In chapter 1, Mark states his need to stand out and to to be noticed. His perceived desires are
tied to thoughts of a better life despite unimpressive upbringings. This sets the tone for the
following story as we follow him through a series of events that lead to the youngest billionaire
our world has ever seen. His motivation, although contextualized in a very new and
technically advanced world, has derivations as old as Genesis itself.
Genesis 2:18-20
18-20 God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion.
In chapter 8, Mark runs into Erica and attempts to reconcile their relationship. She rejects his meager attempts at an apology which drives him to further expand the facebook site. Mark's own pride prevents his re-entry into relationship and further fuels his desire to gain attention through his work.
Matthew 6:27-33
27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with
getting, so you can respond to God's
giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
In chapter 16, we seem to finish where we started, with Mark trying to continue and engage Erica in relationship. After all his trials he still lacks fulfillment relationally in spite of his enormous wealth and fame. What makes this story universal, is that we all do to some sort, the only difference being is to what scale do we fail?
Philippians 2:1-8
1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. 5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
