MONEY

Definition:

Money is a medium that can be exchanged for goods and services and is used as a measure of their values on the market, including among its forms a commodity such as gold, an officially issued coin or note, or a deposit in a checking account or other readily liquefiable account.

Brief Explanation:

In Western culture, it is rarely the lack of money that is the pervasive problem, but the poor stewardship of the money God provides is the problem. The usage of money often defines the priorities of a person’s life and where a person spends his or her money defines the condition of the heart. Thus, money is an issue. It often comes up in counseling, as people are looking for a “bargain price” for the help they need. The laborer is worth of hire, and if you have put several years of time and energy, let alone your money into preparing to help people in counseling, you should expect to be paid for your services. Free is just what it is worth; nothing. So, do put a value on your time and expertise, and be aware of how a person spends and manages money…it is often a window to the soul you are trying to help. (For more on this topic, see DeKoven and Wyns, Living Fruitfully, and Dick Edic’s Resourcing the Vision: Comprehensive Guide to Stewardship.)

The Word of God:

Ecclesiastes 5:10

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 10:19

“Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.”

1 Timothy 6:10

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.”

Psalm 37:16

“Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.”

Luke 16:10,11

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?”

Philippians 4:19

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”