shoes brilliantly polished and made of the finest leather. We met because he called and asked me to lunch. His voice was so persuasive that I found myself immediately agreeing, and when I suggested an inexpensive deli nearby, he insisted on treating me to lunch in the Regency Room at the Hotel Roanoke. When I arrived, he was already there in the lobby, where he greeted me warmly and with a firm handshake. He introduced himself as Mamonas.
As you might guess, Mamonas is not originally from these parts. His family is an ancient and well-respected one from the Middle East, but he has lived in this part of the world for many years. His English was flawless with just a hint of a delightful and mysterious accent, his manners impeccable. After just a few moments of casual conversation, I knew that he was extremely well-educated. (In the course of our conversation he let it slip that he had degrees from several Ivy League schools.) To use a word that is long out of vogue but which came to mind repeatedly as we dined, he was charming. I was impressed, to say the least, and not a little flattered that such a man had invited me to lunch, and yet I did not feel intimidated as he put me so perfectly at ease. Mamonas was quite generous. Not only did he pick up the tab, refusing to allow me even to leave the tip, but when he learned that my favorite thing about the Regency Room is their spectacular chocolate chip cookies, he insisted on sending me home with a tin of the treats!
At length he came to the point of the meeting: Mamonas indicated that he wanted me to go to work for him. He is an extremely wealthy man – a billionaire, it turns out, the richest man in Virginia – and has a number of businesses all across the globe. He said he had heard a lot of good things about me and that I was just the sort of fellow he was looking for. He told me that if I would accept his offer, the work would be quite rewarding. He would make me a wealthy man; I would never want for anything again. I would be set for life. My wife and I could travel the world – only first class, of course – and I would be able to retire in just a few years. (“Though,” he said, “most of his employees never do retire.”) After a couple of hours, he departed in his black Mercedes S-class, his driver picking him up at the front of the hotel. I don’t mind telling you I found the entire episode exciting, even thrilling; I was mesmerized. The whole thing seemed like a no-brainer. I could hardly wait to get home and tell Nancy.
But I have made it my practice since my youth to make no major decision, not even a no-brainer like this one, without first praying about it.
Not long after Mamonas and driven off and the scent of his cologne was out of my nostrils and the soothing sound of his voice was out of my ears, I began to realize that my subconscious (or was it my spirit?) had picked up on a few little things of which I had up to then been unaware: little incongruities and inconsistencies. I mentioned that Mamonas was very generous with me, not even allowing me to leave the tip; but I’m not sure he left one, either. As courteous as he was toward me, he was often curt with our server, impatient and impersonal. And as intelligent and penetrating as his eye was, once or twice I thought I espied a look that I can only describe as mean, as though he somehow resented my eating the meal he had insisted on buying me! No, I think I would better describe his look as stingy: what the ancients called the “evil eye.”
My disquiet growing, I decided to discreetly investigate my prospective employer. He had let slip the names of one or two of his businesses, so I decided to interview a few of his current employees. I was shocked at what I discovered. To his credit, I could discern no discrimination in his hiring practices: he employed people of every age and gender, race and religion, education and orientation. Many of his people were obviously well-paid, living in fine homes, driving luxury automobiles, wearing high-end clothes and eating in the best restaurants; but at least an equal number lived in poorer neighborhoods and I found a few in public housing, living on food stamps. Ultimately, I could find only one common denominator: they were all perfectly miserable, down to the last man. No matter how well-paid or under-paid, all those who worked for Mamonas were dissatisfied, unhappy, wretched. And as I delved deeper to find out why, I learned that they were not employees at all, but slaves! Mamonas owned them, body and soul. Some he treated better than others, but none he treated well. And I saw in all of them that same sorry, scary look I glimpsed in Mamonas, what can only be described as the “evil eye.” They were all quite hopeless.
If you have not yet been approached by Mamonas, be assured you shall be. Know that for all his imposing appearance and impressive speech, he is a perfect phony.
Flee him like you would a harlot and resist him as you would the devil. If he gets his hands around your heart, he will destroy you, body and soul.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mamonas.” – Jesus in Matthew 6:24[Notes: In the Greek, the word translated “serve” actually means “to be the slave of” and “master” refers to a “slave-owner”. You will be either the slave of Theos (God) or “Mamonas”. Mamonas is a Aramaic word used only by Jesus in the New Testament that is often translated “money”, but actually refers to any form of wealth or resources. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (abridged), p552, indicates that it probably derives from an Aramaic root meaning “that in which one trusts.” For more on the “evil eye”, read the immediately preceding verses 22 &23.] AAJ
Amber Ward on Thu, 11th Feb 2010 7:15 pm
Thank you for this reminder, very good devotion. Causes me to be more alert at the things put in my path.
Freddy Chakhachiro on Mon, 15th Feb 2010 9:47 pm
Great devotional Aubrey. I love the picture. Thank you.