First Discourse in Matthew: Two Masters
“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. ~ Matthew 6:24
Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire. ~ Thomas Merton
Money is a good servant, but a bad master. ~ attributed to both Francis Bacon and Alexander Dumas
When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. There were times I could tell my mother was worried that we might not be able to make the next mortgage payment.
But that wasn't my worry. Instead, as an adolescent I saw this as simply ways in which I didn't get to be like my friends: have trendy clothes; get cars for their birthday when they turned 16; get to go to the school ski trip or other fun events sponsored by the school; know that college would be paid for.
As a 16 year old, I was pretty resentful about that.
And when I finally made some money of my own, at first I went a little crazy with it and had to climb out of some debt.
It really was as if I were a slave to it as my life centered on its value and how to get enough of it.
For the early part of my life, money was a thing to be desired for. It was something to attain that would bring me security and happiness. I worked hard to get it, not wanting to find myself in the same straits as when I was a kid.
It was something that made me forget about other somethings.
As a kid, when I got caught up in money, I could forget about the friendships that made cars and trips irrelevant, or about the boyfriend who showed me that trendy clothes were unimportant. I too often forgot about the parents who made sure I was cared for (and could get places I needed to without a car of my own).
I was fortunate that I had reminders in my life. People and also a very special place.
I had a church family that loved me as much as my own and a God that loved me no matter what I looked like or what I had.
And as I got older, that God showed me that money wasn't something meant to guide me, but something I could use in ways that were needed and useful and helpful.
And that I was defined not by how much money I had, but instead by that God who loved me regardless.
I have to admit that even now, when I have enough, I catch myself sometimes letting anxiety rear its head with worry that it could all go away at the drop of a hat.
I suspect I'm not alone there.
Jesus knew these tendencies of ours. He knew about the reaching we do for a security that can be bought rather than blessed.
Can we know this as well, down to the very center of our being?
Meditation: Reflect on the ways in which money or wealth has been central to your life, either through the lack of it or the excess amount of it.
Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire. ~ Thomas Merton
Money is a good servant, but a bad master. ~ attributed to both Francis Bacon and Alexander Dumas
When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. There were times I could tell my mother was worried that we might not be able to make the next mortgage payment.
But that wasn't my worry. Instead, as an adolescent I saw this as simply ways in which I didn't get to be like my friends: have trendy clothes; get cars for their birthday when they turned 16; get to go to the school ski trip or other fun events sponsored by the school; know that college would be paid for.
As a 16 year old, I was pretty resentful about that.
And when I finally made some money of my own, at first I went a little crazy with it and had to climb out of some debt.
It really was as if I were a slave to it as my life centered on its value and how to get enough of it.
For the early part of my life, money was a thing to be desired for. It was something to attain that would bring me security and happiness. I worked hard to get it, not wanting to find myself in the same straits as when I was a kid.
It was something that made me forget about other somethings.
As a kid, when I got caught up in money, I could forget about the friendships that made cars and trips irrelevant, or about the boyfriend who showed me that trendy clothes were unimportant. I too often forgot about the parents who made sure I was cared for (and could get places I needed to without a car of my own).
I was fortunate that I had reminders in my life. People and also a very special place.
I had a church family that loved me as much as my own and a God that loved me no matter what I looked like or what I had.
And as I got older, that God showed me that money wasn't something meant to guide me, but something I could use in ways that were needed and useful and helpful.
And that I was defined not by how much money I had, but instead by that God who loved me regardless.
I have to admit that even now, when I have enough, I catch myself sometimes letting anxiety rear its head with worry that it could all go away at the drop of a hat.
I suspect I'm not alone there.
Jesus knew these tendencies of ours. He knew about the reaching we do for a security that can be bought rather than blessed.
Can we know this as well, down to the very center of our being?
Meditation: Reflect on the ways in which money or wealth has been central to your life, either through the lack of it or the excess amount of it.