Money, Money, Money! Let's be honest, we all have some and most of us want more. After all, money is what we spend so much of our lives trying to acquire. We pick up an extra shift, we pick up a side hustle or we simply hold onto all that we can. Regardless, money and our effort to get more is what drives so much of our everyday life. We all willingly trade so much of our limited time to gain more and more wealth and for what purpose? When you think about it there are only 3 things you can do with money. You can save it, spend it or give it away.
Most of us, including myself, spend way more than we save or give away and to what end I ask again? I contend that most of us save money for peace of mind and security and so that we can one day stop doing that job that we love, tolerate or despise. It is true that having some amount of money in savings or a retirement account does bring some peace of mind although that sense of peace is most likely false. I am not saying we should not save, in fact saving for the future is a biblical principle.
"A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes the rich . He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” Proverbs 10:4-5.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22.
Not only are there Biblical teachings that support saving for the future, it is simply wise to do so. However, we must be careful that we don't begin to place our faith in our 401K's or IRA's instead of the Lord. One just has to take a look at the history of the US stock market to see that a life's worth of savings can vanish overnight. Bottom line here is that you should save, but just know that your peace and security comes from Christ and not from Fidelity or Met Life.
Let's move on to the fun things we can do with money, spend it. As I am writing this post, someone in Florida has just won the mega Powerball lottery worth 1.5 billion dollars. We have all at some point in our lives dreamed of winning the lottery. It is fun to imagine what kind of amazing things we could do with all that loot. I surely have thought about it and I have never bought a lottery ticket. Regardless, most of us grind out hour after hour at our job so we can buy that thing we want or take that trip we have always dreamed of taking. Only to find that thing we really wanted wasn't all that great and that week-long vacation came and went in a flash. Now we are left with a feeling of wanting something else new and shiny or craving a more exotic getaway. After all, this is how money makes us happy. It is true that new things and exciting trips may bring some degree of short term happiness. This feeling of happiness is brought about by a little chemical in your brain called dopamine. It is the neurotransmitter responsible for that feeling of being happy. The key is that the feeling is fleeting because dopamine levels go up rapidly but also return to normal levels very quickly too. Thus we are left with the need for something newer, shiner and more exciting. I want to go on record to say that there is nothing wrong with spending some money on things and experiences. After all, I have a very severe golf addiction and I do enjoy traveling with my family. So I can honestly say that these things make me happy although it is only temporary. I love the feeling of a well struck golf shot or seeing my girls skiing down a mountain in Colorado. However, these feelings of happiness are short lived and always leave me wanting more. Thus, we must be careful not to get caught chasing temporary moments of happiness at the expense of true joy. The difference is that happiness depends on what is happening around you and joy comes from inner peace and contentment. The good news is that true joy doesn't cost a dime. It comes from total trust in God and knowing that your future rests in the person of Jesus Christ. I truly believe that money is a blessing from God and we should use some of it for enjoyment as long as it honors God.
Now to the one that makes many so uncomfortable, giving it away. We have all heard, "I work hard for my money, why would I give it away?" or "This is my money, I earned it.". If you are a believer you have probably already spotted the error in these statements.
“Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” Deuteronomy 10:14.
Yes, everything in heaven and on earth belongs to God and this includes "your" money. Once you realize that everything in your life is really a gift from God and doesn't belong to you and helps change your perspective on money. Now, you may still be saying wait a minute, I worked and earned that money. True, but God allowed you to get that job, get that promotion, that bonus, etc. God has also blessed you with enough health to continue to do your job. Thus everything you have is really a gift from Him. So your money really isn't your money, God is just letting you use it. It is how we use his blessings that makes all the difference. Jesus calls his followers to use these financial blessings to help those less fortunate. God doesn't do this because he needs our help, he does this for our benefit. When we give, both the giver and recipient are blessed and the giver is usually blessed more. During my first trip to Haiti in 2006, I went on a hike in the hills around the small town I was working in. It was there that I met a family that would impact me more than I realized at the time. It was a mom and 6 kids all living in a 10x15 ft shack with sticks for walls and a dirt floor. The roof was mostly sticks and some old tarps. The sight of those kids sleeping on old rice sacks on the ground broke my heart. Upon returning home, I shared this experience with my wife and we decided we would build a real house for this family. One with real walls, concrete floor and a metal roof. I can honestly say that standing with that family 2 years later at the house dedication was one of the most joyous experiences of my life. That was more than 15 years ago and it sill brings me joy to this day. God didn't need me to provide that family with a home, but I am thankful that he used me for that purpose. If it hadn't been willing to give away some of what God had given me, I would have missed that blessing. I wonder how many other experiences like this I have missed because I was unwilling to give away a portion of what
had been given to me. God calls us to be a highway and not cul-de-sacs. I mean that God doesn't want his blessings to end with us, but instead be passed on to others, especially those in need.
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Psalm 82:3
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
Therefore let us all strive to be less like a cul-de-sac and more like a highway. It is in this that we will find real and lasting joy.
Tell me what you think in the comments. Thanks for reading!
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