Follow the Money
Intr
oduction
“Follow the money!” Has anything really changed? In Peter Frankopan’s book, The Silk Road: A New History of the World, he reiterates this very thought of money, currency, trade goods and the impact upon the world. Of greater interest is his shifting of the “center” of the world away from the “alluvial lowlands of Mesopotamia, fed by the Tigris and Euphrates, provided the basis for civilization itself – for it was in the region that the first towns and cities took shape. Systemized agriculture developed in Mesopotamia and across the whole of the “Fertile Crescent”, a band of highly productive land with access to plentiful water, stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean coast.”[1]
That was the “center” that I had been exposed to from both a historical and Christian perspective. I had heard of the Silk Roads but did not reorient my geography to see them in the light that Frankopan exposed me to. “China had opened a door leading on to a trans-continental network; it was the moment of the birth of the Silk Roads. The expansion of China saw a surge of interest in what lay beyond. Officials were commissioned to investigate and write report about the regions beyond the mountains.”[2]
They explored, they wrote, but their aggression was more than singular focus. It was financial, religious, trade control, spread of disease, and a sense of domination. Not much has changed in more than two thousand years. Chinese President, Xi Jinping, said, “The time has come…for a ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ to be built – in other words, a New Silk Road.”[3]
Summary
Frankopan navigates us through twenty-five different roads from silk to faith, gold to silver, black gold to wheat, and the list goes on. The “road” is not necessarily the challenge. The challenge is the carnage and damage that is inflicted on the people engaged are located in the path of the “road”.
The Chinese seemed to initiate a global influence of creating “roads” that many nations have pursued in one form or another. Whether it was the proliferation of goods and services or idealism, a “road” can be established that will benefit a small sector of the populace of the world. Human nature lends itself to producing “roads” that benefit a small sector of the human population.
Analysis
Of special interest was the use of silk as currency. “It was in some ways the most reliable currency; producing money in sufficient quantities was a problem, as was the fact that not all of China was fully monetized; this presented a particular difficulty when it came to military pay since theatres of action were often in remote regions, where coins were useless. Grain, meanwhile went rotten after a time.”[4]
I had never considered that silk was so far reaching in its influence from money to morality. “Silk became an international currency as well as a luxury product.”[5] The power to monetize silk as a commodity, and a tangible currency, was sensible and brilliant. The Chinese could produce silk in great volume thus increasing its income that became unprecedented.
Morally I had never considered the impact of silk as a purveyor of moral breakdown. “The increasing volume of this fabric available in the Mediterranean caused consternation among traditionalist. Seneca for one was horrified by the popularity of the thin flowing material, declaring that silk garments could barely be called clothing given they hid neither the curves not the decency of the ladies of Rome. The very foundation of marital relations was being undermined, he said, as men found they could see through the light fabric that clung to the female form and left little to the imagination.”[6]
I repeat again, “Follow the money”. Whether it is silk, oil, wheat, gold, proliferation of religion, etc., money seems to be the motivation. No nation is exempt from the demand and desire that permeates the human nature. Money and morality seem to be inextricably linked, whether good or evil. Scripture has it right, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (I Timothy 6:10 NLT) Beware how you follow the money and what “road” it takes you down.
[1] Peter Frankopan, The Silk Roads: A New History of the Word, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2015), 1.
[2] Ibid., 12.
[3] Ibid., 504.
[4] Ibid., 13.
[5] Ibid., 13.
[6] Ibid., 19.
14 responses to “Follow the Money”
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Hi Phil
I think you posted this in the wrong place – LGP7?
Thanks! Wanted to bless LGP7! LOL
Hi Phil. It was so nice to meet Pam and hang out with you two. Wow, what an Advance!!!!
In my devotion this morning I read a quote, “Don’t believe that time is money, time is life itself.” I can’t help but think about this quote as I read your blog. Like the anonymous informant from All the Presidents’ Men Deep Throat himself said, “follow the money.” It is easy to see how history is exactly that. I find it ironic that much of what we heard from the various speakers in London in particular basically preached the same thing, follow the money. As a leader in a thriving church, how have you navigated this tension of following the money, but keeping your morals in line with Christ?
Aaron:
Was great being together and meeting your wife also. Great question. I believe all of us, irregardless of the size or budget of the church, must guard our hearts and make sure of our motives. Saying that, sensitivity and wisdom must be used to engage high capacity givers. They can make a major difference if engaged for the right reasons – Kingdom purposes.
PDG
PS. I think Geoff Lee is right, this is posted in 7. You didn’t ditch lgp6 did you?
No…..didn’t ditch LGP6. I just wanted to be a blessing to LGP7!
Phil,
When you wrote, “Morally I had never considered the impact of silk as a purveyor of moral breakdown,” I immediately assumed you were going to the “Love of money..” Scripture. But you brought us a double whamy, since you quoted Frankopan regarding what silk did not cover of the human form.
Besides the corrupting power of money, what do you think is the most morally corrupting influence flowing through our day’s globalization?
Marc:
Great question. Today’s most morally corrupting influences are quite diverse: secularization of the church-denying God to His church and His Kingdom’s purpose, sexuality-the lack of definition and the snubbing of the Creator’s intended purpose for the propagation of HIS creation, and racism-denying the beauty of His creation.
Just a thought.
Phil
Phil,
Your title fits you very well, “don’t hate”! I agree with you and your perspective, this need for money/gain is human nature. Do you think today’s market driven capitalism promotes this greed or do you think it does not?
Aaron
Thanks Phil.
As I read your blog “Follow The Money”., I think you might have uncovered a hidden secret, of today. We should be asking the question, “Why is China trying to revive ancient silk Road? The Silk Road – envisioned as a rail and sea route – is part of China’s “One Belt, One Road,” an economic development strategy, which has opened a new chapter of win-win cooperation between China and Iran, Xinhua reported.
After two decades of rapid growth, Beijing is again looking beyond its borders for investment opportunities and trade, and to do that it is reaching back to its former imperial greatness for the familiar ‘Silk Road’ metaphor. Creating a modern version of the ancient trade route has emerged as China’s signature foreign policy initiative under President Xi Jinping.” It seems that China is building a new Silk Road. Investing billions… let’s follow the money.
Thanks for a great insight into our reading, it was great meeting your lovely wife, you have done well my friend. (Lol) Thanks Rose Maria
Rose:
Thank you! China is an interesting power that has accomplished “interesting” things with its massive power for 2,000 centuries. Society has chosen to embrace or disengage from China…..yet many nations are proving to follow in the same path.
Phil
Aaron:
Was great being together at the London Advance. You asked about market driven capitalism promoting greed or not…..capitalism is neutral. It is how an individual/organization/country uses what is being placed in their hands. Frankopan, if nothing else, exposes the fallen nature of man.
Phil
Phil
One of your best blog posts!! London and travel must have been amazing for you.
I completely follow your path as there is always something within the story that is of the “most” value…. What do we place the most value on?
People? Relationship? Tithe? Offerings??? Do we stay on mission or do things such as “silk” take us down a different path?
Great insight and compilation of one of the better books that we have read. Great to spend time with you and Pam in Oxford and London.
God Bless
Kevin
Kevin:
Thanks for the compliment. The “silk” can takes us down paths that are unacceptable to God’s Kingdom. The proof many times is in the motive behind the pursuit of the silk……why is it wanted and what will we do with it when we get it?
Phil