Money Means Nothing
Recently I recalled a conversation I had several years ago with a man while attending a spiritual retreat. He was the same age as my dad and shared his same air of humility. I learned that he was a very successful real estate developer. He had experienced several recessions since the 1970’s, and nearly went bankrupt a couple of times. I commented “That must have been very stressful,” and his response shocked me. He was not troubled because making money meant nothing to him. He told me that he could easily live in a studio apartment. Yes, he enjoyed the things money could buy, but being wealthy wasn’t his passion. He simply had a knack for business, but what was important to him was his relationship with Christ and his family. This was where he placed most of his time and effort.
At first, I thought, oh sure, anyone can be cavalier about money when they have a knack for making it, but it was his words about relationship with Christ and family that echoed in my heart. These are the words that made me remember him and reflecting deeper, I thought of his profound humility.
I do not want to reveal who this man is, but I can say if you live in eastern Massachusetts, you have probably driven by or stepped into one of his buildings. In our culture where net worth equals self-worth, I thought he would have exercised his bragging rights as a developer. Yet it was my questioning that uncovered his wealth, and my admiration of created wealth that clouded my vision of who he was – rather than what he did. He did not let his wealth and position define him – I did. I fell into the consumer culture trap. In Henri Nouwen’s book: “A Spirituality of Fundraising,” he talks about this culture trap in the chapter about people who are rich. When most people see a wealthy person, in reality, the rich person just wants to be seen for who he is, not what he has. The same can be said of people who are poor, they just want to be seen.
As stewards of both faith and money, I think if we place our focus on our relationship with Jesus we will grow in faith and discern the role of wealth in our lives. Too often, financial, and legal practitioners focus only the wealth. Over the years, and aided by life experience, I have learned to look past the wealth. In recent donor discussions concerning inheritance and bequests, the conversation leans towards people wanting their children and grandchildren to have a life centered on a strong faith. In comparison to faith, it’s as if the money means nothing, but the legacy of who you are, means everything. Using the Foundation and its resources can help determine the proper balance of faith and money.