I do know I have a few more that I want to post in the future. [Particularly on 'A Theology of economics'] There are many people I brush shoulders on a regular with who are wealthy or really have a desire to be wealthy. I personally set out some personal wealth objectives a few years ago ... At this point in my life I am very close to reaching my my objective. I am now realizing that when I set those objectives I was thinking too small and I now need to re-evaluate think bigger and more long term. That being said I think there is a great diversity on the way people think about money. Our thought towards money differ quite significanlty. I want to put three [3] simple thougths out there for some feedback.
1) Poverty isn't about 'not having' ... its more about a mind set that says 'I don't have enough.' I have met millionaires who are poverty stricken and I have met some very wealthy people who have 'nothing.'
2) Our money out lives us... are we thinking about the impact of our wealth 150yrs from now? Are we building a legacy of wealth for our families so our visions and dreams can live on?
3) Money does not corrupt you ... it exposes you... whether you are 'poor' or 'rich' - your attitude towards money is a reflection of whats in your heart.
- Do money issues stir distrust in you?
- Are you overly concerned about not having?
- Or are you so concerned about saving for a 'rainy day' that you are withholding important and life giving experiences from yourself or your family? [ie holidays, special gifts, proper clothing etc.]
- Are you holding on to a miserable job, just because it gives you a secure income? [that IMHO is a form of prostitution].
- Are you afraid to take a step into that entrepeneurial venture because it might mean you potentially could lose possibly everything?
- Do you look at your work/employer as your source? So in other words ... is your faith in job security?
Please give me some feedback.
7 comments:
I do agree with most of what you said.
We look at the bare essentials of what it means to be 'poverty stricken'.
We look at a lot of the familes here in NA. and say they're poverty stricken... and then we could look at some families in Africa and say they truely are in better shape because they make due with what they have and they just take things a day at a time while also thinking long term.
As Christians, we really do need to look at what our stance is with the money in our life. Is it simply a tool or an end?
I disagree with your first point. Poverty is not the same as "I don't have enough".
Poverty is having little or no money, possessions or means of support. "I don't have enough" is based in greed or envy. Wealthy people who never have enough - are they trying to keep ahead of the Jones? or Are they just interested in having more for the sake of having more? or they are trying to fill voids in their lives with money? There is a WHY behind their drive for more wealth. What is that WHY? Personally, I think wealthy people who truly believe they don't have enough or believe they have nothing should have to use some of their dollars to get the psychological help they need to deal with the real issues behind the facade. Once their psychological issues are addressed, I'll bet their wealth outlook would be entirely different.
Point 2 - Sure, money outlives us but if you build a legacy of wealth so that your family inherits such a sum that they don't have to work anymore, are you doing what's best for them? According to your previous list of deadly sins (wealth without work), having wads of wealth handed to you would be a temptation to resist, not accept. What kind of family are we training up if we have to make sure to earn enough in our lifetime so they have enough to live on when we're gone?
Point 3 - "your attitude towards money is a reflection of whats in your heart." Sure but so is your attitude toward women, toward church, toward children, toward politics ... basically your attitude toward [insert any subject here] is a reflection of what's in your heart. I agree with your first statement though. Money does not corrupt you, because when all is said and done, you are either corrupt or trustworthy before money is ever involved.
As to your 3rd from last point ... all I could say is, "Wow." I'd be more interested to know what about your current job makes it so miserable. Why do people choose to be miserable in their workplace? Why is it okay for us to choose an outlook of misery when we are in a job that doesn't fit our brain's idea of a good job? If we spent half the energy we spend on being miserable in improving our surroundings, perhaps the job wouldn't be so bad afterall.
Great thoughts Mark.
As you know I've had to work through a bunch of these over the last year. They're not all fun at times, but it brings a healthier perspective in terms of life, faith and finances.
One thing... Ann Marie maybe having a job you hate isn't always about your own choices. There are circumstances many times that you can't control that bring negative "vibes" into the workplace. Someone I know loved his job, a new boss was put in place and the job became hell. This person had to make a choice of doing what he loved or hating the his new boss. It took him time and patience. He has chosen to do what he loves, but deal with his boss at arms lengths and through processes.
Questions I've struggled with is how God supposedly provides? I ask it that way because I think we all hold ideas or misconceptions on how God provides. Many of times we think we just need Him to provide us with dollars, but maybe He's provided us with someone or something to challenge us or to help. I still struggle with it, but being open to Him taking and giving at His disposal is more than worth it.
I think that poverty is definitely a mindset but I think it's an interesting concept. It is not about how much or how little. It is a state of mind. Because what we in the western world would deem to be poor would be to someone in teh developing world, extremely rich. For us to have access to water, shelter and more than one meal a day to 80% of the world is definitely rich. So really, it is about this never having enough. Question is - will we ever be satisfied or has greed become a social norm?
I think we need to have a sense of contentment and trust in God that he will provide and take care of us. But this is complex at the best of times.
To illustrate - talking about being miserable in a job. I talked to a lot of girls when I was working in London because I was experiencing inappropriate behaviour from males within the workplace. For many women they are subjected to behaviour which they shouldn't have to. Now I stuck it out and set down boundaries and it ended up brilliantly. But some people have incredible financial pressures, esp if they are a solo parent or have multiple dependents to provide for. The constructs of our modern societies often leave no room for choice...
You could argue that we all have choice. But is poverty in this context not believing that there is something better...
I dunno - sorry my thoughts are a bit random.
Good thoughts folks..
Steve you are right... money is a tool not an end.
Annmarie... I never suggested that we let our children not work... That is about teaching good values to them and teaching the principles of mulitplication...
Steph ... contentment is important but there is also an importance in self awareness where you understand what makes you truly fulfilled...do you agree?
To your point about single people under financial pressure... I clearly understand that often times [or for seasons] a person must work through less than ideal situations... but the choice is to stay for now to move on later. Poverty takes its toll when people do not think beyond where they are at. Agree?
Markimus
When I was in school, I sucked at Math, but rocked in English and Drama.
I will be the first to admit I DO NOT have a strong financial mind.
I don't do well with planning and organizing. Numbers and budgets sorta stress me out.
But this is what I know: for a long time, I ignored the very real issue of finances in my life. I have hardly EVER saved up for anything. My reason was that I didn't want a greedy or selfish bone in my body, and this was my way of proving to myself that I didn't care about bling. It worked for a long time. I was h-core ANTI-materialism. I still am.
But throw this one word into the mix: STEWARDSHIP. And it changed my whole perspective.
You know the parable of the talents? The three guys who got different amounts of talents? I've heard many a message that has warped this parable to be talking about skills and abilities, "talents" and what are we using them for.
That is bunk.
The story was about MONEY. The guy who did nothing with what he was given was a "wicked servant".
I am still anti-materialism. I don't care about earning a massive amount of wealth, because I think relationships are more important, and that is what I want to "invest" my life in.
But where ever God puts us on the economic ladder, high or low, I think the big question is: are we being a good steward of it?
Interesting to know.
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