While there are a variety of ways to respond to the issue of money, I would like to take this opportunity to share a small part of my testimony in light of this topic.
Not so many years ago, I was in a position of some considerable wealth. I lived in an executive style house, in the country, on an acre of land. This house boasted of four bathrooms, and a main floor family room with a floor to ceiling bricked fireplace. The eat-in kitchen was complete with a large bay window that overlooked the backyard and then the bush. The substantially sized foyer, formal living, and separate dining room, along with main floor laundry and powder room, completed the main floor of the house.
Upstairs were three bedrooms, a main four piece bathroom, and a semi finished games room. The master bedroom was enormous and boasted a huge bath area complete with two walk-in closets, oversized shower, two seater eight jet whirlpool, and separate toilet room.
If you are wondering where that fourth bathroom was….it was in the recreation room in the basement.
Our property was extensively landscaped. I found myself forever adding flower beds, shrubs, and trees to the property. There never seemed to be enough.
At one point, I asked myself ‘why’? While I enjoyed the beauty, I was tiring of the extra work. It made no sense as to why I continued to add to what was already on my plate.
Money seemed to be no object, so to continue to purchase plants and garden furniture should have been a joy.
We even redecorated the house. Our living room was stunning with its wallpaper wainscoting and wood trim. We had wood blinds custom made which completed the look!
Yes, we had it all…..and……I was miserable.
That’s all I can offer. I had money, and things were no different than they had been before I had money…with the exception of course that I could go on spending binges. But, those spending binges brought mere temporary happiness.
And when I say temporary….I mean temporary. Often, once a purchase had been made, I was already on to the next plan. ‘What to buy next?’
At the end of the day, I found myself still wanting. Every day I found myself wanting, with no end in sight.
There was an emptiness inside me that was not being filled. Furthermore, this emptiness would never be filled by anything money could buy, because money had no place here.
My soul longed for much more.
Some things are priceless; invaluable. You can’t put a price on them.
And that is where my answer…and yours…lives.
The many ‘things’ and all the ‘stuff’ we place such a high value on only disappoint at the end of the day. Without Jesus, we are poor no matter how much money we have.
It was around that time in my life I came to know and love Jesus. My emptiness began to be filled. It all started to make sense.
Then I began spending my money in Christian book stores and the like. LOL
…Yes, it is a process, isn’t it?
Now, I am content in Christ.
Don’t misunderstand me, I still spend money. Now, however, it is no longer my master, it does not control my days, it is merely there to cover the needs and some of the wants. And it helps to grow God’s kingdom.
Each Sunday and through various donations…it helps.
I am so grateful that money has found its rightful place in my heart. My prayer is that it finds that place for us all.
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