Money doesn't make you happy. Really? If someone you know handed you three crisp $100 bills, you wouldn't be happy? The number of lottery tickets sold would make me believe that someone thinks money could make them happy. Please don't quote Bible at me telling me that money is the root of all evil. It's actually "the love of" money that is that root. Tell me who thinks more about money, the man living pay check to pay check or the man who has plenty? The other Bible verse I hear is that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle....I'll get back to that one later.

Money is neither good or bad, it is just money. One man can do good, the other evil with the same dollar. If you have been one of those who have been out of work, I bet you would rather have it than not. If for some reason (God forbid) the main bread winner in your family had an injury or died, how long would you be able to go before money would make you happy. Our economy is not stable, what will you do if there is another "bump"? If the market drops again, who is going to take care of your parents when their retirement plans go spinning down the drain?

Yes, I know, God will provide. Have you ever thought that He is providing now ? He is giving you opportunities to lay the foundation for future challenges? As Americans, we often act like very spoiled children. We work for others, expecting them (or the government) to give us what we think is fair. We have gone from a country built on free enterprise and pulling your self up by your own boot straps to having jobs and demanding "benefits". As Americans, we want what we want when we want it, even if that means putting ourselves in so much debt that most will never dig out. Talk about un-Biblical! Look up the word debtor in the Bible and you will see that it is not a good thing. We have a status problem in our country that is destroying us from the inside. My favorite definition of status is buying things you can't afford to impress the people you don't even like.

Don't get me wrong, I like stuff, especially really nice expensive stuff. So my answer is to make lots and lots of money. First, we work hard to get out of debt and stay out of debt. We live below our means. And we work to help others to make dollars so that we can make pennies. The more people we help, the more pennies we get. Think of it as the 2% back that Costco gives the members who buy the right membership, but with no cap. It is our way of pursuing happiness.

Money. It can buy peace of mind. I would rather have it than not. It helps give a sense of security knowing that my life isn't run by my checkbook. It buys me time. If I can help someone by paying them to do the things I don't like doing, I have time to do the things that are important to me. What would you do if you had the hours you or your spouse spent at work back, with no money worries. My husband and I have the goal of helping our local hospital maintain its charity house that is connected to the NICU. We spent 99 days there after the birth of our twins and saw many families in crisis not just because of their baby, but also because of the money stress. We have many ministries that we would be able to support more. The money we sent to Haiti could have been significantly more if we had significantly more. We have a large family and I want to be able to give them opportunities. Exploring their potentials can be very expensive. I have extended family that I would love to be able to support, grandparents, uncles, cousins, brothers, parents, who's lives I could make a little easier if we had significantly more. And there is always me.^.^ If I had the time and money, I could take better care of myself and not put my needs on the back burner, like so many moms do. But as long as we trade hours for dollars, none of this will be really possible. There just aren't enough hours.

So back to the Bible verse that talks about the eye of the needle. Jesus reflects on how hard it often is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. The riches are a distraction and hard to share if one is too attached to them. The disciples' incredulity is that if even the rich cannot be saved, who can? But the verdict is that even the rich, not only the rich, will find it impossible to save themselves – but with God all things are possible. The man with only one shirt can be just attached to his things as the man with the Ferrari. Our family knows what it is like to be broke. I mean really, really broke not knowing where the next meal was coming from or how we were going to be able to make the rent. It is easy to be on your face in front of God during the tough times. I think it is harder to be there when all is good. But not impossible. As a family, we have chosen to always remember who it all comes from and to worship that source. God is our provider, through His Son we have salvation. He has given us talents and expects us to use them wisely. When we live a life pleasing to Him, all things are possible.

Money doesn't make you happy, this is true. It is neither good or bad. If you made a pile of all the troubles in your life and throw a pile of money at it, the things left would be easier to work at with the time that you would acquire from not worrying about money. Money doesn't make you happy, but blessing others with it and what it can do, does. Money doesn't make you happy, so make lots, don't be selfish and give away what you don't need to those who do need it. Money doesn't make you happy, so does being broke make you happy? My theory is if when I get significantly wealthier, and it makes me unhappy, I know how to become broke again.

Accept or reject. The greatest fear of man is the fear of change.