Money won't change me. . . or will it?

The late R&B singer and writer, James Brown wrote this song in the early 70's. . . . ."money won't change me". The real question today is . . . . .will money change you? What about your relationship and your marriage?

In today's segment,we'll look at a couple of scriptures that just might give us some insight on this "money" issue:

Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. On the other hand: 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Now here we have two scriptures; both from the Holy Bible which we declare that the Word of God to be the "final authority" yet they are almost contradictory in meaning. Why? . . . and how do each of these passages relate to our marriages? I'm glad you asked!

Even in biblical days, the economic trading practice used "money" to do business. The wisdom of King Solomon in his observation of life, saw then, even as it is now, that the pressures and challenges of life were lessened and often eliminated where there was "money"; so he wrote thus: "money answered all things". However, in reading the entire chapter, he was only referring to things that were related to money, not things such as happiness, love, contentment, peace, and etc., where money is not a factor.

In the New Testament however, while Timothy also observed life's pressures and challenges, noted that just the "love of money" ( not just money) but the love of money became the root of all evil. I'm sure you've read in the newspaper the awful things people have done, even down to lying, betrayal, cheating, cover ups, and they even have gone as far as murder, just because of "money". Now if you think that's not evil, you are mistaken.

Here we are addressed with the issue of "motive".

As you know in today's society, "the mighty dollar rules"., or so we have been led to believe. So how does all this fit into the marriage world?

Good question! Marriage is an institution set and established on standards and principles to include motives. (very important).

Many times as well as many marriages only survive because of "money factor"; and many marriages as well are destroyed because of the lack of "money". Scary isn't it, but it's a fact. Money does seem to change people and marriage relationships. So where do we draw the line? The line is drawn at inception. Meaning, if your motive is wrong at the beginning, nine times out of ten, the money will be the deciding factor and will determine the rise or fall of your marriage; more falls than rise. It's ugly, but it's fact.

If status quo and $$$$ signs are the only reason for your marriage union, then you have lost already, and will eventually end up in divorce. Not an opinion, a statistic!

Please don't misunderstand me here; Yes you do need money to live, but it should not be a prerequisite for marriage, trust me, you need much more than that! Forgive me for being vivid, but how much money will it take to blot out the unfaithfulness of a spouse. . . . .or how much money will substitute the passions of a marriage? You see, my dear friends, money in it's proper perspective is great, but it does not meet certain criteria.

The "oneness" that God speaks about in the Holy scriptures can not be obtained with money! Even with money, comes an authority, and authority without discipline is chaos!

What's the message here: Will money change you. . . . has it changed you. . . .do you have money, or does money have you? I hope you are getting the picture here.

Our love should emulate from the heart for each other, (husband and wife) , our peace should come from God, ( as a result of our acceptance of His law), and our money should pave the way to our welfare, ( and not used as a gambling chip to manipulate a marriage).

"Money won't change you"? . . . . now that's a question you must answer!

Have some fun today. . . . . .and remember. . . . . .You are Blessed!