It's Just Money

And I'm Still Trying To Figure It Out (Things That Matter #22)

Many people get the saying wrong: “Money is the root of all evil.” They say it like it’s official. They say it like they read it once on a bumper sticker next to “God is my co-pilot” and that settles it. But, my friends, that’s not what Scripture actually says. The line, from 1 Tim 6:10, says, “For a root of all bad things is the love of money.” In Greek, that’s ῥίζα γὰρ πάντων τῶν κακῶν ἐστιν ἡ φιλαργυρία. That translates, in modern parlance to: “It’s not the money itself, but your creepy obsession with it that’s the problem.”

Money is weird. I’ve always thought that. It’s weird how it can play a role in placing stressors on a marriage or fund a mission trip. It’s weird how it can start a fight at the dinner table or buy everyone tacos and make everything alright again. It’s weird how some people can virtually lose their minds over a twenty-dollar mistake and others will give away their last twenty without blinking. It’s weird how some folks will tithe faithfully for years and never miss a cent while others will wrestle with that five-dollar bill like they’re letting go of their firstborn.

So, cards on the table, full admission here: I don’t fully understand how money works. I really don’t. Particularly in the realm of tithing. I’ve been a tither for as long as I can remember, and somehow, it’s as if the consistent give away has always resulted in there being enough. And sometimes even more than enough. It is mysterious and, without lapsing into some hyper-spiritualistic explanation, I do think it is a spiritual mystery sort of baked into the fabric of the cosmos. God gives you a gift and entrusts you with it. You steward it well, part of which means giving it back to him. And when you do, he comes through again and again, often entrusting you with more. It’s so simple yet so profound I struggle to articulate it well.

Once, back in college, I was literally packed to leave because I couldn’t pay my bill. It was such a sad moment. I packed up my dorm room, had my car loaded, and was heartbroken that I had to go. On the way to drop off my dorm keys, I stopped by the campus mailbox out of habit one last time. And… I found an envelope with the exact amount I needed. No note. No name. Just what I needed, exactly when I needed it. Which is either a miracle or a very generous stalker. To this day, I have no idea how that happened. But I have numerous stories like that.

And ever since then, I’ve always said, “It’s just money.” It’s not at all because I don’t care about it. And it’s not at all because I’m reckless or indifferent or allergic to savings accounts. No, it’s because I’ve seen what happens when you make money your god. It never blesses you back. It never thanks you. It never stops asking to chase it. It never stops asking you for more. You can serve it your whole life and still feel broke inside.

I say, “It’s just money,” as a reminder that it can serve me, but it won’t own me. Ever. Again, don’t get me wrong. I believe in stewardship. That includes being generous, but also being wise. You don’t give to everyone and everything. You give to the right person and the right things. You don’t splurge in the name of faith, but you also don’t hoard in the name of fear. Being a good steward isn’t about being tightfisted. It’s about being intentional. That’s the key! It’s about holding things loosely because you trust The One who holds everything tightly.

And when you’re in comedy, this takes on a whole new meaning. You will bomb. You will get paid in drinks or sandwiches. I’ve literally had audience members, happy and supportive fans, come up to me after shows and hand me cash that was more than what the club or booker paid me. It’s like the youth pastor who gets paid in side-hugs from congregants who say things like, “We’ll be praying for your gas money.” Lol!

Hopefully, you get the point. If not, here’s what I am trying to say: I’ve learned that when you give freely, with intention, with trust, it comes back in ways you just can’t explain. Sometimes it comes back through envelopes and sometimes through opportunities. Sometimes it comes back through peace and sometimes, weirdly enough, through a sandwich. But it always, always, always comes through providence. So be wise. Be faithful. Be generous. In fact, err on the side of wise generosity. And every now and then, remind yourself: it’s just money.