Money, money, money...

Working as a waitress for two years created in me an odd fascination for handling cash. My alternative career, naturally, was to become a bank teller so I could "play" with cash all day long. Well, needless to say it is not as exciting as I had previously anticipated. The reason being, working at a bank involves lots of handing out of cash whereas as a waitress I was having cash handed to me. Cash I could walk out of work at the end of my shift with it in my pocket. That makes a big difference.

Although I am sure not everyone has quite as extreme a fascination with cash as myself, there is a societal obsession with having money in any shape. Even if you don't have money in the bank, it is socially acceptable to at least look like you have it. Expensive cars, designer clothes, fancy restaurants, and ritzy vacations are all things we are raised to fantasize about. Because these things become our objectives, money begins to be our focus because you must have one to get to the other.

So what is wrong with that?

According to Ecclesiastes, a lot!

Money....
- Is unsatisfying
- Brings troubles
- Is often enjoyed by individuals other than the guy who worked for it
- Is fleeting

So why are we so obsessed with it? In 1st Timothy, the love of money is called the root of all kinds of evil. Not all evil, mind you, just all kinds of it. In other words, don't hate it, just be careful with it.

As a business major I deal with profit vs. loss a lot. So much, I can understand how it can easily slip into an obsession among CEOs and business owners and financial agents. There is a lot to be said for bringing in a profit. It meas that during that financial period you were doing your job and doing it well. Keeping all of the moving parts of the company running smoothly and continuing to answer questions of "How can we do this better?" then finding the solution, implementing it and moving to the next problem.

What's my point?

Obviously money can be used for great good and having a lot of it does not make you evil. My point then, I suppose, is don't love money. Love the ends the money brings. This places all of the responsibility of avoiding the "evils of money" on your shoulders. You are the one who decides how to spend every penny that passes through your fingers or bank account. What are you using it for? Why do you love it? If the problem is the outcome (selfishness, neglected households, cheating on financial statements) be careful how much you blame the object you used to get there.