Money, a wonderful servant but a horrible master

Money, a wonderful servant and a horrible master is one of the favorite phrases of the senior pastor of my church. This phrase is very self explanatory. Money when it doesn't control you is a beautiful thing but when you are under its control, that's a horrible thing. My grandmother always had a saying that goes, "money make friendships and money break friendships." That couldn't be more true. Because of the nature of the power of money, friendships can be tested. The love of money is said to be the root of all evil, not money itself but the love of it. When our pastor uses this phrase it is really because people do get really funny when it comes to money. I never really realize how much this is until I read portions of Solomon's wisdom in the Book of Ecclesiaties concerning money. People are admonished to enjoy the fruits of their labor. People who work are paid money and they have every right to enjoy it and all its benefits, so says the book. For this reason I think many people choose to hold tight to theirs. But when you get to the point where money is your all in all, then that becomes an issue. A colleague of mine once said to me that because she works too hard for what she has, she really puts a lot of thought into what she does with her money. I know her to be a frugal person who loves the finer things in life and as she said that is the only reason she works, so she can drive the luxury car she loves, live in the right neighborhood, travel around the world and live lavishly. I was reminded of the story in the gospel of the rich young ruler, who asked Jesus if he could follow Him and Jesus suggested that he sold all he had and give to the poor, he went away sad. For this rich young ruler, money was his master. He was under its control. The hold that money and stuff had over him was so much that he was saddened by the very thought of giving. On the contrary, if money was his servant it would have been easy for him to sell all he had and give to the poor. Money answers everything the wisest man Solomon said. You can't do anything without money, can't exist without money. But in these trying times when the economy is being challenged how do we keep money in its place? With things being so much tigher and a dollar can't stretch but so far, how do we keep ourselves from being tainted by this horrible master? Does it shift our focus on financial woes that we forget that God's economy is not affected by the challenges on Wall Street or the World Bank? His economy is based on the cyclical effect of sowing and reaping/giving and receiving.

Money, as a wonderful servant paves the way for us to serve others. After we enjoy the fruits of our labor, give God His share, store up for our children's children and be good stewards of the rest, giving to the poor, which by the way is lending to the Lord is one way money can truly be a wonderful servant. God is a debtor to no man and whoever gives to "the poor lends to the Lord." Jesus said "the poor you have with you always," meaning that the poor will always be around and here is the perfect opportunity for God to keep His promise to us. We are all struggling to make ends meet but it is still "more blessed to give than to receive." I know from experience that being a consistent giver is a struggle in itself and I also know from experience that when God challenges us to give, "He embarasses us with His goodness" as one sister puts it. In the Psalm, David one of its writer said he will not give to God that which costs him nothing. We can still stay afloat during this recession. The laws of life never changes, just as God's Word doesn't. Even though money is funny, it can still be a wonderful servant and not a horrible master.

What a difference a year makes!

Who remembers where they were last year this time? For some unknown reason I have the kind of mind that remembers just about everything even when I don't want to. I have to admit I was in a very difficult place last year this time and as I look back I must say what a difference a year makes! The joys of life sometimes are so short lived with all the other stuff that's going on and sometimes these little things murky the waters somehow and it is so hard to reflect, recollect or reminisce. But I'm still here and I'm in my right mind and that feels good so for me being in a different place this time, this year is a blessing worth mentioning.