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Youth Related Youth Related Articles For The Love Of Money
Youth Related Youth Related Articles For The Love Of Money | For The Love Of Money |
| Written by Kandise Lucas, PhD. | |
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When the lyrics begin to list the horrible acts that people will commit "for the love of money," I realized that the love of money promotes an extremely unhealthy and unbalanced mindset, which can lead to self-destructive and selfish behaviors. In fact, I read in the Bible that "the love of money is the root of all evil". The O'Jays must have had this in mind when singing this song. In essence, the love of money can be a mental illness which leads to the need to acquire money by any means necessary, whether it be through selling drugs, your body, using people, or even stealing from a church. What is the proper perspective regarding money? First, we and our children must view money as a tool…just a tool…nothing more than a tool. How and what we use this tool for speaks to whether we have a healthy and balanced perspective of money. Secondly, we must never permit money to be a ruling authority within our lives or the lives of our children. So what if a job opportunity pays more than the one that you presently have. Will you be happy on the higher paying job? Will you have time to spend with your children? Will you have peace of mind? Will you be forced to compromise your beliefs and convictions? Your answer to these questions determines whether money is a god in your life. Thirdly, we must promote the use of money as a tool to promote the overall well-being of others in a meaningful way. There is no room for selfish materialism in this school of thought, nor can you permit yourself to subscribe to the "get all I can and can all that I get" mentality. Is there a public school within your community that is struggling for supplies? Establish an annual grant to meet this need. Is there a senior within your neighborhood that has to choose between paying for their prescription or paying their electric bill? Begin a prescription subsidy program at your local pharmacy or develop an energy assistance scholarship with your community. The list goes on and on. You choose how you will control the money that comes into your possession without allowing the money to control you. "Managing Money is a Matter of the Heart…." Kandise N. Lucas, PhD. |
One lazy Saturday morning as I was in bed surfing the net, sipping cappuccino, and listening to the radio, I heard an "oldie," but goodie by The O’Jays called "For The Love of Money." We all know that song! Like many of us, I have heard the song hundreds of times. This particular morning I was listening with an analytical ear as opposed to a "sista’ that loves the O’Jays" ear. The lyrics really began to speak to my goal of having the proper perspective of money within my life for my family, especially with my daughter. Phrases within the song such as, "…don’t let money rule you…" "…don’t let money fool you…" and "don’t let money change you…" are words that speak volumes as to how we should view money within our mind and spirits. Money is a just a tool. It is not a god. 