Episode 282 - Have You Made Money Your Valentine? with Andy Crouch, Randy Alcorn, and Tom Hsieh
Feb 13, 2024
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Andy Crouch, Randy Alcorn, and Tom Hsieh discuss developing a biblically informed relationship with money, the power of Mammon, personal anecdotes of unexpected blessings, living in Pomona and working for its transformation, and the positive changes brought about by community servant leader Tim Sanderball.
Money holds an impersonal power that can rival God, offering control and bypassing the need for validation or consent from others.
Generosity and transparency are key strategies for dethroning money and mammon, allowing individuals to serve God and break free from impersonal power.
Deep dives
The Power of Money: Fungible, Countable, and Storeable
Money holds a power that even Caesar does not have. Money is fungible, countable, and storeable, allowing it to be exchanged for anything, measured in quantity, and saved for later use. This power, unlike other forms of power, is not contextual and does not depend on relationships or authority. Money provides an impersonal power that allows individuals to get what they want, bypassing the need for validation or consent from others. It becomes a direct rival to God, as it offers a sense of power and control that may negate the need for reliance on a higher power.
Understanding Mammon: A Quasi-Personal Demonic Power
The untranslated word 'mammon' in Jesus' teachings refers to a quasi-personal, nameable power in human affairs that is opposed to the will of God. Mammon is a demonic force aligned with Satan, seeking to turn persons into things and remove personal connections from the world. Money and mammon are intertwined, with mammon desiring an impersonal world devoid of personal relationships, ultimately opposing God's vision of a world filled with godly love and harmony among individuals. Serving mammon and God simultaneously becomes impossible due to their opposing purposes and goals.
Dethroning Money and Mammon Through Generosity and Transparency
Generosity and transparency are key strategies for dethroning money and mammon in our lives. By embracing generosity, individuals release control and take risks, as giving is an inherently selfless act. Transparency, specifically related to finances, allows the breaking of secrecy and challenges the grip of mammon. Opening up about financial matters and sharing resources with others allows for a renewed focus on serving God rather than serving money. Giving away wealth and resources acknowledges that they are entrusted to individuals by God, and using them for the betterment of others aligns with God's desires.
Living a Life of Radical Generosity and Trust in God
Entrepreneur Tom Shea shares his personal journey of living a life of radical generosity. Despite running a successful airline, Tom has chosen to keep his family budget at the medium income level and give away the rest of his income. Through this intentional choice, he has experienced divine provision and blessings, such as winning an all-expense-paid trip to Italy and receiving support from his community when in need. Tom's decision to prioritize giving over accumulating material possessions has resulted in a deeper dependence on God and a sense of purpose in transforming his community. His story serves as a testimony of how breaking free from the grip of mammon can lead to an abundant and fulfilling life guided by God's grace.
The middle of February is often filled with commercialized images of love. Flowers, chocolates, those little chalky tasting heart candies with sweet messages.
It all revolves around Valentine’s Day.
And in between booking restaurant reservations or talking about how you reject the hallmark holiday, we might stop to ask ourselves, what do we really love?
Most of us know the right answers here: family, friends, God. As entrepreneurs, we love our work and what it affords us.
And, let’s face it, a lot of us love money.
But can we dig a little deeper here? Money isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it can be a catalyst for great good in the world. As long as we learn to think about it rightly.
And that’s what we’re going to do in today’s episode. We’ll hear from author Andy Crouch, theologian Randy Alcorn, and entrepreneur Tom Hsieh talk about how we can develop a biblically informed relationship with money that leads to generosity and joy.