5 Things You Need to Know About Money

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Written by Jimmie Burroughs Email to a friend

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What if there were a billion dollars up for grabs and your name was on the list of possible beneficiaries?  How would that affect your actions if for any reason you thought you were being neglected in the proceedings? A case in point is the Jackson family who are feuding over the will of the late Michelle Jackson. Only Jackson’s mother and his three children are included in his will. Other siblings of the family are saying that the will is fraudulent, and the executers of the will should step down.

With nearly a billion dollars at stake and millions of dollars flowing in from continued sales of Jackson’s records, the stakes are high. So Randy, Janet, Jermaine and others of the family clan are losing their cool over it, and are showing their greed. Not that they are exactly needy of money themselves; Eight of the nine have had gold records of their own; all probably could be considered wealthy. But hundreds of millions of dollars can be very enticing, especially when you think some of that money could be yours. Money seems to bring out the worst in a person, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are 5 things you need to know about money in order to put it into the right perspective, and also keep it from ruining your life:

Don’t be greedy

I must confess that it is hard to say what I would do in the same circumstances mentioned above, but I hope that I would show the proper consideration and respect for the relatives wishes and his designated heirs, which seems to missing in the Jackson drama.

Money can easily reveal a person’s true character and especially the greed and selfish side of their personality. The only way to really free one’s self from the propensity of greed is to have a healthy attitude concerning money and its value. Greed is never healthy; it will destroy your life and bring you no happiness. The old Christmas classic of Ebenezer Scrooge is a good example for real life also. Although the story is fictional, it certainly is drawn from true life experiences of those who have allowed greed to dominate their life.

How does one overcome the selfishness of greed? There is a long overlooked Biblical principle to take into consideration: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”, Acts 20:35. When you learn the truth of that principle and experience firsthand how it really works, it makes overcoming greed possible.

You have to plan to be benevolent and invoke the plan. I have heard people say all my life, “If I had a million dollars I would help others.” The truth is if they won’t help others with what they have now, they won’t likely be willing when they have a million dollars either. By planning to be benevolent you set aside a certain percent of your income for charity. 10% of gross income is a good amount to aim for; if you are not able to give that much now, work towards it. A person who freely gives to help others has overcome the propensity for greed and has discovered the joy of giving.

Realize the limitations of money

Money is very important, but is far from being the essence of life, and it contributes little to our happiness and contentment. I just read an article about Bruce Springtine; how he has suffered most of his life from severe depression, which reached its height when Springstine was at the zenith of his career, and at that time he actually thought about suicide. Money and fame did little to help Springstine to enjoy his life, and it has its limitations for anyone else.

Other entertainers who have had enormous fame and wealth have also experienced some of the same as Springstine. For example, Elvis Presley also struggled with depression and self worth. Those closest to Elvis said that Elvis’ hardest thing to deal with was just being Elvis Presley. The larger than life persona of Elvis Presley was far too large to fill even by the king himself. Ironically, Elvis also suffered from loneliness. The last statement Elvis uttered publicly before his death was when he introduced the last song he would ever sing publicly, “Are you lonesome tonight?” Elvis said, “Yes I have been lonely and I am lonely.”

While money is important, it is also important that we understand its limitations. Those who have the miss-conception that money solves all problems are in for a shock; it is very limited when it comes to real life benefits such as overcoming depression and experiencing happiness and contentment.

We all need money of course to buy the needs of life and provide for a family. However, research has revealed that money above that which is needed for a desirable lifestyle of around $65,000 per year adds little to a person’s happiness; too bad though, that does not quench the appetite for more money. That is why some continue to struggle to gain more and more even if it is at the cost of their integrity and honor as well as consuming most of their time; time which could be used to live and enjoy life.

Learn the real value of money

It is refreshing that some of today’s super rich, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, have a sense of the true value of money and are investing millions of dollars into charity to help others to experience a better life. When a person isn’t a slave to money and doesn’t have the greedy tendency to want it all for themselves, it can do wonderful things to help a lot of people. It was wise old king Solomon, who knew the value of money, that said: “We brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out …” Ecclesiastics 5:15. Some leave this world with billions in the bank; what a pity when it could have done so much good.

Don’t love money

The Bible declares that, “The love of money is the root of all evil”,  I Timothy 6:10.That is not to be miss quoted, as some do, to say that, “Money is the root of all evil.” No, it is the love of it. I had a cousin who confessed that he loved money; consequently, he never spent that much and lived a modest life because money to him was more important than what it could buy.

The love of money is a close cousin to greed; in fact it goes hand in hand. The difference is that a person who loves money doesn’t even want to spend it on themselves. I suppose it is the feeling of knowing that they have money and lots of it that gives them pleasure.

Understand that no amount of money ever satisfies the longings of the heart

In the past people have tried everything possible to try to get money to fulfill the longings of their heart, but in the end have discovered that it will not succeed. Today a house is being built in Florida that is 90,000 square feet; over 36 times larger than the average home in America. It is said to be the largest home in America. I suppose that they mean it is the largest home that is to be occupied as a private home. Because Biltmore in Ashville, North Carolina is by far the largest, although, it serves as a museum today. It was built by George Vanderbilt and completed in 1895; it is nearly twice as large as the 90,000 square foot home in Florida; it weighs in at 175,000 square feet.

Here is the secret: Money or things will never fill the vacuum of a person’s heart, whether it is a large bank account, massive homes, expensive cars or anything else. What will fill that vacuum? The answer is that which was missing from the beginning, God’s presence. If you are wondering how that we can gain that which is missing in our heart, take time to read: How to have a relationship with God.

Conclusion

The Apostle Paul is one of my favorite characters of Scripture, and it was he that said, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity”, Philippians 4:11. It is important to note that Paul learned to be content; so can anyone who desires contentment. Without a doubt the ability to be contented with what one has is the greatest attribute ever for living a life that is full. It liberates a person from the driving desire to have more and more, and frees their time to pursue those things which really do add meaning and purpose to life. For example, the time you spend with your son or daughter, or anyone you love, is far more precious than money and all it can buy. I hope the 5 things you need to know about money will be a help to you in determining the priorities of your life.

About the author: When I started on the Internet a few years go, I knew absolutely nothing about it, nor anything about a computer. I bought a book to learn the basics about the computer and asked a school teacher friend to teach me to copy and paste. I wanted to write about some of the things I had experienced and learned in my life, especially about personal development, that I thought would be helpful to others; so I ordered some online courses to teach me how to set up a website. I learned that a blog website was the most popular, so that is what I set up. Now, there are over 250 articles on this website alone and I have four other sites. If you are interested in setting up your own blog, I will give you the 53 page informational eBook that I wrote with all the step by step information that I learned to set up this website. It cost me hundreds to learn it but its yours free. There have been over 12,000 copies given away. I hope you get your copy while it is still available. Just put your correct email and first name into the form at the top right hand side of this page.

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