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MONEY
Q:
Money! They say it’s the root of all evil and I sometimes believe it. We
should have a better expression about money, like, “Money is for
everyone!” I’d like that. What do you say, Gladys?
Money is not the root of all evil, and that’s the truth. The saying
comes from what people do with money and consequently what money can do
to people. A better expression might be: money is for the good of all
people. Money is simply a tool for you to use. Obviously you have to
have it in order to use it. When one does not have much money, the tool
is there, but the tool is used for basic survival. Conversely, when one
has a lot of money, then the money should be used for the benefit of
more people. In our world today, it is often only used for the good of
the person or family or group having it. This shows that a better use of
this tool is needed. If those few billionaires shared their money
freely, all of the people in the world would have food to eat every day.
All of the people in the world would have medical care, and all of the
people of the world would have at least basic shelter. That’s quite
amazing, isn’t it?
This is a change worth working to achieve. It is not that the few who
have so much need to change their way of living; it’s their right to
enjoy the money they have made. They have every right to what they have
earned. Even if they live a very good lifestyle, though, they would
still have money to make changes in the world. Money is a tool and
people should be generous with their money. When an excess of money is
in one person’s or group’s possession, if that money were used for
assisting others, for creating jobs for others, for the benefit of
others, then that tool would be put to good use. If the excess money is
simply kept in the bank, then the value of the tool is lost. Money is
for the good of all people. If it is not creating good, then it is being
misused.
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Q: I
find that some friends always have money and some never do. They all
work, but they look at money so differently. Please tell me what is the
best or correct way to think of money?
Think of money as a tool for you to use. That is all. Bartering is a
tool also. The exchange of anything, whether it be with paper money, a
product, or a service, serves the same purpose when one is exchanged for
another. An exchange or barter gives the person wanting the exchange or
barter whatever it is he wants. Money is paid, an item is bought. Money
is paid, a service is rendered. Sometimes a service buys a product. It
is all the same.
Thus, money should be thought of as a means to an end, rather than the
end itself. Money is earned, is received as a gift, or is borrowed. With
that money one has many choices as to how to use the money. Money is a
tool to be used. To hoard money indicates fear in its use. To lavishly
spend money that is not yours (meaning it is borrowed money) indicates
fear in its use. Money that is used for basic needs and thereafter for
the enjoyment of the person is the correct way for money to be used.
Money that is used for enjoyment is usually shared with others in many
ways. Think of it as a means for allowing choices. Think of it as a
source for allowing you to live a life that is one of love and joy. To
use money for any other purpose is not the best use of your money.
Many people hold limiting thoughts about money. For example, they say
only lucky people have money, or people of privilege have money. They
may think that they are undeserving of money, or that money corrupts.
Such thoughts could keep people from having the money they need to make
their life more enjoyable. Everyone deserves to have the money they need
to create an enjoyable life. If this thought is not a part of your
thinking, you might wish to adopt it. Try to keep your thoughts focused
on what you want the money to do, rather than on just having money.
In the question you mention friends who always have money and friends
that never do. Let’s say all of the friends have the same amount of
money. In spite of this, each friend has a different attitude about how
much money he or she has. Some people may be greedy and never have
enough to satisfy themselves. Some may be generous with their money and
give it away; yet they always seem to have enough. Remember, we said
both people have the same amount. What is different is how they look at
their money, and what they choose to do with it.
The person who always seems to have enough money is a person who is
using his/her money correctly. Such people know what their needs are and
they use the money to fill their needs. They also share their money.
Actions such as these indicate the person does not have fear. She is not
fearful of being inadequate or of not making enough money for herself.
She is not fearful of being inadequate and not having enough money in
the future. She is not fearful of being rejected because she does not
have enough money. The person who is greedy is usually very fearful and
is trying to make herself acceptable to others by spending so that
others will notice and accept her. The person who is greedy is usually
very fearful and does not think of herself as adequate enough to
continue to make money. People like this are using money with fear in
their minds.
There are so very many areas in living where it is of benefit and value
to release fear. Money is an excellent example of an area where fear is
often present. It can be from the worry of not having enough. It can be
from the worry of money in the future. It can be from the worry of what
is the best use of money. When any of these things become a worry, then
understand that fear is part of your thinking. Release your fear.
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