What If Money Didn’t Matter?
This happens to be one of my favorite interview questions. In other words, “What would you do if money did not matter?” If money didn’t matter, you would be free to do the things you love to do. You would be working at a job that you loved, and living securely, free from stress. You would be content, blessed, and have the freedom to bless others. You would not carry the burden of debt, and you would have peace in knowing that you were a slave to no one.
You would have time to be creative and make the world a better place. You would have time to help others do things they needed to get done, and serve those who were helpless or hopeless.
If money didn’t matter, you would not be worried about tomorrow, or live regretting yesterday. You would be able to embrace today fully and thus reap the blessings that today brings to you.
There is only one problem with this picture. Money does matter. We can’t escape the fact that we have to have it. We can’t live without it. Our day is consumed with trying to get more of it. How can we put some balance in this picture and pursue a living without being a slave to money?
None of this is necessarily easy, but it is essential to find peace and purpose in our lives:
- Find that work that truly makes you come alive, then put all that you are into it. That should come naturally for you if you have found the thing that you are uniquely created to do. By the way, when you find what you truly love to do, the money follows.
- Live within your means. Don’t overextend yourself to the point that you can’t meet your financial obligations.
- Pay off your debt, then save up and pay cash for the things you need.
- Plan for emergencies. Cars will always need repairs, air conditioners will go out, medical issues will happen. Unforeseen things will arise from time to time, and if you have not saved up for it, they can put you in the poor house quickly.
- Invest and save for your future. Your days are numbered, and they pass quickly. You will be at retirement in the blink of an eye. It is never too late to start saving and investing. You may have to play catch-up, but there are investment strategies that can be implemented to help you make up for the years that have passed where no plan was in place.
Money may be essential to our lives, but if we make it our god….we will find it a terrible task-master. We will be serving a god that has no mercy and gives no true peace. Having money is necessary…serving money is optional. Here is hoping that you put money in perspective and that you become a good steward of what you have been given.
Shalom!
Dan Skognes