You know what makes me mad? The attitude that a lot of people have that says “Christians shouldn’t be rich! They should live in poverty and have nothing! Didn’t Jesus tell the Rich Young Ruler to sell all he had?!”
Or have you ever heard someone incorrectly quote this verse? “MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL!!” Wrong. Money isn’t evil. It cannot be evil. It doesn’t have a soul. Nothing without a soul can be evil. Chocolate cannot be evil. Instruments cannot be evil. Cars cannot be evil. Money cannot be evil.
“For the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10
How people use money can be evil. You can do the wrong things WITH money. You can hurt people WITH money. And you can buy evil things WITH money. But on the flip side, people can use money faithfully and with good intentions and honor. You can do the right things WITH money. You can help people WITH money. And you can buy good things WITH money.
King David and King Solomon were very rich. Who took care of the traveling Peter and Paul if not for another rich Christian? Even Jabez prayed for God to enlarge his territory and he was spoken of as “honorable.”
Inspired by something I heard Micheal Hyatt say, I felt the need to speak out and tell you guys something. You should be trying to make as much money as you can. You should be STRIVING for that. You should be saving for that. It should be a goal of yours. It might not be possible right now. You might be in a tight spot…but it’s something you can have a goal to achieve. And here’s why:
If we don’t make money, how can we give?
How can we give to those in need if we’re broke? Or help fund overseas schools if we’re broke? Or how can we help a struggling single mom if we’re broke? How can we fund charities…IF WE’RE BROKE? Quick answer – we can’t. This is why our family chooses to live debt free. We want to make money – as much money as we can…so we can give as much money as we can. Make money to provide for your family – then make as much as you can so you can GIVE.
GIVE.
You cannot give if you don’t make it a goal and a habit. Sure, time is worth a lot. Giving time when you don’t have money is a great thing to do! But how much better off would we all be if we were not only giving our time, but also giving as much money as we could? We choose not to run the rat race. We choose not to buy the brand new car and make payments. And we choose not to load up the credit card. Instead, we choose to give. The Myers choose to give. We choose to make money so we can GIVE.
What do you choose?
Stacy, I agree, it is not money that causes the problems. It is what people do to obtain money in illegal ways or their unscrupulous behavior toward money.
The reason why the infamous phrase about money goes around is because it was catchy phrase.
People are really good about repeating catchy phrases. 🙂
Cindy, I’ve heard similar voices in my formative years and it has caused me to self-sabotage in business. I’ve spent a lot of time working through it so I can have a healthy view of money and business–but it’s not easy. I’m sorry it happened to you too. I’m thankful for supportive Christians like Stacy who tell it like it is.
“I’ve never been one to lose sleep over what people think of me”
I should amend that to say “as long as my conscience is clear”. 😉
Right on! We do, of course, want to earn only as much money as we can while still doing those things we should do that aren’t so lucrative. You can’t serve God and mammon. But making money and becoming wealthy are (when unimpeded by things like natural disaster and injustice) natural consequences of good behavior and virtuous living, so fatten up that wallet! I grew up under the influence of a person who made a very ugly habit of distrusting the motives and religion of every wealthy man he knew. Behind their backs, of course. My whole adult life, because of all the snide remarks and, frankly, jealousy, I’ve struggled not to feel guilty over every extra dime brought in or saved. Every time Jesse has gotten a raise or promotion, every time I’ve turned our money into more in some way, I’ve had to deal with the feeling that that person is probably now sneering at us the same way. And what if other people think that, too? I’ve never been one to lose sleep over what people think of me, but when it’s someone who formed your personality in very large part, it’s hard to get that voice out of your head. But it is, despite this person’s nearness to my heart, a false voice. There no shame in excelling, and in saving and being frugal. It’s probably shame over his own poor financial behavior that caused this person to make such cruel remarks, but that doesn’t make it feel any better when it might now apply to me just as easily. No one should feel guilty for having done well and reaped an honest reward, or for trying to be wise with the use of their funds.