The Danger of Fast Money

Wednesday - November 17th

Scripture to Read Today: Proverbs 13:7-11

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Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Proverbs 13:11

An old friend of mine loves to enter every sweepstake or contest, play the lottery, and call into every radio contest where the 5th caller wins a prize. While he is not a gambler, he firmly believes he will hit some grand prize that will make him wealthy overnight. My friend borders on being obsessed with winning little contests with the hope of achieving something huge.

The Monopoly game at McDonalds drives him crazy. He eats every meal at the fast-food chain for the six to eight weeks they run the contest. He gathers the Monopoly pieces with the belief that the restaurant chain intentionally distributes the game pieces to different franchises in a systemic way. My old friend believes that he will discover the pattern of the game pieces distribution and beat the system one year. Then, he will gather all the pieces needed to win the grand prize of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This friend is so obsessed with things like the McDonalds' Monopoly game that he thinks of and pursues little else in his life. His friends keep trying to help him find freedom from this obsession.

The Book of Proverbs has much to say about money, how we pursue it, spend it, and save it. For example, Proverbs 13:11 says, "Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow." Scriptures such as this one emphasize the value and benefit of being steady and faithful in how we acquire money and use it. Financial peace is found in being devoted to a job, wise in spending, and committed to saving. Stability in our finances comes with deliberate planning and proactive saving. That is how we "gather money little by little and make it grow."

The idea that some quick win, prize, or jackpot provides the best way to achieve financial peace is a farce. Of course, winning a prize or contest is not wrong in and of itself. But, as followers of Christ, an obsession with fast money can be dangerous.

Hard work, wise budgeting, disciplined spending, and careful spending bring financial peace faster than quick money!