02/27/2011 - by Chuck Monan, Preaching Minister

The universal regard for money is the one hopeful fact in our civilization, the one sound spot in our social conscience.  Money is the most important thing in the world.  It represents health, strength, honor, generosity and beauty as conspicuously and undeniably as the want of it represents illness, weakness, disgrace, meanness and ugliness.  Not the least of its virtues is that it destroys base people as certainly as it fortifies and dignifies noble people.
~ George Bernard Shaw

Is money really the most important thing in the world?  Only a simpleton would answer yes. 

When Gil Meche made the Show with the Seattle Mariners in 1999, he fulfilled the dream of millions of boys who play baseball.  Over the next six seasons Meche turned into a steady if unspectacular pitcher.  After the 2006 season the Kansas City Royals offered him a 5 – year - contract for $55 million.  Since signing with the Royals, Meche has continued to be a solid pitcher, leading the league in starts in consecutive years.  Going into the upcoming season, Meche’s career numbers are rather ordinary: an 84-83 record with an ERA of 4.49.

All of this of course has little to do with why Meche has been in the headlines recently.

Last year Meche was beset by arm problems.  Even though he is only 32, his body started breaking down.  His arm wasn’t the same.  But surely Meche would report with pitchers and catchers for spring training.  Even if he doesn’t get back to full strength, he could    go to the bullpen.  Even if he can’t pitch at all, the Royals still owe him $12.4 million for the 2011 season.

Except that Meche crossed up everyone by retiring, giving back his twelve million dollar salary.

To say that this has triggered amazement would be an understatement.  A writer for Business Insider called the decision “idiotic.”  After all, Meche didn’t injure himself skiing, riding motorcycles or running with the bulls in Pamplona.  He was injured on the job while working for his employer.  The money is rightfully his.  He has every right to cash those checks.  Meche sees it differently:

It got to the point where I wasn’t going to lie to myself and say, “I’m going to be healthy, I’m ready to roll, I can’t wait to get going.”  None of those things were true.  Last year when I left for Kansas City I said all those things, and I thought I’d be able to do it.  Once I got home after the season, I just didn’t have it in my heart to keep playing.  I think I did the right thing ... It wasn’t fair to the team or my teammates to go back.

The Bible says “Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him” (Deut. 19:13).  Meche, if he had accepted the money owed him, would be doing neither.  In any event, it is easy to admire the honor and integrity he is modeling. He said, “I was making a crazy amount of money for not even pitching.  Honestly, I didn’t feel like I deserved it.”  Gil Meche is satisfied with the millions he had made, and has chosen not to take another twelve million. 

Money is not the most important thing in the world.