💰 What Are Your Money Motivations?
Is it power, approval, comfort, security, or generosity?
If we look closely at how people handle money, we'll notice several different motivations and practices.
Some people use money to give themselves power over others. They give to gain leverage over employees or family members, or they withhold money for the same reason. To them, life is about being one-up in every relationship. Money is simply a tool—a very effective tool—to wield their power. We may think of business executives as those who use money this way, but anyone, rich or poor, can give or hold back money to manipulate others to get what they want. To them, money is all about controlling others.
I've known plenty of people who use money to win approval. They buy the best cars and the finest clothes. They take friends to the best restaurants and enjoy lavish vacations. It's all designed to impress anyone who's watching. Many of the commercials on television are designed to promote this motivation. We simply can't be happy, they tell us, unless we have the latest (and most expensive) stuff to make our friends say, "Wow!"
Other people spend their money for another purpose: to be as comfortable as possible. They don't care much about impressing anyone. Instead, they're devoted to pleasure, excitement, and protecting themselves from any hassles. They buy nice furniture and the best electronics, and they enjoy an extravagant lifestyle. How can we tell they're devoted to comfort? When something doesn't work as well as expected, a waiter at a fine restaurant is a little slow, or their vacation isn't all they hoped for, they get mad!
Some people use money in the opposite way. They long for security, so they save every penny. They clip coupons, look for deals, and often check their bank balance. They worry they won't have enough to pay their bills, even when they have far more money than they need.
How do these types of people relate to a God nudge? It's pretty easy to imagine. They're preoccupied with something other than God and His kingdom, so they aren't very open to God nudging them to give generously, cheerfully, and creatively to help others.
As we've seen, the primary trait of someone who is responsive to God is a heart filled with His love, forgiveness, and strength. When we feel secure and loved by God, we don't feel compelled to use money for selfish purposes—as a tool of power, to impress people, to lavish ourselves with comfort and excitement, or to hoard it so we'll feel safe.
A friend told me a story about a woman who has a sensitive spirit. She loves to give to others, and God often nudges her to be generous—not just to write checks for needy people but to give her time and possessions, too. In fact, she sometimes senses that God wants her to give away something she really values. She's given away a painting, a fine table, a piece of heirloom jewelry, and other things that have been important to her. Her husband, by the way, sometimes thinks she's nuts, but he's learned to avoid getting in the way of God's obvious nudges in her life.
Every time she gives something she values, she thinks and prays about it. She reflects on the truth that Jesus gave her everything, so giving away something of value puts her close to His heart. She remarked, "I love giving these things. I try to give them to people who really need them, and it gives me great pleasure to see the looks on their faces."
Sometimes, though, she gives anonymously. She actually gets even more delight from giving without anyone knowing the source.
Takeaways:
People often use money for selfish purposes, such as gaining power over others, seeking approval, pursuing comfort, or hoarding for security.
Being responsive to God's nudges involves having a heart filled with His love, forgiveness, and strength, which frees us from using money selfishly.
Giving generously, whether publicly or anonymously, can bring great joy and pleasure when we are sensitive to God's nudges and follow His leading.
Thank you for reading!
[[Excerpted from my book, The God Nudge: Learning To Flow In The Supernatural.]]