Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Taking Care of Business


It would be pretty easy to be jealous of the apparent ease of existence for the financially-successful among us. To be able to purchase whatever one fancied without regard to the price tag? Who wouldn't want that?

However...

It seems to be so common that it's almost a cliche: The sharp-as-a-tack business person who loses their grip on what's really important in life.



Ray Stevens sang about it in his song "Mr. Businessman" way back in 1968.


Itemize the things you covet
As you squander through your life
Bigger cars, bigger houses
Term insurance for your wife
Tuesday evenings with your harlot
And on Wednesdays, it's your charlatan analyst
He's high upon your list

You've got air-conditioned sinuses
And dark disturbing doubt about religion
And you keep those cards and letters going out
While your secretary's tempting you
Your morals are exempting you from guilt and shame
Heaven knows you're not to blame

You better take care of business, Mr. Businessman
What's your plan?
Get down to business, Mr. Businessman
If you can
Before it's too late and you throw your life away

Did you see your children growing up today
And did you hear the music of their laughter
As they set about to play?
Did you catch the fragrance of those roses in your garden?
Did the morning sunlight warm your soul
Brighten up your day?
Do you qualify to be alive
Or is the limit of your senses so as only to survive?

Spending counterfeit incentive
Wasting precious time and health
Placing value on the worthless
Disregarding priceless wealth
You can wheel and deal the best of them
And steal it from the rest of them
You know the score, their ethics are a bore

Eighty-six proof anesthetic crutches
Prop you to the top
Where the smiles are all synthetic
And the ulcers never stop
When they take that final inventory
Yours will be the same sad story everywhere
No one will really care
No one more lonely than
This rich important man
Let's have your autograph
Endorse your epitaph

You better take care of business, Mr. Businessman
What's your plan?
Get down to business, Mr. Businessman
If you can....
©1968 Ahab Music Co.




Truth is...What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? (Matthew 16:26 NLT)


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