$$ Money On The Mind $$

With this topic I've spent the last thirty minutes or so writing in my journal, and now decided to switch over to blog mode... and while its not near as nostalgic as meeting pen with parchment, writing on the computer for me is always much easier as it encourages a flow of writing that has my fingers keeping pace with my mind, soul, spirit etc... Anyway...

I've come these past few days to realize some pretty interesting things.. one of which seems the most obvious and consumes a great portion of my thought energy, is understanding our responsibilities with money (blogworthy? maybe) . I was reading the parable of the shrewd manager (luke 16) a few days ago, and I guess thats what kicked up some fresh ideas... I will say I still don't exactly get the parable (if anyone cares to share their insights, or maybe where I could find some, that'd be greeeeat), but the last seven verses were enough to pique my interest on the topic. For some time now, the idea of 'having' money has been an area of great resentment. I've resolved that staying away from seeking to inflate my bank account, was in my world of thought a way of pushing away from sin... I was scared of it maybe. That to pursue a high paying job was to turn my back on Jesus, and to ignore living a life following in his footsteps. Question upon question was slowly building up within... and in a timely answer to prayer, God revealed truth through his disciple John Piper. In a chapter titled 'money'... in a book titled 'desiring god'... in a land far far from home... God shed his light. John spoke very clearly early on to the dangers that come along with great wealth. He hammered home the point that money never equals happiness, and very very rarely in our lives do the things we purchase bring any significant amounts of joy. Early on in my youth, in an attempt to put my father on his heels during some sort of arguement (I can't really recall... dad?), I quoted the scripture from 1 timothy 6 that says 'money is the root of all kinds of evil.' He probably let me entertain my point for a bit i'm sure, but was soon to correct me and clarify that its not money, but the love of money thats the root of all kinds of evil. What a paradigm shift this brought about within... all of a sudden money wasn't bad (at that time i didn't truly believe this, most likely just trying to prove a point). This story stuck with me throughout the years, as well as this verse, and now as i recall all this, it affirms all i'm trying (and probably failing) to explain. Ugh... work with me people. So Piper relays scripture in warning against a lust for money, a lust from worldly pleasures that pull you away from a passionate relationship with Christ, his people... happiness. Happiness... americans definition of the word is silly to me. I love the question begged in this quote from Ralph Winter:

"America today is a 'save yourself' society if there ever was one. But does it really work? The underdeveloped societies suffer from one set of diseases: tubuerculosis, malnutrition, pneumonia, parasites, typhoid, cholera, typhys, etc. Affluent America has virtually invented a whole new set of diseases: obesity, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, strokes, lung cancer, venereal disease, cirrhosis of the liver, drug addiction, alcholism, divorce, battered children, suicide, murder. Take your choice. Labor-saving machines have turned out to be body-killing devices. Our affluence has allowed both mobility and isolation of the nuclear family, and as a result, our divorce courts, our prisons and our mental instititions are flooded. In saving ourselves we have nearly lost ourselves."

Can I get an Amen?!

Allora... Piper goes on to delve deepeer into the pretty pathetic nature of our giving as americans... and as is commonplace, he goes on to describe how simple it would be to solve this that and the other thing if we would all give the very nominal 10% (but not in a cheesy, pulpity sort of way). I think i heard somewhere that 1/3 of what we spend as americans on christmas gifts could rid the world of its need for drinkable water? hmm

The song 'Imagine' by lennon comes to mind...

Allora, piper brings his arguement full circle in calling those who have wealth to be generous.. that we must store up treasure for ourselves as a good foundation for the future, so that we may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 tim 6:7).

Money is not bad... but the love of money.. well. It is the magnet of pride that we gotta free ourselves from, 'setting our hope on god, and allowing the money to flow freely and multiply the many ministries of christ.'

SO!!! Sooomewhere in the midst of my own personal brain tornadoe made of piper, scripture, and introspection, something just clicked. 'go, earn as much as you can, for Me.' was the - at first unrecognized - pitch that soon echoed clearly in my busy skull. So when at one time I gave this idea of 'earning much' a direct stiff arm, now I welcome it, but in a severely different light.

Living in a nation where I laugh at the elasticity of the dollar, a nation where - as a man - taking home $8 a day to a house of six is acceptable and extremely common place, i've certainly gained a unique appreciation for the power of the dollar. An eye opening experience none-the-less, realizing how much good can be done, and with so little.

These thoughts brought about a fresh conviction... one that when boiled down says "it would be a sin to not realize your earning potential" Ahh! This sounds so weird and crazy to me! But in this new light it makes sense! It would be selfish! And I'm not saying that I have some incredibly unique characteristics that when monatized equal great riches.. no.. Buuut, I will recognize full and well that I've been blessed with an excellent education, a roladex, a firing brain and a sometimes unhealthy amount of charisma.

And thinking tangibly about the many I could help with the abundance of leftover wealth outside of my own basic wartime necessities, is certainly a cross to bear, a welcomed challenge. Piper says that 'God has made us to be conduits of His grace. The danger is thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn't. Copper will do.' ~~ A six figure salary doesn't need to equal a six figure lifestyle ~~

I think that among other things, this past year has taught me the sweetness of simplicity; how squeezing every last drop of marrow out of life can actually be accomplished while banking $8/hr (which maybe speaks more to the importance community). And although there have certainly been other valuable realizations in these last 12 months, this currently is themost obvious... and as I think about it now, it seems almost a culmination of many revelations. That slowly the individual blotches of truth i've come to envisage, as I step back from the canvas, reveal an even greater image... a blotch still indeed... but one I can't help but stare at.

It's almost as if the lord wanted me to hold stringent to my prior belief, so that I could experience what I have; living simply, and reaching out with hands eager to understand, to those who have been born into unfortunate situations...

So luke... continue seeking to understand and discover a tangible love for those who have been born with less. Full of grace and with humility, accept the gifts you've been blessed with, and allow that blessing to overflow to the world you've loved & grown conscience of. Earn as much as you can... really. Not in greed, but with the knowledge and excitement that a 10% raise or a christmas bonus may mean you can dig another well in africa... feed the orphanage for another 2 months (@ $200/week, not very hard), or maybe something as simple as a secret blessing for hard working couple in ministry.. who knows.. But challenge yourself luke to not see a large paycheck as an opportunity to get some new rims on your pimpin S4, but rather look at it as the currency of a christian hedonist... learn to see a dollar figure and think first of the exciting opportunity to help those who've been dealt a different hand. Seems like a fine investment to me, no? One that if we truly believe in this Jesus guy, will pay infinite dividends.

So while I'm certain my thoughts on this issue will significantly evolve, for now, at 2am, i'm encouraged (and falling asleep!!) Wow.. i'm tired. Goodnight.

luke