Dear Friends,
I’m currently participating in a group of Vineyard pastors learning about the financial health of pastors and churches. We get together and talk about money - how our personal finances are going, what decisions we are making, and practices for the pursuit of financial well-being. In the next phase of the cohort, we will talk about the finances of our churches. It’s wonderful to be able to speak openly with others about something that is often a taboo topic in our culture. I'm going to speak frankly about money here too.
I find myself in an unusual season with regard to money. Jamie and I have spent a lot of our savings relandscaping our yard after our pool demolition last summer and on our daughter’s wedding that is coming up this summer. Additionally, we have an investment opportunity through Jamie’s work that seems almost too good to pass up but that also involves some amount of risk. At some point in the near future, we expect to have to make a decision about how to respond to this opportunity. With all of this going on, I’m thinking more about money than I usually do. Something my dad said in a recent conversation where I asked for his advice reminded me of this passage from Paul’s letter to Timothy that I also read this week with my pastors learning group.
Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
- 1 Tim. 6:6-10 (NIV)
There is nothing wrong with money, in and of itself. In fact, there are a number of biblical passages that speak of the usefulness of money and the goodness of both wise financial management and generosity to others. But the fantasy of becoming rich is dangerous. It tends to lead to unsound decisions, lack of generosity, broken relationships with others, and even great financial loss. Think, for example, of the current efforts to “make America wealthy again.” The United States has cut aid to those in need and hurt its international relationships in the name of making Americans rich, but at least so far, only financial harm to Americans seems to be the result.
Paul advocates for cultivating an attitude of contentment instead of the desire to become rich. Nothing we have truly belongs to us, and if we have enough to meet our basic needs, then we have enough. True wealth comes from generosity in blessing others. We will be rich in the only way that matters if we are grateful for what we have and share it with those around us. Lord, let us be rich in this way!
A prayer for today:
Jesus, teach me to be content. Let the selfish fantasy of becoming rich be far from me. Give me enough to meet my own needs and to be a blessing to others, and teach me to rejoice in what I have been given. Let me be both wise and generous with all you have entrusted to me. Amen.
Love in Christ,
Michelle
