Path of Grace

For the love of money…

I realistically, spiritually, emotionally and consciously understand that money is not the answer to my problems but could I possibly shut off the daily, weekly and monthly broken record in my head that asks “how am I going to make it work without money today, tomorrow, for the rest of the month… for the rest of my life?”

I look at both my parents (they’re divorced) struggling to make their day to day meet the bare minimum and I wonder if that will be me in two, three, four decades from now. Not only financially defeated but also unable to maintain lasting relationships that are not born out of familial duty, pity or someone’s misguided need to be a good Samaritan.

I don’t want to sound pessimistic but I do want to be honest and those are thoughts that cross my mind. In the same vein though, I have to honestly admit that the pitiful state of my –and my immediate family members’– finances and relationships isn’t something that I like to dwell on for very long.

Before now, I didn’t think about my finances or relationship woes. I worked, got money, paid my bills, got through the month and the cycle would start again. The cycle of my relationships is less eventful.

Now I want more. Now, I open my eyes and I want to be able to say that my goals are bigger than going through the motions. Not just for me but those around me and for most of humanity, because I do want everyone to succeed in life.

Many people like to bash what is referred to as “the prosperity gospel” for several reasons, many which I don’t understand. One example often given is that the early church Christians went through poverty and sacrifice and persecution. That to me sounds a lot like: if you’re not down in the pits with the pigs, then you’re not a real Christian.

It baffles me how much everything is made out to be about the material things of this world. You have too much, you don’t have enough. If you’re sick, your faith is weak. If you never get sick, you have an evil spirit. Do you own a house with a pool and several cars? You’ve sold your soul to the devil. You don’t have two pennies to rub together? Your whole genealogy has been cursed.

You cannot win.

It’s almost like people or maybe it’s a weird western mentality that has to keep you down in the dumps because otherwise you’ll be crucified, over and over again.

Jesus has already come to the world to save it on the cross. Why do we need to continue to crucify ourselves, each other and Him over and over again? What is it in our psychology that we cannot exhibit one ounce of hope or goodness or grace or prosperity without having the mob out to lynch everyone on sight?

Believe it or not, I set out to write a happy, “Financial freedom – I don’t want to have debts” kinda blog entry but then this happened.

I do apologise.

The question still remains: when did having a relationship with Jesus Christ get put at the same level of importance as what you did or didn’t do for your holiday? Have or didn’t have in your bank account?

If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it doesn’t mean you’re obligated to live an impoverished existence or to live in luxury. It just requires that you live. The stuff that you own or don’t own, doesn’t actually go to heaven with you when you die.

If the apostle Paul is to be believed, he suffered more than most of the other disciples – so they were living the high life compared to him. Mind you, he didn’t say that it was a competition, he just stated that everyone had their own race to run and their own testimony to give.

Jesus has already done all the hard work, all you need to do is meet him halfway and get off your damn pedestal.

So how about we enjoy what we have in front of us, grow in our relationship with Jesus and stop looking at our neighbour’s plate.

Judgement is best left in the hands of the only expert there is. God.