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Money Is Not the Root of All Evil

 

by Glenn Shepard

March 9, 2010

 

 

In order to get the most out of your career, it helps to clarify your purpose for working in the first place. That sounds obvious, but some have convoluted the issue.

People often misquote that money is the root of all evil. This is untrue. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. It’s how we handle money that causes problems.

We need money and there’s nothing wrong with being well paid for a job well done.

Billy Graham’s salary was reported at $174,000 for the year 2000.

The first official salary for a president of the United States was $25,000 a year in 1789.

Bill Clinton’s presidential salary was $200,000 a year when he left office in January 2001.

George W. Bush began at a salary of $400,000 a year when he took office that same month.

Bill Gates has given away nearly $30 billion through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I challenge anyone who thinks money is evil to tell it to the thousands of children whose lives have been saved because of the medical treatments made possible through the Gates’ philanthropy.

I also challenge anyone who claims that money is evil to try living without it.

Money is neither good nor bad, but it is a necessity. Most of what you’ll ever want to do requires money.

Whether it’s sending your kids to college, feeding the homeless, or buying a new convertible Jaguar, you need money to do it.

Even those who work for a higher calling agree that having more money frees them up to do more of what matters most. When Larry King asked Rick Warren (author of The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 30,000,000 million copes) how money has changed his life, Warren said it didn’t change his life very much. He remained in the same house, kept driving the same car, and is still the pastor of Saddleback Church.

But he did repay his salary for the past 20 years, now works for free, and gives away 90% of his income (called reverse tithing).

He explained that the money didn’t change his life, but made it possible for him to change thousands of other people’s lives.

Wanting to make the most out of the 40 hours or more you put into work every week doesn’t mean you're greedy, materialistic, or selfish.

It means you're wise.

If you’ve got to work, why not make the most out of it?

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay where you are if you’re content and able to meet your financial obligations.

There’s also nothing inherently wrong with wanting to make more money.

 

 

Dedicated To Your Success,

 

 

 

 

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“Money makes a good man better and a bad man worse.”
 

 

Dear Glenn,   

I'm a manager for a retailer that sells a product we install in our customers' homes. Because of the economy, and poor fiscal management when times were good, we're hanging on by a thin thread.

         Our company has a policy that we don't order products unless they're prepaid in full by our customers.

     We're on credit hold with many of our suppliers, which means long delays for our customers, and installation dates sometimes get canceled because we can't get product.

     Our customers expect an explanation, which puts us in a terrible position. We can't tell them they can't get the product they paid for because we're on credit hold.

     We eventually get the product, but have to make up several half truths that often make our customers angry.

     Because a great part of my income comes from selling, I share my sales people's frustration. How do we handle this and keep our integrity?

Todd in Texas

 

 

Dear Todd,

     Find another job immediately. A  company that takes customers' money and then doesn't deliver products as promised, will also struggle to meet payroll. Don't wait until your paycheck bounces.

     As far as answering customers' questions ethically, that's tricky. While I want you out of this company as fast as you can, telling your customers that your company is robbing Peter to pay Paul while you're still there won't help.

     I don't advocate lying, but you don't have to tell the whole truth every time either. Sidestepping the  question as much as possible my be the best you can do until you leave the company.

     A former FBI polygraph examiner explained it this way. There are overt lies that are self serving. But there are also lies of compassion, told to protect others. I committed one of those lies by changing your name to Todd in this column, to protect you.

    There are also lies of omission, where we choose not to tell the whole truth. For example, your brother falls head over heals with the ugliest woman you've ever seen, and says, "Isn't she hot?" You might respond, "She's really something else".

      That's not as honest as saying "Man, she's a skank!", but it's what most caring people would do.

    Thanks for your question. Now go find another job, FAST!

Glenn in Nashville, TN

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