Dolla' Dolla'
I recently stumbled across this synopsis of a Time article on the Christian faith and whether God wants us to be rich or not. It was interesting to consider, especially considering the American "sub-text" of always thinking we should have money for what we need and also what we just want... oh, and we want a lot!
In fact, one of the thoughts that consistently runs through my mind is how I've bought into a gospel of prosperity. I mean, I know I have in some respects... I think that is unavoidable. But, how fully have I given myself to this gospel, and am I aware enough to do battle with its influences on my life?
I have been impressed by Time's discussion of the Church in the past couple of years, because I think conversations such as the one in the article are extremely relevant to most of my friends and myself. Albeit some of their interest is just plain criticism, Time has done a pretty reasonable job of reporting on facets of the Church that mainstream media often glazes over.
Your Thoughts
Take a look at the article and chime in -- what are riches: Blessing, Curse, Both, Neither, or what?
In fact, one of the thoughts that consistently runs through my mind is how I've bought into a gospel of prosperity. I mean, I know I have in some respects... I think that is unavoidable. But, how fully have I given myself to this gospel, and am I aware enough to do battle with its influences on my life?
I have been impressed by Time's discussion of the Church in the past couple of years, because I think conversations such as the one in the article are extremely relevant to most of my friends and myself. Albeit some of their interest is just plain criticism, Time has done a pretty reasonable job of reporting on facets of the Church that mainstream media often glazes over.
Your Thoughts
Take a look at the article and chime in -- what are riches: Blessing, Curse, Both, Neither, or what?
Em and friends being incredibly money-lustful
(notice how each of us has glowing eyes? That's not PhotoShop magic... I guess the camera caught our real money-hunger! hehe)
posted by em at 9/10/2006 01:07:00 PM
3 Comments:
Let me first say that you three just look evil in that pic. :)
I've been on both sides of the "prosperity" line, when it comes to money. I've had more than enough and I've been so poor I didn't know where my next meal was coming from and was, essentially, homeless. It was during a relatively recent downturn of income that made me question what I consider prosperity. Was I poor at that moment? That depends...
Certainly, by popular standards I was poor. I had a negative balance in my checking account and no income coming in within the forseeable future to correct that problem! And, by popular standards, that made me lacking in the prosperity department. But, the real question was, was I poor?
At that moment of despair, I assessed my situation: I had a roof over my head (thanks to my parents), a husband that loved me, a child who was healthy and loving, a running car, friends who cared and were praying for me (thanks Will!), and a God who, although I doubted it at times, had most definitely not forsaken me.
I was a rich woman, I just didn't have any money. :)
As far as whether "riches" are good are bad, blessing or curse...well, that depends on your definition of "riches". If you mean money, well, money itself is neutral. It is an inanimate object that people control. It's what's done with the money that is good or bad. And the doing is entirely dependent on the person holding the cash.
However, if you expand your definition of "riches" to include love, peace, charity, kindness, honesty, family, etc., etc., etc., it's extremely rare to find a truly "poor" person. The problem is remembering to appreciate the other riches in our life when the money is running low.
Also, I found that when I had "more than enough money," I tended to look for more stuff that I wanted. I'm ashamed to say that it was a rare prayer for me to ask God where he'd like that extra cash spent. I think our society really instills a materialistic mindset in us that we really need to be aware of. So much more could be done to expand God's kingdom if we asked him where to apply that $5.00 we're about to spend on a fast food meal.
It's taken me a while to think about this one . . .
I have no wisdom when it comes to money. I was not taught by a good example and Ethan and I have had some struggles over the issue in our marriage. We are doing our best to learn to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us-- monetarily and otherwise.
That is a struggle, because what God wants us to do with our money is not necessarily what we want to do with it-- it's so easy to get sucked into our consumer-driven culture. Then we end up drowning in junk that we don't need and don't even really want.
I don't know that God wants us to be rich or poor. I think God gives everyone blessings and how we respond to those blessings, or how we use our gifts is what God is concerned with.
To me, money is more an idea. No one ever seems to have "enough" money-- for whatever reason, we always want more-- and our culture drives that by constantly creating new things for us to want. It's almost madness.
Just some ramblings...
I see money as a tool. In the right hands it can be very useful, productive, and a blessing to many. In the wrong (or simply unprepared) hands it can be unwieldy, problematic, and generally stress-provoking due to its propensity to create a need/desire for more.
I don't think anyone with any solid knowledge of the Bible would say that money is evil, but certainly the Bible talks about it an awful lot. Those who are blessed/cursed with a lot of it also have a lot of responsibility to use it wisely. I do not believe that God desires that we all be rich in a western sense- there is too much evidence to the contrary. I believe that He blesses some with money for His own purposes more than to reward them for service rendered. Otherwise there are a whole lot of believers in Asia and Africa that have been short-changed.
Personally I'd rather have my eyes focused upon Him to provide dinner tonight than to be always wondering whether or not the Rothschild's '68 would be good enough for the company dinner...
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