Money Talk

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When I first thought of starting this blog I actually intended to share much more in terms of expenses.  I actually had someone ask if I was going to break all the renovations down and give you exact cost.  In fact, that was my original intention, and at some point I may end up doing that (baby steps).  But here's the thing.  We are a judgemental sort of lot us humans.  While the majority of you reading would most likely be unfazed, there are always those who would see the numbers, no matter how big or small, and pass judgement in one of two ways, "Wow, they are just a pile of money over there." or, "Well no wonder it looks so terrible, if they'd just had more money to spend it would have looked a lot nicer."

What people choose to spent their money on is really no ones business.  None of us should ever judge the spending choices of others unless those choices immediately impact ones life, and even then one needs to be careful.  For example, if I have a relative that is asking me for support/help every month, I'm going to judge them as I watch them eat steak every night and I'm eating Ramen because my budget has been diminished by helping them.  But if I'm not helping said relative and they choose to eat steak and I Ramen, no matter what I think their financial situation maybe, I don't have the right to assume it's one way or the other.

A friend and I were chatting one time about money and how people can be judgmental.  She said something that I have taken to heart when I have been tempted to judge others spending habits.  She said, "No one knows your financial obligations."  So true my friends, so true.  Sure, if you have a friend who is a neuro surgeon you can know he is probably making pretty good money (but you could be wrong there too).  What you don't know is how much he has to pay in insurance, staff salaries, equipment debt, building debt, school debt, mortgage, the amount he's committed to charities, etc, etc, etc.  You have no right to judge what he chooses to, or not to, spend his money on.

The other day I saw a video of a young teenage boy in a major city standing out in the freezing cold asking for help.  He stood outside for 2 hours before a gentleman finally stopped, asked him how he was doing, and then took off his own coat and gave it to him.  The ironic thing was, that as countless individuals in warm coats carrying bags of new clothes walked by and ignored this boy, the one who stopped and ended up helping was a homeless man.  This man knew the true meaning of life.  In many ways because he had nothing, he was willing to give everything.  

The lesson here for all of us is that we need to be generous.  We need to be kind.  We need to give much.  And that is true if you are a neuro surgeon or a homeless man.  The only person we are truly accountable to with how we decide to use our money is the God above who knows our real intentions and motivations.  If we are aligned with Him and do His will, no dollar amount will matter because His blessings are based on obedience to His will and if you recall, it was that obedience that mattered most, not the money given, that blessed the widow, who gave her mite.