What Happens When We Allow Money to Take the Place of God
“Remember then the Lord, your God, for he is the one who gives you the power to get wealth, by fulfilling, as he has now done, the covenant he swore to your ancestors” (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Editor’s note: This Lent, the Catholic Women in Business team is exploring the theme “Cultivating Virtue in the Desert.” Learn more here.
The fear of money is common among Christians. We hear that “the love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Timothy 6:10) and begin to fear money itself. Yet, we live in a society that requires money. Money is a tool we need. It gives us a universal opportunity to do business with people across the world, integrating different cultures and economies.
But, what happens when we fall into a form of idolatry with money? This idolatry places us in a desert where we lack God.
Has money crept into the part of your heart that should be for God alone?
Let’s begin by taking a look at why the Bible warns us about money and, at the same time, encourages us to be prudent, save, and provide for generations beyond ours. Money provides us with a sense of security—but with enough of this security, we can start to believe we don’t need God. Money also can be addictive. It feels good to have a lot of money: to be able to go on lots of trips, buy any clothes we want, and treat ourselves to amazing meals.
As we start to accumulate more and expect better experiences, it is easy to get lost in a never-ending quest for money. We get stuck in the rat race of never having enough, never being satisfied, and never enjoying the amazing blessings God has placed in our lives. We probably do not even recognize them as gifts from God. We get stuck in a desert of constantly needing and wanting more—in a desert of our pride: “I can do it myself. I do not need God.”
On the other end of the spectrum, we can fall into coveting what others have. Rather than being grateful for what God has provided, we long for what someone else has. We lose sight of the fact that we are all made for something different. I love the song “Dream Small,” by Josh Wilson, because it emphasizes that while there is nothing wrong with big dreams, we need to stay grounded and remember that the little moments are blessings also.
When we begin to compare ourselves or wish for what others have, we are on a short path not only to sin but also to discontent. Remembering our blessings and practicing gratitude helps us to refocus. We never know what others are called to, but we do need to discern what we are called to. Through that discernment, we end up in the fertile plains God wants for us. He does not want us living in a desert, though sometimes we must experience a desert for purification.
When we allow money to replace God, we cut ourselves off from God, who provides everything. He is the source and summit of all things. When we cut off the water supply, we dry out.
It begins with our faith: “I can provide for myself, so I do not need God.” Without faith, we lose gratitude. We believe we provide for ourselves, so there is no one to be grateful to. As gratitude fades, we may begin to step on others as we try to get to the top. Believing we can do it all on our own, we are not grateful to the people around us. As we lose relationships, we slowly enter a desert internally. We have cut ourselves off from what should sustain us. Externally, we might look okay, but inside, we are thirsty. We are in a constant struggle to survive.
As we become more and more spiritually dehydrated, we can find ourselves losing our friends, our family, our mental health, and more. We have all heard stories of people so enslaved to wealth that their marriages end in divorce, their children suffer, and their friends are pushed aside. They have a big house, a nice car, and plenty of money in the bank—but they have lost the more important things.
So, how do we overcome these temptations? How do we use money as we need to while avoiding the troubles it can cause? How do we know if we are beginning to fall into these temptations? How do we rehydrate if we are thirsty? Three particular virtues come to mind: gratitude, faith, and temperance. When we foster these virtues, we can avoid the desert (or come out of it if we are already there).
Gratitude
Are you grateful for the gifts God has given you? Do you recognize everything that you have as a gift from God? What about the trials and crosses you bear? Are you grateful for them?
Gratitude is the starting point to overcoming greed. It also helps us build a healthy money mindset so we do not fall into the equally debilitating state of fearing money. As we foster gratitude, we begin to recognize that what we have is not really ours. We put our pride in check, recognizing it all comes from God. Even something we work really hard for, God has given us the grace to earn. He has given us the perseverance and grace to cooperate with his promptings to achieve success.
As we grow in gratitude, we come away from always seeking for more and move toward being content with what God is asking of us—rather than trying to do what he may be asking of our neighbor.
How?
There are many in-depth resources that focus on growing in gratitude, so I will briefly touch on one strategy: First, get in the habit of waking up and going to sleep with gratitude on your heart. First thing in the morning, spend a few minutes thanking God for whatever is on your heart. For example: “Thank you, Lord, for my family, friends, coffee, pillow, alarm, ability to get up ….”
Then, at the end of the day, spend a few minutes reflecting on all the ways God blessed your day, and say “thank you” again. This gratitude practice can happen within St Ignatius’s Evening Examen prayer, or it can just be something you do as you fall asleep.
Rooting your day in gratitude will go a long way in helping you rehydrate and step out of the desert. As you grow, start thanking God for the trials and crosses as well; not only are they are growth opportunities, but they also allow you to participate in Jesus’ suffering.
Faith
When we allow money to be an idol, we take the faith we have in God and put it in the perceived security of money. Growing in our faith and reliance on God will allow us to “let go and let God.”
How?
“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
Easily said, not so easily done. Again, the resources on growing your faith are vast, so for now, I want to leave it at this: Reflect on the ways God has provided for you. A practical way is through journaling. Commit to five to 10 minutes per day of writing a memory of how God provided. It can be simple—“He gave me patience when my kids were yelling”—or grand—“He provided the house I was meant to live in.” It can also be in everyday moments: “He allows my garden to grow and provide food for my family.”
This daily reflection will reframe how you view the world. Rather than believing you have to do it all, you will begin to see how God provides and you cooperate.
Temperance
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines temperance as “the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable” (CCC 1809). It is frequently seen as the virtue to combat gluttony—and the desire for money can be a form of gluttony.
When we cannot control the impulse to have more or to provide more security for ourselves in the form of money, we are acting as we would if we could not control our desire for food. Working toward controlling these instincts will inevitably lead to less attachment to money (or food, or both).
How?
Fasting and discipline are great ways to build temperance. One of the disciplines for Exodus90 (a 90-day program of prayer, fasting, and self-denial for men) is to refrain from making unnecessary purchases. It might be a good Lenten observance if you struggle spending too much money.
After 40 days of not buying unnecessary items, reflect on how your view of money has changed. God gives us money for both our needs and our wants, so it is good to treat ourselves sometimes. The problem comes when we feel like we always need the latest and greatest as soon as possible and are relying on ourselves to get it. We need to view these purchases as gifts from God—and discern if God wants us to treat ourselves to them.
Money is a tool. Let us walk out of the desert of enslavement to it and into the fertile lands of trusting God to provide for our needs and allowing him to bless us with gifts. Let us have an abundance mindset, be filled with gratitude, rely faithfully on God to provide, and act with temperance when it comes to our finances. With the right view of money, we can provide for our current and future needs while relying on God and being free to live the life he is calling us to. May he bless you and your family this Lent.
Erica Mathews is a Financial Planner with Financial Counseling Associates, a small, family owned, independent, financial planning and investment management firm. She is passionate about helping families and individuals build their wealth so they can live out the calls God has places on their hearts. As a wife, mom of four, and businesswoman, she understands the complexities of family life and helps relieve the burden of financial stress with organization, a plan, and automation so her clients hit their goals. She lives in Colorado with her husband and four kids. They love everything outdoors including gardening, hiking, biking and simply exploring nature. If you would like to reach out to Erica, her email is erica@fca-inc.com.