Money, this medium of exchange, is crucial to almost every area of our lives. Without it, we can’t buy food, clothes, shelter and a host of other essentials to everyday life. Without a doubt it is the number-one yardstick in the world by which success is measured. The more you have of it, the more success society attributes to you. It is also critical to all of the status symbols we strive to obtain.
The Big house, fancy car, mink coat, pleasure boat and country club membership all depend on our possessing a large sum of greenbacks. Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with having these status symbols or a large bank account. Even the Bible, which many people feel condemns individuals who have a lot of money, offers no condemnation to the accumulation of wealth. In fact, many of the greatest and most beloved biblical characters were quite wealthy. Men such as Abraham, King David, Job and Solomon would all be considered multimillionaires today.
The crucial question, however, is: Do you possess your money, or does your money possess you? As we saw in an earlier devotion, John D. Rockefeller was clearly obsessed and possessed by his own wealth. His love of money caused all sorts of evil to befall him. (see devotion dated – August 2, 2020).
In an effort to own many of the status symbols mentioned above, millions of Americans have sacrificed their home lives by working inordinate hours to the great neglect of their families. Many more have traded in their health in return for these perishable commodities, by worrying and concentrating all their energies and waking hours on how to obtain them. Finally, great numbers of Americans who don’t have much money still have managed to buy what they want through the plastic medium of VISA and Master Card. But in the end they have buried themselves in debt and in some cases bankruptcy.
When you come right down to it, the things that really matter in life and form the real barometer for our own happiness don’t depend on money. Friendships, a family, a good name, and peace of mind are all well within the reach of all of us.
A simple test should suffice to drive home the reality of this statement. Money is basically good for supplying us with material things. As these things grow old, wear out and become used up, examine the memories you have of them. They are not lasting and only create an unquenchable desire to replace them or have more of them.
On the other hand, when we examine our memories of good friends, our children and our honor and reputation, a gentle warmth and good feeling seem to always accompany them; and it lasts. Think about it. Are you in control of your money or has your money taken control over you? If the latter appears to be the case, be prepared, for evil awaits you.