Tuesday, February 12, 2008

$$$

Dinero. Dough. Moolah. Cheese. Bucks. Bread. Cash. Beans. Chips. Benjamins. Bones.

MONEY.

"No matter how rich you become, how famous or powerful, when you die the size of your funeral will still pretty much depend on the weather." – Michael Pritchard

Have you ever stopped and thought about the concept of money at length? It's a peculiar thing really. I understand the barter system perhaps but money is an obscure idea to me. Removing physical currency and replacing it with bank accounts and debit cards only adds to the ambiguousness. Yet, the pursuit of it seems to run our society. As of late, the topic of money keeps popping up in conversations. A buddy of mine recently presented me with a business opportunity that would lead to a six-figure income within five years (but I would have to pay to join his company of course). The promise of getting rich quick with a passive income method drove the sales pitch. Amongst the verses I shared with him came from 1 Timothy 6: "Godliness with contentment is great gain." By the reaction on his face, I could tell that my response was not the one he had anticipated or prepared for!

It's a revolutionary way of living. The idea is that you and I can actually be content with who we are, where we live, how much money we make and what we're doing TODAY. The world chases after the next big thing. Solomon was the richest man to ever live on this planet. The guy had EVERYTHING. Solomon got to the peak of absolute power and financial prosperity just to say that all of it was utterly meaningless. VANITY OF VANITIES Solomon said. Think about soap bubbles. They're pretty and shiny as they softly float through the air but reach out to grab it and POP there's nothing of substance at all. Go try it. Figure out how to get a soap bubble into your pocket. You finally get "the next big thing" but the newness or novelty soon wears off.

Don't be a dope. Store up your wealth and treasures in heaven so that it'll all be waiting on you when you arrive. This world is passing away. What difference will it make in eternity whether you drove a Maxima or a Mercedes? Be a good steward of the resources you have but don't fall into the lie that just a little more [fill in the blank] will bring satisfaction or happiness. If you want a deep satisfaction and a lasting peace, pursue a romance with your Savior. Look for ways to invest that pay eternal dividends. Your check registry is a direct and tangible reflection upon where the passions of your heart are.