Issue #1157 – Money – May 17, 2023
Money is one of the biggest illusions there is. Cash is real in the sense that it has some value, and you can accumulate it, purchase things with it, and hold some forms of it in your hand. It is also real in the sense that people will work for it and hoard it. Some people will do anything for it, including killing.
We admire people who have it. We mortgage our futures to use today and feel safe when we have what we think is enough saved.
Yet, when we really look at it… what is money? Money is a symbolic medium of exchange that only has value so long as people agree it has value.
Once upon a time, people would barter directly with one another for goods or services. Perhaps it was a chicken for a piece of pottery, a couple of hours of labour for a hand tool, etc. The problem with barter is that sometimes what you have to trade isn’t what the seller needs.
I might have chickens to trade, but the vendor doesn’t want them. Perhaps he wants a pig. I might need to make a variety of trades to enough of my chickens for some other goods to meet the needs of someone who had a pig. As transactions became more complicated, a simplified medium of exchange was needed. A piece of metal was agreed to be worth 1 chicken or 1/20 of a pig or one hour’s labour. As long as everyone agreed on the value, the system worked fine.
Over time the forms of money expanded to have value within whole nations or empires. It started with standardized coin weights, moving to include paper instruments such as notes and cheques. Increasingly it is in the form of bytes of information travelling via computer systems.
When economies collapse, wars are declared, currencies are revalued, borders change, suddenly all bets are off. The agreed-on value no longer holds up, and the money is useless. The illusion vanishes, and we are left looking at the remains of smoke and mirrors.
Now, I am not saying that all your money will become valueless tomorrow. I am neither a prophet nor an economic forecaster.
Nor am I saying that money is somehow intrinsically evil. There is nothing wrong with having an agreed medium of change; it makes life much more straightforward than bartering.
I’m just reminding you to be cautious about where you place your hope for the future. All the wealth of the world becomes useless to us when we die. All the money we accumulate cannot buy salvation.
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Until next time make the most of the money you have at your disposal and steward it wisely, but remember the things of true value are eternal.
If you have found the search for wealth has left you unfulfilled, look to Christ. Knowing Jesus is the wealthiest thing there is.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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