October Focus

Stewardship

Americans have an obsessive love affair with money. Some might prefer to describe our association with money as a destructive, religious compulsion. The way people's lives become locked on the pursuit of money - so much so that it defines perception, value and behavior - can only be described as a religious fixation.

Point taken. Nevertheless, the sexual metaphor is much more apt for this generation. Sex, unlike religion, is closer to the contemporary American experience.

People think they understand sex. They don't really, of course. Human sexuality is one of our more baffling experiences. Many lack the wisdom to appreciate how sexuality contributes to a whole and meaningful life. But most do understand sex in the sense that by the time they have graduated from high school they have experienced numerous obsessive love affairs - if not in the flesh, than at least vicariously in movies and on TV.

Sex and money share a lot of things in common.

First, money, like sex, is violent -- though not violent in crime/war kind of way.

Most of the violence generated by people's relationship with money is unintentional. It often goes unnoticed, like the emotional violence of an obsessive love affair. The consciousness of an abandoned lover awakens only after a chain of bad choices has done its damage. The awareness of the wreckage of disordered love comes too late.

Love's intent is to be life giving and wholesome. But love is dangerous. Without wisdom learned over generations, love is destructive. So it is with money. Love and money are dangerous for much the same reason. They are both powerful.

Someone once asked a divorce attorney if he found his job emotionally difficult.

"No, not really. I am basically a mercenary. You pay me and I will get you out of your marriage with as much money as I can get you."

When asked if he ever consoled a grieving spouse who was struggling through a difficult divorce he replied,

"Nah. At three hundred dollars an hour, I'm a expensive shrink."

After a pause he says,

"Let me tell you something: The upper-middle class life style is a drug. The money is like heroin. A woman came into my office the other day and said, 'I never see my husband anymore. He works all the time. He always travels. I think he may be having an affair. What can I get in a divorce settlement?'

"I told the woman, 'Let me make it easy for you. Why not sell the house in the hills. Go buy a nice little house in the suburbs. Put the kids in a public school. Drop the country club membership. Sell the Hummer and buy yourself a nice Taurus or a Camry.' This gal, her jaw dropped. She stared at me in disbelief. I had spoken the unthinkable. She walked right out of my office. I never saw her again. I'm telling you it's a drug."

Money doesn't have to be a drug. Nor does love have to be destructive. But we cannot keep both love and money from being powerful.

It is difficult to recognize the social wreckage that is a consequence of money-obsession. Money-love seems reasonable. The destructive consequences are remote, leaving ample room for justification and denial.

Consider: The degradation of the environment. Broken children and broken marriages. The loss of genuine community. The devaluation of time. Than ask: How are might these be consequences of money obsession?

Because money is powerful, money is dangerous. But money's danger need not lead to destructive consequences. Money, like love, can be a great good when disciplined by wisdom.

This month we are exploring the relationship of money to faith. What role does money play in life? When does one's relationship with money become disordered? What are the signs that one has yielded to money's seductive allure? How does one live with money in a way that unleashes its power for good?

October is stewardship month. It is time to ask the money question. Join us.

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Monthly Focus Archive

2006:

Easter Focus: New Covenant
Lenten Focus: A Covenantal Response to Poverty
February Focus: Moving Forward

2005:

December Focus: Longing
November Focus: The Gift of Years
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Foundations
Summer Focus: The Book of Acts
Easter Focus: Tapestry
Lenten Focus: Rule of Life
January Focus: The Next Wave

2004:

December Focus: Surprising Grace
November Focus: Free Indeed
October Focus: Money Madness
September Focus: The Outrageous Promise
Summer Focus: Into the Fullness
June Focus: Thick Faith
Easter Focus: All Things New
Lent Focus: A Hungry World
February Focus: Commitment
January Focus: Unity

2003:

December Focus: Hope
November Focus: Worship
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Seasons of Faith
Summer Focus: The Gospel of John
May Focus: Faith
April Focus: Resurrection
March Focus: Truth
February Focus: Covenant Groups
January Focus: Sabbath

2002:

December Focus: Shut Up and Sing
November Focus: Spiritual Gifts
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Intentional Faith