Oh boy – here he goes again on a rant about how we love money way too much.
Doesn’t this guy write about anything relevant?
Just hear me out a second.
You and I both know that if we were painfully honest with each other, we’d have to admit that there is a sense in all of us that we love money. We do! We love it.
My guess is that there are probably three groups of people reading this post right now – maybe four:
The Groups
Now, the first group will say – “Of course I love money – who cares!” The ol’ Gordon Gecko “Greed is Good” mentality right?
The second group will sorrowfully admit that they know they love money way too much, but they’re striving to let go of the earthly treasure and view Christ as a greater one!
The third group will say outwardly, “Of course not! I do NOT love money – how dare you.” But deep down in their heart they crave the latest and greatest, they strive for the next promotion as if it will solve their problems and functionally they view money as their savior!
The fourth group, if they exist, have it all figured out – they are living fully and completely for God and really don’t care about money at all. But, I doubt there are many of us in this last group.
Now which group is on the most destructive path? Well, one could argue that it’s the first group, but I don’t really think so – they just simply don’t care. At least we know where they stand.
The second group knows there are issues and they want to work on it. The fourth group is few and far between – so that leaves us with the third group – the ones that outwardly have it all figured out, but inwardly are greedy idolaters!
My guess is that every single person who just read that last sentence said to themselves, “I’m glad that’s not me – those poor souls who don’t even realize they’re greedy – what a shame” – or something along those lines.
Pay Close Attention
I need you to read closely a second here – what if – and I’m just throwing this out there – but what if you are in the third group!?
How would you even know? What are some of the symptoms, the warning signs? What red flags should you be looking for to know if you have made money an idol in your own heart?
The Litmus Test
I just finished reading the book Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York. The book has been very challenging to me in the way I view money and possessions.
He offers four ways to identify idols in our own hearts, and I’d like to paraphrase his tests and adapt them to talk about one specific idol – namely money.
Your Imagination
Archbishop William Temple once said, “Your religion is what you do with your solitude”. What he meant by that is what does your heart run to when it has a spare moment to think privately?
In other words, if you were to stop yourself in a daydream mode – what would we find out about you? Are you thinking about making more money, buying more stuff, building a bigger house, getting rich quickly or any other money-grubbing thing?
Where does your imagination lead you when you are privately in thought?
Your Checkbook
Author and finance teacher Ron Blue says,
A life story could be written from a checkbook. It reflects your goals, priorities, convictions, relationships, and even the use of your time. A person who has been a Christian for even a short while can fake prayer, Bible study, evangelism, going to church, and so on, but he can’t fake what his checkbook reveals.”
Want to tell if money has become your idol? Take a look at your spending habits. You will effortlessly spend money on your idol.
If God is your heart’s greatest treasure, you will radically give generous amounts of money to ministries, charities and to those in need rather than hoarding it for yourself.
As Keller says, “Most of us, however, tend to overspend on clothing, or on our children, or on status symbols such as homes and cars. Our patterns of spending reveal our idols.”
Your Functional Savior
I just recently did a post asking if money is your functional savior. I encourage you to check out that post. But, these folks view money or what it brings as what will save them from their misery and bring them ultimate joy! What is it that you are viewing as bringing you the ultimate happiness and joy?
Your Emotions
Anger, bitterness, fear, doubt, despair, guilt – are just a few emotions that we can rattle off here. Emotions aren’t wrong – they are good – in fact they help us express what we are feeling.
Have you ever thought about the emotions you have surrounding your money? Keller says that our most uncontrollable emotions reveal what kind of idols we have.
If you’re angry, ask yourself, “Is there something here too important to me that I must have at all costs?”
If you are fearful or despairing, ask yourself, “Am I scared because something I view as so important is being threatened that I think is a necessity when it is not?”
Ask, “Is this thing (promotion, money etc) so important to me that I must have it to feel fulfilled?”
Keller says,
When you ask questions like that, when you “pull your emotions up by the roots as it were, you will often find your idols clinging to them.
Making Progress
So hopefully we’re making progress here. I’ve seen how money is an idol in my own heart and I know I need help. Tomorrow we’ll talk about How to Replace Money as an Idol. But for now, let me leave you with a few closing questions:
- Has money become your heart’s functional trust, preoccupation, loyalty, fear and delight?
- Do you think having more money will make you happy?
- Do you think having more money will make you an acceptable person?
- Do you look to money to define you or make you powerful or successful?
Share Your Thoughts
I know there’s a lot to chew on this post, but let me know in the comments below:
- Do you agree or disagree with the litmus test?
- Which litmust test resonates most with you?
I agree with your analogy, and without much thought I can declare with certainty that I’m in the 3rd group.
Even if your the most devote believer, the fact is we live in a world where money is the central metric by which all other things are measured, valued and acquired. Unless we were to sequester oursevles in a monastary where we could swear off worldy possessions, we’re going to be caught up in this to one degree or another.
It doesn’t mean we’ve fallen out of faith, only that we were, are and will be sinners as long as we’re living and breathing in this world.
Humbling, but I think it’s supposed to be.
