Meandering Thoughts on Money

Firstly let me say that I will raise more questions than provide answers. But I have been thinking about money, stewardship, expectations, generosity, spending, saving, giving, earning etc. I want to know what God wants from me and what my response should be towards the money I have, and my opinions of others and their money. I’d love your comments on this topic.

But let me tell you a story. I have spent the last four days in Ireland. We spent a lot of money, eating out each night, travelling around etc. In our travels we talked about money and I mentioned that I was thinking of writing something about the subject. The next morning I read from 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “Serving God makes us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.”

I shared what I read with the others. Later that day, jumping out of a car in a hurry I managed to lose my wallet. It was about 30 minutes before I discovered this and another 30 before I could check the car. Then it was a race to cancel all my cards and file a lost wallet report with the police. Later, walking to down-town Dublin, I passed another police station and thought I’d go in and ask. Someone had handed it in!! But with all the money gone!

I felt God challenging me, “Are you satisfied with what you have?”. I wanted to say yes, but I felt the loss of the money. Later that day as we watched the rugby match, Ireland vs. England, God spoke to me again. I watched as 7 yr old Daniel Moloney walked out onto the ground with Brian O’Driscoll. He has cystic hygroma; but the smile on Daniel’s face as he walked out before 82 000 fans for an epic encounter at Croke Park set me wondering. Here I am feeling sorry over some lost dollars. This morning I read that I am rich if I am satisfied with what I have. Daniel’s condition gives him a very distracting disfigurement to his face. I thought, probably all the money in the world will not change his condition – yet he seems happy and satisfied. Jono, your focus must be upon the wonderful life you have in God – not money – or the loss of a few dollars.

But some of my questions about money remain.

What makes someone extravagant? Should I feel guilty if I spend a lot of money on food, or travel or a holiday? What is a lot of money in this case? Should someone who receives money from others spend less?

And what about comparisons? I tend to compare myself to others who spend more than me and say I’m being a good steward. Or what if, for instance, one person keeps eating out to less than $10 but does it often, while another will eat $30 meals but less often.

Should I be investing money to provide for the future even if that money was given to me? If I give money to someone should I trust that God wanted me to give it to them or do I monitor how they use it?

I realise that we answer these questions easily according to our situation, our experience and our comparisons to others. But what does God want of me?

Although I don’t understand much, I understand this:

• All the money of every Christian belongs to God.
• All Christians should wisely use all of their belongings as they believe God leads them.
• No one should judge or compare themselves with others.

Let me know your thoughts on money and what God says to you.