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money distortion, part one

This past weekend I spoke at Mountainview about how we develop distorted views of money and wealth.  To return to a healthy, Christ-centered perspective on money we have to break three common connections.  I’ll be sharing them here on the blog.

1.  Break the connection between money and security.

We have this idea that we’ll be secure when we reach a certain income level or savings amount.  We talk about “financial independence” and think that reaching a certain dollar amount is the key to stability and safety.  Unfortunately, the target we have in mind never stays static because the cost of living goes up, newer and bigger toys are invented.

The irony is this: Thinking we need more stuff to be secure makes God unnecessary.

The truth is: Wealth is fleeting and God is not.  King Solomon once wrote these words: “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:5).  Or, as I joked this weekend, they grow up and go off to college.

Solomon’s advice is needed.  How much time do we spend “starting” at our riches, thinking that money is the key to our security?  The last several years watching the housing and stock markets should have taught us one thing: the economy gives and it takes away.

Imagine praying a prayer like this one:

“Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD ?’   Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:7-9).

Solomon is asking for security — security as defined by God … enough to meet your daily needs.  As a child of God, our Father will provide the security you need.  He’s trustworthy and not susceptible to shifts in the market!

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