E-mail scams and Christian contentment...

Normally I erase such E-mails, but seeing they continue to be sent out around the world, I've decided to post this one as a warning to those of us who are malcontents and gullible enough to think that the answer to our love of mammon has arrived--from Kuwait, no less!

This is a scam so don't even think about responding. Instead, think about what it is in us that causes us to desire the quick buck.

An essay I was reading this morning by Dr. Wayne Martindale, professor of English at Wheaton College and elder at College Church in Wheaton, might be helpful addressing our sin in this area. Originally published in Touchstone under the title, "Samuel Johnson on the Runaway Imagination," the piece opens up Johnson's wisdom concerning our susceptibility to our imagination "conjuring more pleasure than life can deliver."

Johnson shows the cyclical and addictive nature of bondage to the imagination, writing "(W)e desire, we pursue, we obtain, we are satiated; we desire something else, and begin a new pursuit."

The solution? Near the end of his essay, Dr. Martindale excerpts this section of Johnson's poem "Vanity of Human Wishes:"

Still raise for good the supplicating voice,
But leave to heav'n the measure and the choice,
Safe in his pow'r . . . in his decisions rest,
Secure whate'er he gives, he gives the best. . . .
Pour forth thy fervours for a healthful mind,
Obedient passions, and a will resign'd;
For love, which scarce collective man can fill;
For patience sov'reign o'er transmuted ill;
For faith, that panting for a happier seat,
Counts death kind Nature's signal of retreat;
These goods for man the laws of heav'n ordain,
These goods he grants, who grants the pow'r to gain;
With these celestial wisdom calms the mind,
And makes the happiness she does not find.

If you're interested in reading the full essay, send me a note and I'll pass your request on to Dr. Martindale.

Now for the E-mail itself, reproduced exactly as I received it with only the names of the guilty changed:

Dear Pastor Tim Bayly ,

My name is Mrs. Jane Doe. from Kuwait. I was married to Mr. John Doe who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2003.We were married for eleven years without any child but God later blessed us with a daughter (Beth Doe) who accidentally died at her age of 10 years after a fatal motor accident that wanted to take our both leaves. My husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days in one of the private hospital here. Before his death we were both born again Christian worshiping in holiness as this has been our daily prayers to give our whole life to Christ.

Since his death I decided not to remarry or get another child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$4.5million dollars in a Bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. He made his wealth in his Cocoa exporting business because he was also a successful cocoa merchant business man. Presently, the total sum of US$4.5 Millions is still in the bank and I am afraid if I leave this fund there, the bank will confiscate it. My only daughter died in her early age of 10 years and this is the reason why I decided to contact a true servant of God who will manage this fund and also invest it in a Godly mission.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I have cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness but l believes that God Almighty will deliver me in this situation. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a charity organization/church of God that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. For your information, I want an organization that will use this fund for orphanages, school and church ministries, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that gives. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don't want my husband's efforts to be used by unbelievers as this is the instruction left by my late husband. May his soul rest in peace.

I am contacting you because you are a servant of God and I don't want a situation where this money will be used in a Godly way. This is why I‚m taking this decision to donate this fund to your ministry for the work of God. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace".

I don't need any outside involvement and I don't want my husband's relatives to know about this fund transfer. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire after introducing you as the new beneficiary so that they can transfer the fund to your account. I have been to the bank and they approved the transfer after presenting the Certificates to them.

I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the ministry to always pray for me because the Lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and in Truth.

Please always put me in your daily prayers and contact me on the e-mail address so that I will give you more information. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein to the Glory of God Almighty. Hoping to receive your reply.

Remain blessed in the Lord.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs Jane Doe.

Again, good readers, this is a scam. Remember, we work so we will have something to share with those in need (Ephesians 4:28). And we need never fear for food and clothing because our Father has promised to provide them for us, His children (Matthew 6:25-34).