How much is too much?

When I was an up-and-coming financial executive, I used to pull out my HP12C calculator and attempt to predict my net worth at retirement.  Being somewhat of a spendthrift, and excelling at inflation related budgeting, I was able to forecast a number under variable circumstances.  At the time of my “fantasy” forecasting money had not become my God, per se, but it certainly was a goal.  Though my projection at retirement was a fine number, and one I could live with, I was still not quite satisfied. How much money then, was enough?  I am reminded of a famous movie star who was being interviewed on television, by another wealthy celebrity.  The interviewer asked the star something like, “do you still worry about having enough money?”  To which the actor said, “yes, all the time.”  Even with a net worth of over $100 million, this person was still anxious about having enough money.  This got me thinking.

There was nothing morally wrong with making money, or planning for retirement, but my attitude toward money had been erroneous in light of God’s teachings.  First, I had to admit that money did not alleviate insecurity.  Second, I learned that to focus on accumulation, whether it be money or real estate, was a waste of my time on earth.  These realizations led to a complete change in my lifestyle as I shifted my focus from wants, to needs.  In doing so, and for the first time in my life, I felt free!  Freeing my mind from money as a life goal also freed me from anxiety, as I turned to Christ to meet my needs and desires. 

God does not want us poor or to live hand-to-mouth, but to look to him for everything.  We are apt to be self-sufficient and independent, but God desires for us to look to him and rely upon him to care for us.  God loves his children!  We read in Matthew 6:25-26 where Jesus says, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?   But what about “wants” or “desires?”  Wants and desires are in excess of need. For example, I have a nice 50” flatscreen television. that works perfectly fine, but there are bigger and better televisions available – and with great prices!  Is an upgrade a need or a want?  And if I purchase it, did I miss the opportunity to use that cash for another cause to the glory of God? 

Leading a balanced life, materially and spiritually, means looking at what we need and pitting that against what we want.  Is it bad to want?  Not necessarily.  However, if we want more than we need, our focus may become spiritually blurred, and if we pursue it outside of the will of God, it becomes a selfish endeavor. Today I no longer concentrate on how much money I have in the bank, (and I came nowhere near my forecast projections!).  Instead I have begun to focus on just the opposite, making a game to see how little I can live on.  I am still blessed with greater creature comforts than I need, God has been good!  But by reversing my attention away from money or “wants” I was able to become more disciplined, and focus on spiritual, rather than material, growth. 

Anything that takes our eyes off God, money, careers, the “pursuit of happiness” is not the best life lived. Our heavenly Father wants us to depend on him for everything, and while that concept may be hard to implement, it is so much more rewarding.  When we stand before God one day, we will stand alone; no bank accounts or possessions. Which reminds me of a saying my father quoted often, “You never see a U-Haul trailer behind a hearse.”