When you read the word "money" what comes to mind?  Maybe it's power or a specific number or "stuff".  Maybe you don't especially like the word.  Perhaps for you it reminds you that you often "go without".  Maybe you're one who thinks very little of money.  Maybe you think far too highly of money.  Whoever you are and from whatever background you come, I pray this series will teach us something.

Most certainly you've figured out that my next "In Relation to" study is to be on the subject of "the almighty dollar".  It is my prayer that through this study we'll discover a bit about God, money, ourselves and how all three relate to one another.

"They who are of the opinion that Money will do everything, may very well be suspected to do everything for Money."  ~ George Savile, Complete Works, 1912

 As I often like to do, we will begin by defining the term:

Main Entry: ¹mon·ey
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural moneys or mon·ies

1 : something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment: as a : officially coined or stamped metal currency
2 a : wealth reckoned in terms of money b : an amount of money c plural : sums of money : FUNDS
3 : a form or denomination of coin or paper money
4 a : the first, second, and third place winners (as in a horse or dog race)

As you can see, for the most part, money is an inanimate object.  Of course, as we all know, it can seem like a living breathing demon at times.  First Timothy 6:10 tells us, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  This doesn't mean that money (or having it) is bad.  Money, like anything else, has it's place in our lives.  In today's society you could not physically survive without some sort of income.  You don't often hear of people trading chickens for potatoes and such anymore.  Food, shelter, clothing - they require money. 

Since it isn't realistic that most of us could do without it altogether, having a healthy perspective is a must.  If we do not manage our money, it will manage us.  That shift is far from ideal of course.  Of course, Satan would like to manipulate us and he'd just as soon do it with money than anything else.  Most people have a weakness in this area which is probably why God speaks of money so often in the Bible (The King James Version mentions money 140 times, silver 320 times and gold 417 times).  He knew we'd have a problem with our "stuff".  Of course, the start of a healthy perspective is in the realization that our stuff is not our stuff at all.  If we first acknowledge that everything we have comes from God, we are off to a wonderful start. 

God has placed us in charge of some things.  Your "stuff" may be more than my "stuff" but to each He has given what He sees fit.  We cannot compare to one another.  What we can do is the very best we can with what He's given us to manage.  We begin by "Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness".  Our pastor says that we have to first get under God's authority before He can place us over the stuff he wishes to place us over.  He calls it being "under God's umbrella" and asks "Are you an umbrella fella or parasol princess?"  I don't know about you but no matter the amount of money I've had, if I was out of God's will, I was miserable.  The problem with taking our eyes off of God and putting them on our stuff is that we will always be disappointed.  Once our focus shifts away from God, it becomes a comparison game and when that happens, we are quickly dissatisfied.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. Words & Music: Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

 
My Personal History
When I think back to my husband and I and our very humble beginnings (military doesn't pay much), I marvel at how far we've come.  Neither of us were taught much about money management.  All I knew was that you should tithe (which we will talk about later) and that credit cards were bad, very bad.  As a child (believing that my parents scrimped by) I horded every penny I got.  I was constantly looking for ways to make more money and you better believe I never passed up a stray penny found.  "A penny saved is a penny earned," I'd quote dutifully.  When I was about 12, my parents decided to give us a lesson in budgeting.  They assigned us chores and then paid my sisters and I $50 each a month to purchase anything and everything we needed except for food.  This included school supplies, personal toiletries, and other things one might need throughout the month.  Then, once a month my mom would take us to a local discount store where we would stock up.  I used half the money and purchased as much as I could of everything I needed (hairspray, notebook paper, pens, pencils, shampoo...etc).  The other half I saved in my top drawer.  While I bought far more than I needed for the month, my sisters bought far less and then purchased candy and toys as well.  I did not waste my money on such things at that time.  About half-way through the month they began to run out of supplies and came running to me to help them out.  I'd love to say that I gave freely of my surplus but their lack of planning annoyed me and I took advantage of it.  I set up a store in my closet and doubled the cost.  They paid it of course (out of their next month's "pay") because they didn't want mom to know they'd failed to plan appropriately.  It didn't take long before I'd recovered the amount I spent and found myself with the full month's $50 back in my drawer.  After a couple of months, my sisters began to groan about it.  Oddly they still did what they'd done before, expecting that I'd have the supplies when they needed them, they would buy them on "credit" and then turn over to me a good portion of their money the next month.  The prices were outrageous and they eventually told my mother (who wasn't pleased).  Mom closed my store and the next month when they were bumming supplies off me again (this time I was forced to give them away) she stopped the program altogether.

Yes, I had money issues wouldn't you say (of course, my sisters apparently did too).  I was the Monopoly and Hotels (which I begged for Christmas one year) queen at our house.  I was ruthless and calculated and even when ganging up on me, they couldn't win.  My mother would joke that I had birthday money in a sock in my drawer from preschool.  It was true, I saved and horded and was a greedy little tyrant.  I didn't want to be without money.  I had an eye for nice things and I'd save till I could buy them.  Money was a definite motivator for me.  I started working as soon as I could so I could buy my first car.  While other teens were going to football games, pep rally's, dating and hanging out with friends, I was chasing after the moolah.  I did purchase nice gifts for my family because I liked to see the look on their faces.  I secured a nice paying job at an insurance company while in High School and remember vividly asking my boss what I'd have to do to get her job (what a pompous little twit right?).  Oddly she wasn't intimidated but liked my drive and encouraged me.  Once I started college (while still working full-time) I became quite discouraged by "all work and no play".  Being taught that "owing money" was bad, I refused to take out the student loans I'd need to go where I wanted to go.  So, I joined the military.  It may have seemed like an impulse decision and in some ways I suppose it was.  I did pray over it heavily and longed to be out on my own.  I took a pay-cut when I joined the Air Force but the adventure of it all far outweighed the lack in funds. 

It was here that I met my wonderful husband (which is a story for another day).  Erik came from a very financially tight background as well and while telling his story would explain a great deal, it is not my story to share.  Just know that neither of us were taught how to properly handle money.  We began with good intentions but soon fell prey to what so many couples do - debt.  For the first time in my life I loathed money.  It sickened me but yet I kept wanting more.  And it is here that we begin to deal with some of the things I've learned along this ongoing journey.

No doubt many of you have heard of the 10/10/80 rule for managing money.  If you haven't, you'll be hearing plenty about it right here.  I was only taught the first "10" and Erik wasn't taught any of it.  We are about to dive into the 10/10/80 in the coming weeks.   This series is planned to be three parts (not including this intro) but we'll just see where God takes it.   I will continue to share some of my personal story in the hopes that someone can relate.  In the meantime, I'd encourage you to write out your own financial history.  How does money make you feel?  What is your current perspective on it?  Do a bit of soul searching and see where God leads you.  I hope you'll join me next time when we ask the question:

"Why should I give it away?"