Your Money...Your Life

Probably most people have heard the saying, "Your money or your life" ; usually attributed to a mugger, or someone attempting to rob another person, and invoking those threatening words, to cause the victim to hand over whatever valuables they may be carrying. In the context, the meaning is pretty obvious, that the criminal is threatening violent action, to the point of terminating someone's life, if they don't hand over all the money they have on their person. However, in a very real way, your money is representative of your life.

Most people work for other people, who own businesses, and the workers exchange their time, whether on a monthly; weekly; daily; or simply an hourly rate, for money, and other potential benefits [i.e., health care; dental; retirement funds; etc.]. Generally speaking, the majority of the world's population, is trading time, for money. Whether you work an 8, 12, or 14 hour day, you expect, and the employer agrees, to pay you a certain monetary evaluation, for your time invested in his or her company. In other words, you are exchanging a portion of your life, for money.

Like the parable of the laborers (Matt.20:1-16), who agreed with the owner of the vineyard for a denarius a day [which was the average price, at the time, for a days labor], a valuation is set, by your employer; the market; or it is government regulated, that for a certain type of work, the hourly; weekly; or monthly rate of pay is a certain amount, and you agree to exchange, a portion of your life, for that amount of compensation. Therefore, quite literally, your money represents a portion of your life, invested, in the exchange of time for monetary compensation.

Beyond the value set on your time, which is usually proportionate to your skill level and character assessment, your money has value against the demands of monthly or yearly expenses, that require payment in the form of bills. Most people have to live somewhere, and depending on their lifestyle choices, and cultural setting, have to pay for food; shelter; clothing; transportation; and basic necessities to sustain life, in whatever part of the world they may live.

Beyond the necessities of life, there is another huge area of demand, for your money, which represents your life. The dictates of culture and advertising, has created perceived "needs", that to a large extent, become demands for your money in the areas of entertainment; fashion; video games; cell phones; movies; recreation; sports; and a host of other allurements, that require the exchange of money, to facilitate the purchase and enjoyment of these items.

To a large extent, there is a conscious, or unconscious choice, even a compulsion, in a decision making process, that certain needs and wants, are necessary, and you are willing to exchange, a portion of your life, in the form of the money you earned, by the investment of your time, for those perceived necessities. In fact, in some ways, you value what you spend your money on, more than the time spent, and the money earned, or you would not spend your money for the items.

This means of assessing value, can be illustrated in the case of an employer. If he or she, did not think that the employee was worth the amount of pay, for the service that is needed, they would not pay the wage, or they would pay a lessor wage, for the exchange of labor and time invested. In other words, if the benefit rendered to the company, did not render a more valuable exchange, then the money they paid for the service, they would reduce the pay, or terminate the employment, and find a more productive worker. The service the company is getting, always has to be greater than the compensation paid out, or they would not pay the funds for the work being done. The employer believes that the amount of service rendered, by the employee, exceeds the amount of money that they are paying, so that the value that the employer is receiving, is greater than the money they are paying, because of the productivity, and increased monetary, or other benefit the employer is receiving.

In the same way, when you exchange your money for food; shelter; clothes; or especially leisure and entertainment; you believe that what you are paying for is worth more than the money you are paying, or you would not release your money for these services. You see some type of intrinsic value, in the goods and services purchased, more than the money itself, or you would keep your money, or spend it on other goods and services that are more valuable to you. Money represents a portion of your life, that you have exchanged your time for, in order to be able to acquire the wants and needs of daily living. However, it is still, your money, and part of your life spent, that enabled you to acquire the money.

 When it comes to rendering service to God, the reality is, that God truly has you, when He has your money. Money is one of the most tangible means of the measurement of commitment to God, because it represents a part of your life invested, and demonstrates value placed on your relationship with the Father. When people refuse to give of their life, in the form of tithes and offerings, it represents a lack of value, placed on that relationship, because people only spend money on what is valuable to them, and what is of more value, than the money that they have spent their life working for. This is not really controversial, it is simply factual. Many claim to be followers of Christ, but when it comes to the tithe, and offerings, they concoct supposed reasons, NOT to give their life to Christ, and NOT to make financial commitments to the one that they claim to serve, or they merely "tip" God, rendering a small pittance of their life, as a measure of their true service.

Your money represents your life and it is a measure of the true value you place on your relationship with the Father. Is He really everything to you? Is He truly worthy of all you have, and all you've been given? What real value are you placing on your relationship with the Father? What portion of your life, in the form of the money, that you have exchanged your life for, are you "spending" on Him, in the form of tithes and offerings?

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours