Weekly Thought – July 29, 2025
Fred understood the stewardship of everything he had… everything! He and Mary Alice taught their children the responsibility – and the joy – of giving. They also encouraged them to understand how God designed them and how to best use those gifts to His glory.
Fiscal Fidelity
The truth about money has been known for a long time. Aristotle called money “barren.” Not because it doesn’t bring benefits, but because the emotions it evokes are among the lowest on his the ancient philosopher’s hierarchy of values. The feelings invoked by money just don’t compare with the nobler emotions of love, patriotism, and religion. The men and women whose greatest emotional energy is reserved for money knows nothing of the higher emotional life.
Money can bring fun – even happiness – but not ultimate joy if it is only money for money’s sake. After all, it has no intrinsic ability to elevate the intellect or spirit. In fact, the pure, exclusive love of gold often blocks the love for all else that is higher and nobler. How pitiful the struggle for wealth becomes when compared to the struggle for freedom, the search for truth, the drive for fulfillment in serving each other.
However, money is one of life’s greatest necessities. To disparage money out of hand and per se is to demonstrate an ignorance of life’s fundamental rules. When people what I think about money I tell them, “I think of it like I do blood – I make blood to live, not live to make blood.” I do not live to make money, but I fully understand I must make money to live.
In my mind money has always represented option. The options that money make possible are part of its utility. It is important to understand the principle: having an abundance of choices (options) doesn’t necessarily mean that we have the ability to use them well.
Mary Alice and I tried to instill this into our children. Unlike our backgrounds, our children were raised in an affluent neighborhood. We wanted them to have a healthy view of money – and understand the responsibilities, as well. They grew up hearing me say, “Remember – money is a tool, not an idol.”
I have been poor, and I have been financially comfortable – I would be kidding if I didn’t say I preferred the latter. But having money and loving money are poles apart. Money requires discipline as do the decisions that money makes possible.
This week consider carefully: 1) What makes the difference between money as a tool, not an idol? 2) What are the appropriate uses of money for me, and my family? 3) Who models the healthy, mature use of money?
Words of Wisdom: “Money is a tool, not an idol.”
Wisdom from the Word: “For the love of money is the root of all evils.” (I Timothy 6:10 NET Bible)