Sunday, February 12, 2012

Money$

I've been worried a lot about money lately. Not in paying bills or earning enough, but the concept of "getting rich". It bugs me and I'm still trying to figure out what my perspective should be with regard to it. It's like trying to line up your white ball with a color and a number on a pool table. You have to make sure your vision is in line with what you're aiming to achieve.

A notion was implanted in my head after my friend Ayu played an audio cd of a man named Zig Ziglar in my car. Ziggy is a well known public speaker and wealthy, successful salesperson. He's pretty on the ball with sharing good tips and advice about how to overcome self-doubt and succeed in life. Zig said that he meets people who tell him, "How can you call yourself a Christian and yet be rich or try to obtain money?" Zig says that he believes God made diamonds for His people, not Satan's.

It was a heavy statement. Evil people have gotten wealthy before and used their fortunes for wrong and immoral acts. And good people have also gotten rich and used their fortunes to embetter the world. I suppose if God had to choose who he would prefer to be rich it would be the Good because the good will do good regardless of how much money they have. Zig says money isn't evil and it isn't cold. But if money becomes your god, then you will lose in life and miss out on things that have true value.

It's a hard mental shift to say that it's ok to have a lot of money. The way I was raised, by my mom, rich people are stuck up, conceited, and spend money frivolously on things they don't need. I did not and do not want to be like that so I rejected the notion of "getting rich" and still have some mental prejudices towards it. But I've also met good people who have lots of money. And I've seen those who give back as much as they've received. So I guess what it comes down to is asking yourself: Are you a good person or are you a bad person? If you are good, why would you doubt that you would do good? Good people don't do bad things. They may make mistakes every once in a while, but they acknowledge those errors, feel guilty for them, and try to ensure they don't make them again. If you are a good person you should not doubt your actions. If your actions truly reflect ho you truly are and what you truly believe, then there is nothing to fear. "Getting rich" will only allow you to do more good, not suddenly turn you evil. Money is just a green light allowing you to Go. The more you can afford to do, the more good you have the capacity to do.

3 comments:

  1. God will make everyone rich in some way. This is not always financial riches. Some people need to recognize that God has made them rich in a way that is NOT money and use those riches and they will feel rich.

    Whatever the case, we are to use our riches towards the glory of God. If we don't, these riches will not make us happy, will likely be taken away, and send us to hell.

    You may be meant to be financially rich, Jessica, no matter how hard you try. So don't stress. Or you might be. Just try your best at what you do and things will be made clear. Accept where God will show you where He has made you rich.


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  2. "If we don't, these riches will not make us happy, will likely be taken away, and send us to hell."

    -That is so weird that you said that because earlier today a guy was saying that he knew a woman who became fairly well known for her animal depictions she would draw on beach wood and she even got her artowrk put on a u.s. letter stamp collection. Then she went blind and couldn't draw anymore. During her time of success she didn't do much except work for the money. It made me think that maybe she had lost her vision because she hadn't been using it for a higher purpose than just putting out art to make profit.

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  3. That's very hard to judge...something between her and God...but you might just be right.

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