TOPIC: THE FORCE CALLED MONEY
Operational Definition of Terms
1. Money: Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context (1).
2. The Force called Money: The power or influence of money on its owner, others or its ability to alter existing systems.
Key Quotes
1. “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver”. --Ayn Rand
2. “It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy”. --George Lorimer
INTRODUCTION
Money is an important tool that plays vital roles in our lives. The value of money is determined by what it can buy. Individuals and organisations need money not only for survival but also for the actualization of their visions and aspirations. Money is also instrumental to church expansion and growth. While believers should not be discouraged from legitimate wealth acquisition, it is important to realize its influence and develop the needed skills, attitude and capacity to control money. In this paper, we shall discuss the functions of money, its impact, attributes and influence in the lives of people.
WHY DO WE NEED MONEY?
The basic functions of money as a medium of exchange, store of value, unit of account and standard of deferred payment are well known. Money is essential for the provision of the basic needs of man which include food, clothing and shelter. Beyond these elementary needs, money is needed for so many other reasons such as provision of healthcare services, funding our vision and impacting our world positively for Christ.
MONEY: ITS IMPACT AND ATTRIBUTES
1. Money as motivator
Money can serve as a powerful and effective motivator. It could also boost a person’s interest in engaging in activities that they were never interested in doing. While doing something for free as a favour has a positive connotation, that part of the brain is effectively turned off when money is introduced. This could have serious consequences in your work life. If you feel like you deserve more money, you may under-perform as a result.
2. Money and Self-esteem
The amount you earn could have an effect on how you view both yourself and others. Some research findings suggest that lack of money could affect a person’s self-esteem. Precisely, prolonged joblessness could have a damaging effect on a person’s self-esteem (2). Several studies have shown that the more money a person earns, the more highly they think of themselves.
3. Money and Ethics
There are 2 schools of thought. The first one believes the poor are more likely to engage in unethical behavior than the rich because they have fewer resources, greater threat and uncertainty and are tempted to do anything to survive (3). The second school of thought believes that the rich are more likely to engage in unethical behavior because they have unlimited access to resources, freedom and independence from others which may lead to unethical behavior (4). This leads to “self-interest maximization” i.e. “what’s in it for me?” attitude. They actively work toward the most benefit for themselves. Having too much money sometimes make people feel they don’t need anyone not even God.
Agur in Proverbs 30: 7 – 9 prayed “Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain”.
4. Money, Power and Influence
“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender”. Proverbs 22:7.
The above scripture simply states that the rich have dominion over the poor. Wealth often comes with power, prominence, and influence. The poor is a servant to the rich who decides his fate and controls his life. In addition, exploitation principles reveal that the rich have the power to extract work-effort from others, thereby augmenting their own rate of wealth accumulation.
Similarly, a wealthy person has a huge influence on the lives of many families. His decisions could make or mar them. Abraham had 318 trained servants born in his house which means he was responsible for their upkeep and they were assets to him when needed to fight a battle (Genesis 14:14). Money talks and it talks loudly and clearly.
5. Money as a defence: According to (Ecclesiastes 7:12), “For wisdom is a defence and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. This means that Wisdom as well as money is a shield and defence to humans. When you have both money and wisdom, you will not only know the right decisions to secure your life and future but also have the financial capacity to execute those decisions. A poor wise man may be filled with wisdom but incapacitated by limited funds. A foolish rich man may eventually take costly decisions that could ruin him. We need both money and wisdom.
6. Money and Friends
Money attracts friends and attention. “Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour” (Proverbs 14:20). The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends (Proverbs 14:20). This truth has remained valid through several generations and is very common in our society. People always want to be associated with those that have money. People always pretend to love them but in reality, they love their money and are mostly not true friends. However, most of the friends will eventually leave when the wealth vanishes. Job’s family and friends abandoned him when his wealth vanished but returned when his wealth was restored (Job 42:10 – 11). Even his wife told him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). He referred to his 3 friends that remained as “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2).
7. Money and Your Vision
Money follows vision. Vision is not directed and does not follow the money. We need money to actualise our vision. It will be difficult for a person without a clearly defined vision to be successful in his endeavours even if he has all the money available. The bible declares “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).
CONCLUSION
Money is an important instrument for business transactions. It plays a vital role in our lives helping us to meet our goals and visions. In this paper, we explored the various impacts and attributes associated with having much money. Money can serve as a source of motivation and boost employee productivity. A man of great wealth can wield so much influence in the society. Finally, while we acknowledge the numerous things money can buy, we should reflect on things money cannot buy.
Money can buy a house but not a home
Money can buy a bed but not sleep
Money can buy a clock but not time
Money can buy a book but not knowledge
Money can buy food but not appetite
Money can buy friends but not love (8).
Presented at the National Convention of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church held in November 2020 at the West Africa Bible College, Ijegun Lagos:
Dr. Solomon C. Nwaneri
REFERENCES
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