Money has not always been in circulation; there was a time when people did not use money. The history of money, first coins and then banknotes, is complex and interesting.

There’s a general assumption that money has made life easier. I believe this. I remember learning about the barter system in school and the challenges this system presented for trade, hence the move to using money. Before money, natural objects, including clay and metal coins, were used as currency for trade. Nowadays, we use cards and speak of digital money, like Bitcoin, the ‘future’ as many people have predicted.

Money affects many areas of our lives. To survive in today’s economy, you need money. We want money, we need it, and we love it. As Christians, we often shy away from expressing our love for money; one reason for that is 1 Timothy 6:10, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” This describes evil done worldwide and in our communities, often in pursuit of riches and wealth. We must always be careful of this.

I wish to have abundant money and be able to do what I desire whenever I want. Money means freedom; it gives those who have it the freedom of choice, which many of us long for. Imagine what your life would look like, the choices you would make, and the opportunities that would be opened for your children and your family if you were not limited by your financial resources. It's nice to dream! 

We must recognise the critical importance of money in everyday life and the functioning of the world. However, my challenge lies in that we have assigned money as the thanksgiving token. We have made money the language of thanksgiving. I see this everywhere. A simple thank you for your help, or service is meaningless unless accompanied by a “cold drink.” It seems that in our churches as well, a simple thank you is not enough.

 
A few weeks ago, I saw a post on X (https://x.com/theseerheals/status/1859617258307268979) where a user shared her opinion that church is not for unemployed people. This challenged me. Thanksgiving celebrations in our parishes have turned into fundraising initiatives. When people do not have money to give, it is assumed that they are ungrateful to God for what God has done. We know some people will only sometimes have what we have, so why expect them to give us the same? Perhaps this has only happened in my parish.

Money makes things happen. Good things happen when money is around. However, in making good things, we must remember that money is a tool. Not everybody has access to this tool. This tool is a gift, like many other gifts in our lives. We should then use this tool to bring life to all, even those who might not have this tool.