.-= Kevin@OutOfYourRut´s last blog ..Save for Retirement Now or Payoff Your Mortgage First? =-.
The first and fourth group appear to have leaped off the fence in one direction or the other. At least they are not lukewarm, waiting for another day to declare which direction they will go. That second and third group (which I am trying to get out of) is I am afraid where most of us fall.
Thanks for the article, very well written. I just wrote a similar article titled “Who do you Pay First” that I would enjoyfeedback on.
http://www.bibledebt.com/2010/03/16/who-do-you-pay-first/
Great test. Really gets me thinking! I especially like the part that your checkbook reveals the truth of where your heart is. That gives me a great boost toward looking objectively at myself and my own views of money. Like you said, it’s all too easy to say I’m glad I’m not in the 3rd group, but really I am! Jay Peroni has a great chapter in his book Faith Based Millionaire about giving. In it he points out that the only antidote to materialism is giving.
For me personally learning to view ALL of my posessions as God’s and myself merely as a steward helps me keep a lot of things in perspective. There’s no need to feel selfish or prideful because it’s really not mine. I’m working on it anyway!
Thanks for sharing the test! I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s post.
.-= Deacon Bradley´s last blog ..My Digital Envelope System =-.
Great post! I think it’s pretty safe to say I fall somewhere in between that 2nd and 3rd group. Sometimes I know I’m way too materialistic, and covetous – and that I need to change. Other times I get way to dependent on my own strengths, and not as reliant on my savior. I pray that I can get better about relying solely on Christ – and not on material things and wealth – and as others have said – I’ve found giving to others to be a great help in realizing that everything belongs to God anyway, and I might as well just pass it on!
.-= Bible Money Matters´s last blog ..3 Things To Remember About Roth IRAs =-.
Jason,
To say I liked this post would be like saying I like pain…and it is always painful to look objectively at just how much I idolize money. I can say that I appreciate the post.
Thanks for challenging me.
.-= Joe Plemon´s last blog ..Reverse Mortgages Part Four: Should You Get One? =-.
Kevin – thanks for the reply. I don’t think sequestering ourselves in a monastery would help much to be honest – those seeds of greed and idolatry are sown deep within our hearts and simply hiding from the outside things that bubble those desires out of our hearts won’t get rid of the desires themselves. I think the more important thing is that we recognize those things and then lay those at Christ’s feet and remember He is the greater treasure!
Bible Debt – thanks for weighing in. I agree, group 1 has at least put their stake in the ground – we know where they stand. Three is the dangerous group for sure. Again, recognizing that we’re in that group and humbly admitting that to God is key.
Deacon – Jay makes a really great point about combatting materialism. Living with open hands is difficult, but when we remember the generosity of Christ and the riches of heaven he gave up so that through his life, death, sacrifice and ressurection we could have all the riches of heaven – now that should motivate us to live with open hands and open hearts!
BMM – I agree with you, I think I waver between 2 and 3 a lot. Sometimes I recognize my issues, but then other times I don’t. Self reliance is a big issue a lot of us have. We end up pushing God out of the spectrum because we handle it all on our own. Giving, contentment, having a generous heart, and living simply our great ways to fight this battle!
Joe – Ha, ha! I’ll take that as a compliment I guess!
Thought provoking, Jason. The imagination test is quite frightening. I know my thoughts are not where they should be all the time. I have this priorty list in my mind all the time: God, family, etc. But what happens is I find many other things jumping ahead of the most important ones. And certainly, pursuit of more whether that be money, material, etc. is often there. Only strengthening my dependency on Christ will keep me in order!
Thanks J – I agree. I was convicted as well on the imagination test. I find myself daydreaming about so many material things its scary. The great thing is that once you are self-aware, you now have a chance of “catching yourself” and redirecting those thoughts back to Him!
Hi , someone can e-mail me and give their opinion on this. I am 62 yrs. old and never came across a person of this type when it comes to money. Instead of spending her own money , she always tries to spend other people’s money for her needs. She has come to me a many times until I could see what she was doing. We are still friends but I know now how to deal with it. She lives in my building. We are a group of woman who walk, talk, exercice together. When we can. Anyway, has anyone other than me ever met anyone like that, who wants everthing free if she can get it. Example, she was at my apt. this one time, we are talking, then she says, would you have some javex, or can I use your computer etc… One time she came to a lunch at one of the other lady’s house and she brings a bag of cookies from the dollar store. She will never do volunteer work, because it doesn’t pay. She does nothing for nothing, never. It’s thee first I meet someone like that. I am generous she is opposite. Anyway I now can deal with her. I wonder what happens to a person like that. She told me for her money is power, so she loves to put money in the bank. Once she ask me , do you have any earth for my plant I don’t want to go buy a bag , I only have one plant. I said no. what she did , she went and ask her neighbor for some earth, she knew her a bit. Her neighbor gave her a big bag and she ask me if I needed any. She does this all the time. Now I think people have gotten to know her. She has a beautiful smiling personnality with everyone. If anyone has come across this type of person , I would like to know because this is the first time I do. Thank you Joan