FOR THE LOVE OF A DOLLAR PART 1
During my teaching days, one of my colleagues told me an amusing story about how a consultant managed to convince one of the school districts how well students behaved when classical music was played in the classroom. Thus, the district ‘encourage’ teachers to invest in portable stereo systems and play such music to their classes. With the mission accomplished, the consultant got their check, and the school district go ‘the latest tool’ to help in the education process…or, so they thought. Of course, no word on how graduation rates nor grades were helped.
A few years later, another consultant had an even better idea. While I don’t know what the idea was, rest assured that the portable stereo systems were gathering dust on many a filing cabinet. This new bit of ‘education wisdom’ from yet another ‘consultant’ did wonders for his/her wallet in the way of a big fee, and the school district happily paid the money out for the ‘coming thing’ to boost test scores and graduation rates.
In short, a school district had nothing more than some ‘questionable’ data from a friendly consultant and the ‘promise’ of better test scores and graduation rates—which were never really proven—before the next consultant arrived with ‘the next big thing’ in education. For the sake of a dollar a deal was made, a brief handshake, and a check cashed. All for ‘the children’.
For the sake of a dollar? The more correct phrase should read: “For the LOVE of a dollar!”
Of course, the KJV Bible says that: “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 (I Timothy 6:10).” In short, lusting after money, possessions, or items that belong to another person fall into the same pit—it will corrupt the individual, leading them to have their heart taken over by evil desires to ‘get’ the cash at all cost.
Remember: It was covetousness—the love of money—that caused Satan to enter Judas’ heart and led him astray to betray Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. These days, we have individuals, groups and organizations so in love with money that they don’t care what happens to someone’s children, school corporation, church, government institution—or the latest twist—to the security of the United States of America.
All for the Love of a dollar.
Everyone is familiar with The O’Jays hit song from their Ship Ahoy album: For The Love of Money. During my Entertainment Reporter days with The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, the group was in town one summer for a free concert at Indiana Black Expo. I had the chance to interview Eddie Levert about this song, and the song: Back Stabbers. He said that he never expected either song to have become such icons in our music and the overall culture.
The power—and truth—of music.
What I find disturbing about the love (lust) for a dollar is the grip such a love has on many groups and politicians that used to be traditionally associated with success in the Black community. After all, we used to be a community of self-sufficiency, until Black Democrats and liberals tossed away our self-sufficiency, family values and conservative thought for votes, political power and the seemingly limitless government funding self-serve available at the local, state and federal government.
It gets worse.
The 2024 election cycle clearly gave Donald J. Trump the presidency with a huge mandate as he snagged BOTH the Electoral and popular vote for victory. Tom Homan, Trump’s Border Czar hit the street running; enforcing the federal laws on immigration and rounding up illegal aliens who have excelled in crime. I have been amazed at the number of urban school districts that have ‘decided’ to protect the children of illegal aliens OVER Black students who have been ‘kicked to the curb’ by the very schools that used to give them hope…for a few dollars in the coffers to go to union members—rather than the students who need the resources such dollars could bring. Let us NOT forget that these same urban schools that seek to protect illegal aliens for money have been mis-educating Black students for the last several decades.
It gets still worse.
At the risk of getting some Black pastors and churches angry with me, some of them—along with other religious organizations—have taken government money to give a ‘better life’ to illegal aliens rather than help their OWN congregations who put the Lord’s money INTO those churches for the Glory of God. When those who lift up the name of the Lord are stuck in the ‘Judas Trap’ and are calling sheltering illegal aliens ‘right’ and helping and supporting their OWN congregations ‘wrong’, we are definitely in the last days. Those who call right wrong, and wrong right have crossed over into being cursed—and are taking congregations among for a dangerous slide down a hill that only repentance and Jesus Christ can block the destruction at the bottom.
All for the love of a dollar.
I’m taking my time to take the long way around the mountain on this matter and there will be more to come.
Mike Ramey is a Retired Minister, KJV Bible Teacher, syndicated columnist and Bible Prophecy Specialist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. “The Quick Scan” is one of a variety of his columns appearing and abounding in print and cyberspace, written from a biblical, business, and common-sense perspective since 1996. To drop him a line—or a whine—the address is still the same: mgmikeramey@yahoo.com. ©2025 Barnstorm Communications International.
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