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One of the challenges we face in the world today is our access to money, and for many, it is our access to a great deal of it. I was just speaking with someone the other day who expressed his lack of need for much religion at all because he felt like he really had all that he needed. This is a major challenge to us finding a deeper purpose in life and a challenge to believing that this place is not truly our home.
The danger of money is that it titillates. When we have money, we have the ability to always look into or purchase the latest novelty, and thus we can distract ourselves from the deeper questions of life. As I reflect back on my travels around the U.S., I'm struck by the relationship I've seen between those who are in great need financially and their understanding and thinking about the things of God. While not a 1:1 correlation, my experience is that those who have little have little to be distracted with and in turn, they think of eternal and philosophical things more often. Money gives us the ability to self-blind - we surround ourselves with so many toys that we can't see out to look at the real world.
Another danger for those of us who lives in more affluent countries or cultures is that money can give us the feeling of control. When we have the resources, we can begin to believe that all we have to do when a crisis strikes is to spend. A car breaks down - we purchase a new one. A bill for college comes in - we send a check off in the mail. But the danger of this money-shield (if you will) is the false sense of security it brings. We are constantly in need of God's grace. If you doubt this, face a life-threatening disease and see how little money can do for you. Yes, having means is certainly correlated with better health care, but there is a point at which money can't stop a devastating cancer.
The challenge of money is that it can enrapture us with what it offers and then, on the last day of our lives, we look around to see that we've been playing with toys instead of considering why we are even here in the first place. Secondly, money can make us feel like we don't need God, like we can make it on our own when in reality, we should acknowledge the common grace shed upon us all.
In our next post, we will consider how pain gives us clarity on our purpose and home.
- tC
The danger of money is that it titillates. When we have money, we have the ability to always look into or purchase the latest novelty, and thus we can distract ourselves from the deeper questions of life. As I reflect back on my travels around the U.S., I'm struck by the relationship I've seen between those who are in great need financially and their understanding and thinking about the things of God. While not a 1:1 correlation, my experience is that those who have little have little to be distracted with and in turn, they think of eternal and philosophical things more often. Money gives us the ability to self-blind - we surround ourselves with so many toys that we can't see out to look at the real world.
Another danger for those of us who lives in more affluent countries or cultures is that money can give us the feeling of control. When we have the resources, we can begin to believe that all we have to do when a crisis strikes is to spend. A car breaks down - we purchase a new one. A bill for college comes in - we send a check off in the mail. But the danger of this money-shield (if you will) is the false sense of security it brings. We are constantly in need of God's grace. If you doubt this, face a life-threatening disease and see how little money can do for you. Yes, having means is certainly correlated with better health care, but there is a point at which money can't stop a devastating cancer.
The challenge of money is that it can enrapture us with what it offers and then, on the last day of our lives, we look around to see that we've been playing with toys instead of considering why we are even here in the first place. Secondly, money can make us feel like we don't need God, like we can make it on our own when in reality, we should acknowledge the common grace shed upon us all.
In our next post, we will consider how pain gives us clarity on our purpose and home.
- tC
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