I Need Money

I suspect there are many people in this country, indeed even around the world, speaking or thinking those words this morning. Further unsaid, but assumed, is the word more. I need MORE money, for it is a virtual certainty that you have some money. I write these words today not that I, or you, might be entertained for a while, but that we might give thought to the meaning of these words for us – and/or give prayers to God that he might give us the Wisdom to understand our need – from his perspective. If you sincerely believe that you need more money, this is no trivial matter. Take some time to think about this; don’t assume that you’ve considered and analyzed all you need to. Not ALL, for certainly you can never consider and analyze and know ALL the mind of God. And that is what we are talking about today.

I need money. You could certainly ponder each word by itself, and its implications: I, vs my family or my community; Need, vs want, could use, will go to jail without, or will die without; Money, vs pity, understanding, or love. I think, however, often our real meaning in stating words or doing actions are the words unsaid, and in our hearts. The word “more” says lots about who we are, and what we assume.

I have a running challenge to a friend, who has often stated: “There are people starving in America.” I offered $10,000 if he could prove to me that a single person has starved to death in this country because he could not get food; show me the headline, show me the death certificate. He hasn’t gotten my check yet; he hasn’t even tried to back up his words. We live in a most unusual country in the world, in the history of the world. We live in a most blessed country. There is no one starving for lack or food, of medical attention, or even – if they but sought it – lack of love. Often when I hear the story of the city of Sodom and the angel who says he would spare the city if but 10 good men could be found, I wonder how many good men could be found in our country. But then I know, it is way more than 10. Sometimes that gives me Hope, for all of us. And these many good men are praying for us, are there for us and our needs. But what of the assumption that we need “more” money? What if it were really only an assumption, and that the assumption was wrong? Can you challenge yourself to get past your assumptions?

What if you prayed: “Oh God, I need more money” and you heard a loud voice of thunder respond most clearly: “No you don’t!” What would you “assume” then? I think, perhaps, then you would challenge your own assumption. This space and time is dedicated to St. Paul, the evangelist who spoke new words to many people. While it was a gift of the Holy Spirit which led to their conversations, St. Paul’s words provided a start for the process: he gave them new knowledge and made them think. They challenged all of their assumptions.

Think! I,need, MORE, money. What if God said: “No, you don’t!” Stop! Think! What if?

In being so bound up in our daily lives, we often just go marching along without much thought of our actions. God, the family, our job, our neighbor, we have knowledge about them and have filed the knowledge into neat slots, which help drive our actions. We don’t think about many things we do: we react using our prior knowledge of the people and events. Knowledge can be superseded by even greater knowledge, but Wisdom concerns itself with eternal Truth. We react using our prior knowledge; we need to react out of Wisdom. Wisdom is associated with things of God. Throughout our whole life, we need to pause and pray to God for Wisdom, that our knowledge might be expanded, and applied in ways according to his will. He made each of us, he made YOU. He made you uniquely, like no other. He made you with a purpose in his eternal mind; you fit as a special piece in his creation puzzle, and no other piece can fit there. Why did he create YOU? What did he create you to do? And where do some of those “basics” of our life, like money, fit in the purpose, YOUR purpose? Maslov said food, shelter, and clothing are at the top of man’s basic hierarchy of needs. And even though those things are virtually guaranteed for everyone in this country, we worry about them. But what we are really worrying about is: More.

Some of my friends take regular trips to various poor areas of South America. They are rightly concerned with helping the poor; this is a good thing we must all do. They try to spend some time living and sleeping with them, so they can really understand them, their NEEDS, and how they can help. Indeed, they feel they MUST help. I’m sure they have thought and prayed much about their work, and perhaps this is indeed the very purpose for which they were created. They’ve found their place in God’s puzzle, how wonderful for them. When you truly find God’s purpose for you, you will find peace, you will find Joy, even in the hardships of your life. Your crosses will just be obstacles to get around, so you can continue the journey laid out before you. Your purpose, your path. We can’t however, let the obstacles become so big in your mind that you think of eliminating THEM as being your purpose. Our Lord didn’t come to earth to give us example of how to eliminate the world’s financial poverty, for he affirmed: The poor will always be with us (Dt15:11; Mt26:11). So will the sinner. For some, it is the purpose of their lives to reduce the burden of the poor or to preach to the sinner, but it is not the central purpose for each of our lives. Our Lord gave us the example and Wisdom of how these things are to fit into our lives, just a new (and higher) priority of our basic needs to living life: Love your neighbor. But it’s just one of the priorities. My friends who visit the poor in South America sometimes comment that they are amazed how happy the poor are, despite their poverty. I’m not amazed. Perhaps these poor people have more wisdom than us. Perhaps they have even found their eternal purpose, and it has little to do with money. It may be a need, but “more” isn’t. Perhaps it isn’t in our lives also.

When I asked “What if God said you don’t need more money”, it was intended to make you pause and think. Look at the example I gave of the poor. Certainly they have much less than you, yet many, perhaps even most, don’t worry that they need more money. Perhaps because they know that opportunities are very limited to get more, so they worry about how to best use the money they have. And fitting it into their priorities of life, they find happiness and peace. Why can’t we?

What if you can’t have “more” money? What if even God himself told you so, if that’s what it takes to make you think about the matter, and not just “assume” (or even obsess) that must be so. What then? No one will starve in this country; no one will go without medical care; our basic needs can be met. There are more than 10 good people in this nation. So what if you can’t have “more” money, what is your problem then? What is your solution, you very wise man? What remains of your problem?

Ahhhhhh, I think we are getting there, aren’t we? It is YOUR problem. Your ego, your pride, your own perhaps over-inflated sense of self-worth. What are your options if indeed you must assume you will not get “more” – the options are out there, you are lying to yourself if you think there are none. How will you tell your family to get by without “more”? How will you tell your church? How will your co-workers perceive you living or dressing or projecting not having “more”? How embarrassing it will be to talk to the bank that you accept the position that, at least for now, you won’t have “more”. How much will all these things hurt your Pride? You thought you needed more, but perhaps you need to come to grips with what God thinks you need. And what might that be??

Well, a starting point to asking that question, and considering his answer might be in Matthew: Do Not Be Anxious. It’s a starting point, the starting point of this blog. Your assumed need for “more” money is just an obstacle in your path, my friends. I previously wrote before some thoughts on Asking and Giving, and I continually note that we must grow in holiness, in knowledge AND WISDOM, our whole life. My words here are certainly a poor place to find any wisdom, but perhaps they can provide some knowledge. Then it’s up to you to seek, to ask, to grow. Your entire life, to find where you fit into that puzzle. To find peace and joy. It’s there to be found, my friends.

Do not be anxious. Read Matthew’s thoughts, and Jesus’ words on the matter. He is giving you good advice; he is giving you eternal wisdom. He IS giving you “more”.

Lord, our very existence is a gift from you; to you we offer all that we have and are. -- from Morning Prayers, Liturgy of the Hours, Saturday Week II