“Use money and love people. Don’t love money and use people.” Joseph Prince
I was watering the grass and noticed that there was a lease sign for one of the duplexes across the street. The previous occupants had lived there for almost 20 years, a nice lady who cared for her aging brother. She and I were cordial but I didn’t know she had moved. I was sure those duplexes were paid for years ago and wondered how much she was charging to lease the duplex, so I wrote the number down and called. Since the cost of everything else has skyrocketing making it impossible for people to rent and save, I wondered would THE LOVE OF MONEY cause her to charge an exorbitant rent. Or would she charge a fair price enabling her tenants to save for their future? As I began to ponder those thought, it led me to consider, how much money does one actually need? When is enough, enough? NO really, when? To me, if you have enough to pay your expenses, enough to have some fun now, and enough to save for a comfortable future and some fun then, what more do you need? So for this week’s blog, let’s talk SHIP about THE LOVE OF MONEY!!!
First let me say this, by NO means am I or my bank account flushed with cash. Nor do I own property but I do own an opinion. I am fortunate to live in a beautiful duplex, in a prime neighborhood, in a growing city, with a landlord, my sister, who graciously charges me below the fair market price rent. So I KNOW I am very blessed. And I know since I don’t have children, my perspective on savings and money understandable differs from those who do. My priorities are simple- to have enough for retirement and to live a comfortable life now and then. It’s important to me to be able to do and have what I need, to sometimes get what I want, to travel where I please, and to have a few dollars in the bank. That is my enough is enough point. What’s yours? Honestly, I don’t need a whole lot of excess stuff or money because it would only go to one of my many first cousin’s kids that never even call to see how I’m doing. LOL. Don’t get me wrong, I LIKE money, I DO!! I LIKE to spend it. I LIKE to give it away. I LIKE to gamble it, and I LIKE to save it….. but THE LOVE OF MONEY doesn’t drive me. It just doesn’t.
It’s not a motivating factor for me but, it is a motivating factor for many others. THE LOVE OF MONEY has caused people to only see profits NOT people. Just look at how businesses and people have acted during this pandemic, they have gouged prices for their goods and services. For instance, I think it bizarre that during a time when millions are out of work and are forced to stay at home, Discovery Plus, despite people struggling to feed themselves and their families launches a streaming service that charges us a monthly fee to watch shows that were once free. They could of launched this service for free, allowed us to get attached, and when the world opens up and the pandemic ends, then charged a fee. But NO. THE LOVE OF MONEY and profits was obviously their motivation. Unfortunately, we’ve become a world where profits instead of human kindness is the bottom line. And knowing that some property owners have also increased their rents, I was overjoyed when I called and learned that the duplex was reasonably and fairly priced for this up-and-coming area. The owner probably remembered the sacrifices and struggles she’d made to keep, and eventually own, a roof over her head which in turn motivated her to be a blessing to others. In a TAKE, TAKE world It is refreshing to know that NOT everyone is motivated by THE LOVE OF MONEY. Because, this woman put people’s needs before profits, and such a kind act, leads me to believe that she was operating within the BODY of Christ.
If these interesting and perilous times have taught us nothing, they have taught us that we NEED each other. As humans, we have a reliance on each other. We NEED each other’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and support. NO one makes it alone, everybody NEEDS someone’s assistance. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, it describes the Body of Christ when it tells us that “the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” (verse 12). “There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other.” (verse 25). HIS WORD tells us that we are interconnected and should care about others as we care about ourselves. We should always consider the NEEDS of others before we consider money and profits and the duplex owner did just that!! She knew that her place was paid for and all she needed to garner was enough to pay its expenses. She understood that individual successes are contingent upon the kind acts of others and realized that this kind act would probably change the trajectory of her future tenant’s life. This woman was motivated by human kindness NOT by THE LOVE OF MONEY.
The reality is we all need money because all of our needs in life require that we have money. Money is necessary but THE LOVE OF MONEY is NOT. Money is NOT evil, it is THE LOVE OF MONEY that is the root of all evil. History has shared lots of stories about how people ruined their lives and their relationSHIP with GOD because of their LOVE OF MONEY. THE LOVE OF MONEY is selfish. THE LOVE OF MONEY is temptation. THE LOVE OF MONEY will challenge your morality. THE LOVE OF MONEY is greed and will make you lose everything-family, jobs, relationSHIPS, etc. Truth is, not all of us will be UBER-wealthy, but much like this duplex owner, we can choose to focus on people, NOT profits. Because, if we lovingly sow seeds of kindness, we will ALWAYS be abundantly blessed. So, rather than having A LOVE OF MONEY, let’s switch it up, let’s USE MONEY TO LOVE and HELP PEOPLE and if we do, we will FOREVER receive the gifts from the SPIRIT that MONEY CAN’T BUY!!
You know I couldn’t end with out the O’Jays song For the love of money. Enjoy!!
SHIP TALK: Do you have a LOVE OF MONEY?
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