We all know that money doesn\u2019t buy happiness. If money bought happiness, there wouldn\u2019t be so many wealthy people in the world who are unhappy, in therapy and making poor choices.\u00a0 Significantly, it isn\u2019t their money that makes them unhappy.\u00a0 Rather, they already are sad people who happen to have money.\u00a0 And their large bank accounts and expensive homes don\u2019t make them feel any better.<\/p>\n
Now even though money can\u2019t make us happy, it nevertheless is important. If you don\u2019t have enough money, two things happen:\u00a0 First, you are a burden to others because they have to support you.\u00a0 Second, you don\u2019t have a meaningful way to help other people.\u00a0 To put it bluntly, someone who is hungry doesn\u2019t need your prayers.\u00a0 They need food.\u00a0 And food costs money.\u00a0 So money is necessary both to take care of ourselves and to take care of others.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, many of us don\u2019t have the right relationship with money. We confuse the amount of money that we have with our value as human beings.\u00a0 That is in part, why some people buy things with exterior labels.\u00a0 For instance, some women like to carry handbags that clearly identify the designer (and therefore the price tag).\u00a0 Others like to drive cars from certain luxury manufacturers.\u00a0 By owning these things, people are trying to tell the world that they have a lot of cash, and therefore they are important.\u00a0 It is a common, misguided approach to money.<\/p>\n
As spiritual people, we need to have a proper understanding of the role that money should play in our lives. First of all, money is necessary.\u00a0 It helps us buy things like food, clothing and shelter for ourselves and our families.\u00a0 It also is useful.\u00a0 Without it, we can\u2019t help others.\u00a0 And money enables us to do things that we enjoy, whether it is going out to dinner on occasion or traveling to places that we\u2019ve never been.\u00a0 That is the point of money.<\/p>\n
But while money is useful, it also brings with it responsibility. Money is a gift from God, and we have a responsibility to manage it properly.\u00a0 To that end, we are called to spend (and save) responsibly.\u00a0 One of the positive results of the recession is that it has forced people to adopt proper spending habits.\u00a0 Since the recession, most of us now are more cautious spenders.\u00a0 For example, I no longer purchase things simply because I like them.\u00a0 I buy what I need and no more.<\/p>\n
Part of properly managing our money also is using some of it to make the world a better place. In Matthew, Jesus outlines what our obligation is to the world:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201c<\/sup>\u2026\u00a0<\/sup>for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,\u00a0<\/em>I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.<\/em>\u2019\u201d Matthew 25: 35-36 [emphasis added]<\/p>\n It is hard not to feel convicted after reading that passage. We are called to use our blessings, including our money, to help others.\u00a0 That means that when we manage our money, we should be setting some of it aside for that purpose.\u00a0 We aren\u2019t supposed to be spending every last penny solely on ourselves.<\/p>\n Ultimately, money isn\u2019t about happiness. Sure, it can buy things and experiences that we can enjoy.\u00a0 But that enjoyment is fleeting.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t provide the contentment that is the basis for a happy life.\u00a0 Instead money tests our ability to be responsible stewards of what God has given us.\u00a0 We are responsible to make it, and then to use it wisely.\u00a0 As you make your financial plans for the coming year, consider how you will use your money and how you can be the best steward of the blessings that God has given you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We all know that money doesn\u2019t buy happiness. If money bought happiness, there wouldn\u2019t be so many wealthy people in the world who are unhappy, in therapy and making poor choices.\u00a0 Significantly, it isn\u2019t their money that makes them unhappy.\u00a0 Rather, they already are sad people who happen to have money.\u00a0 And their large bank…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n