Weekly Thought – January 6, 2026
Fred taught frequently on money. He respected it, understanding its power for good and evil. Robert L. Deffinbaugh, chair of the BWF Project board, commented recently that the themes of money (greed and thievery) and lying are intertwined in gospel accounts. For example, Ananias, Sapphira and Judas. Fred’s wisdom on the subject brought many to his office for conversations.
Money Alert
Money has such a strange hold on us. I think it is might be helpful to tell this story as a warning: A young, successful man brought me his financial statement, showing assets comfortably in the multiple millions. He asked for my thinking on a deal which could easily increase his worth ten times. It was highly speculative – a sort of Russian roulette in the money game.
I asked what he and his family could do with ten times the wealth that they couldn’t already do with the millions they already possessed. I was trying to smoke out his ego without hurting his feelings. I wasn’t going to make his decision for him. And I wasn’t dismissing his opportunity to become enormously rich.
However, I felt a responsibility to him so I shared with him a rule which has guided my thinking, especially when the children were young. “I have no need to be extremely rich, but I have a great need not to be broke.” I didn’t speculate on deals that would materially alter our family’s lifestyle. I never felt I was justified in gambling my family’s future just to amass great wealth.
It might be nice to be envied by the business community or at the club. But it’s just too dangerous for the family.
He understood my point and pointedly disagreed. He went ahead, lost everything, and fell into a tragic bankruptcy. I felt more for his family than for him. He was a gambler, but his family wasn’t.
I am always curious when I see someone obviously living to make money. I suspect they may have figured out a way go through life twice – the first time making money and the second enjoying it. I’m not this smart, so I figure I will make it and utilize it once.
This week think about: 1) How much is enough? 2) What would change if I were worth 10x more? 3) When am I tempted by greed or lying because of money?
Words of Wisdom: “I have no need to be extremely rich, but I have a great need not to be broke.”
Wisdom from the Word: “For wisdom provides[a] protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12 NET Bible)