Black Friday

Well, I trust that everyone survived the feeding frenzy known as Thanksgiving dinner.  I did, although I indulged so much that I almost foundered.  What I found interesting during the dining and the immediate aftermath was the conversation between my children, grandchildren and guests about all of the bargains available to be purchased during “Black Friday, Small business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.”  Some couldn’t wait to get to the various stores and part with their money.

If there is anyone not familiar with those sales events, let me just define them for you as being promotions designed to separate people from their money.  Super sales events to entice people to buy stuff they don’t really need but, are such bargains that one would be foolish to pass them up.  And, according to news releases, customers fighting over sale items and causing mini riots at some venues, I think “foolish” is the operative word here.

Anyway, the thought of these sale events and their reason for being (the separation of people from their money) has inspired me to talk a few moments today about that most sought after commodity - money.

Now I realize that the discussion of money and church is somewhat of a taboo subject.  And, I know that it’s a subject that preachers are reluctant to preach on very often because people just don’t like talking about money.  It’s sort of like a couple of other subjects people don’t like discussing - “taxes” and “death.”  But, not being a preacher, I’m just going to jump right out there and mention a few things about money.

I once overheard two men having a conversation in the adjoining booth of a restaurant with their conversation centered on “going to church.”  One of the men was complaining that it seemed like every time he went to church, the preacher was talking about “giving.”  Of course, this “giving” related to money.

Now I’ll grant you that this sort of “giving” is heard during just about every broadcast by radio and televangelists.  What with the cost of air times, wardrobes and lavish lifestyles, a continual supply of money is needed by these “preachers.”

But, in regards to our church pulpit preachers, it’s my observation that they avoid the subject of money as much as possible.  So, when I overheard the man say that “every time” he attended church they were asking for money, my first thought was that he must not attend very often. 

It’s another opinion of mine that “money” is an oft-maligned subject.  And I think that’s because it’s not viewed correctly or, maybe better said, its priority in our lives is misplaced so I’d like to consider some things about it’s priority today.

Sure, we have to have it.  It’s a necessary commodity in our earthly existence.  But like all commodities, the gaining and use of it has to be controlled, so therefore, we need to control it rather than it controlling us.  The misplacing of its priority in our temporal lives puts our spiritual lives in danger. 

That danger is brought out by Paul in his first letter to Timothy.  In chapter 6, verse 10 he writes: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”  There are two operative words seen in that verse - “love” and “root.”

“Love,” as used there, means the desire to have which equals “covetousness”  and “Root” equals “the source” of “all kinds of evil.”  One of which is mentioned in that verse as “erring (neglecting) the faith” which then opens the door to other sins and in so doing, “pierces themselves with many sorrows.”  IE: brings injuries to their soul.

That should be first and foremost in our hearts & minds when we consider money.  When we consider what priority it occupies in our lives.   And, in thinking about money being a commodity, as something useful, reminds me of something once said by, of all people, Elvis Presley.  He said: “Sharing money is what gives it it’s value.”

In other words, to be of value to us, it has to be used and here’s a thought; what better way could it be used than by using it to spread the Gospel?    For example,  not many of us can be missionaries.  Can afford to go into foreign lands and teach God’s Word to the lost.  But, in a sense we can do that when we contribute to those who are doing missionary work.  A part of us is going to a mission field.

Now, back to the idea of priorities for a moment.  As Paul shows us in 2Cor. 8:5, we need to first give ourselves to the Lord, then all other aspects of “giving” will follow.  Our first priority is to “love God” and by doing that we can love others.  I encourage you to read the 4th chapter of 1John in relation to what I just said.  Our “giving” follows the same principle.

I guess that what I’m getting at here is that, “sharing” our money is “sharing” our love.  Yes, money is good for many things.  It, in and of itself, is not evil.  But, as already mentioned, the “inordinate desire” for it can certainly bring on evil.

--Ron Covey