I wrote a critique/review of a tale set in England in the early 1800’s. “Money, Power, Love” is a story of three bankers with the power to create money out of nothing, who were able to shape the world we live in today.
Archibald, Oliver, and Arthur were born within seconds of each other and orphaned at the same time at a very tender age. As young adults, persuaded by the whimsy of circumstances, they performed acts of nobility and commonness. These three men fell in love with the same woman at the same time. Each man set his goal to marry Lola. Lola had a goal of her own, however, and that was to find broken men, and through her love, make them the man each was meant to be.
Archibald seeks power to win the affections of Lola so she will become his wife. He discovers that to have power without money is no power at all. Oliver strives to make money to impress Lola so she will marry him. He learns that money without power is worthless. Arthur is delusional about his marriage to Lola and thinks it will just happen because he was a good person. Each man has his own idea what would win her heart. But each man fell far short of achieving his goal to marry Lola.
The story concludes with the realization that all of us, as did Archibald, Oliver, and Arthur, must take responsibility for our own actions.
I’m not sure if the author intended for his story to become a parable, but when spiritual principles are applied, that is exactly what happens. As Jesus often explained His parables to His disciples, I will do the same as how I interpret the story when applying Biblical principles. I am not promoting the book – I am simply using it as an example.
The three bankers represent three of the many different personalities of man who think they will get to heaven by their own self-delusional virtues. Archibald portrays the man who seeks power and prestige to win God’s approval. He soon discovers power is not enough. He strives for riches, or his power is no power at all, and he has lost what little prestige he had. Oliver tries to become rich to impress God so He will accept him into heaven. But Oliver learns that God cannot be bribed, and all his money without power is worthless. Arthur thought he was a good person and didn’t need to do anything to try to win God’s favor. He deluded himself into thinking He would gain God’s approval because he saw himself as being good, and therefore, God would as well. However, each man fell far short of attaining heaven.
Lola represents God who seeks broken people, and through His unconditional love for mankind, makes him/her into the person each was meant to be. God’s end goal, however, is to call all mankind to Himself through faith – not power, not riches, not being a good person. God has a greater purpose, and that is to conform those who wholeheartedly love Him into the image of His Son, Jesus. They will be His people, and God Himself will dwell among them, and He will be their God.
Redeemed man acknowledges who he was but does not let that define him for who he is now, nor does he give up hope of who he willl become since he pursues God for the purpose that He has for him.