The most important thing in this world is the spending of our lives, our fortunes, our gifts, for Christ's sake. Matthew insists the most vital thing we do with our lives is risk them for healing and hope, justice and peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. Everything we do, ever dollar we accumulate, every possession we claim, every effort we invest becomes a means to the just and compassionate end of making our world a comfortable and radiant home for God . It is hard, I know. Everything we see in our culture these days flies right in the face of Matthew's affirmation.
Means seem to be confused with ends.
We all need be wary of falling into this spiritually dangerous trap. The title seemed to confirm Matthew's observations about the things we strive for and their anxiety producing consequences, so I went out and bought it. But it was a little opinion survey meant to quantify the reader's wealth and consumer interests that caught my attention. Invest the money. Go on a dream vacation.