A Special Relationship With Money
Let not their form deceive you. Idols are but substitutes for your reality. In some way, you believe they will complete your little self, for safety in a world perceived as dangerous, with forces massed against your confidence and peace of mind. (T-29.VIII.2)
You make idols of others and have special relationships with them that are supposed to replace your relationship with your Self. But you can also make idols of things that are supposed to fill in some perceived lack in yourself.
One of these special relationships can be with money. Some people pursue money in such a way that it is obvious that money is an idol for them. This may show up as being greedy or as being stingy. Either way, you can see that money is viewed not as a means to an end, but an end in itself.
But with students of the Course what I often see is a special relationship in which money is viewed as some evil in itself. There may be discomfort with what they earn if they perceive themselves as earning a lot; distrust of what others earn when it is perceived as a lot; distrust of other students of the Course earning money off of books or classes or lectures or mentoring or coaching; distrust of the price of the Course books themselves.
But what is money? It is the grease that makes the wheel of life turn in the world. Have too little and the wheel strains and squeaks (you spend all your time just trying to make enough money). Have too much, and the wheel slips (spending money and acquiring things becomes an occupation in itself.). With just the right amount of grease (which is a matter of personal judgment) the wheel turns effortlessly (you are comfortable).
In this world, you have to have money. That is a fact. But you don’t have to have a special relationship with money. You can accept that money must be made and exchanged and leave all judgment to your Holy Spirit. You can trust that your Holy Spirit does not want you to spend your time here thinking about money, either because you have too little or too much. And you can trust that when a situation arises in which you need money to do what it is you are here to do (awaken), the money will be there.
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To receive this blog in your email contact me at Liz@acimmentor.com.
You make idols of others and have special relationships with them that are supposed to replace your relationship with your Self. But you can also make idols of things that are supposed to fill in some perceived lack in yourself.
One of these special relationships can be with money. Some people pursue money in such a way that it is obvious that money is an idol for them. This may show up as being greedy or as being stingy. Either way, you can see that money is viewed not as a means to an end, but an end in itself.
But with students of the Course what I often see is a special relationship in which money is viewed as some evil in itself. There may be discomfort with what they earn if they perceive themselves as earning a lot; distrust of what others earn when it is perceived as a lot; distrust of other students of the Course earning money off of books or classes or lectures or mentoring or coaching; distrust of the price of the Course books themselves.
But what is money? It is the grease that makes the wheel of life turn in the world. Have too little and the wheel strains and squeaks (you spend all your time just trying to make enough money). Have too much, and the wheel slips (spending money and acquiring things becomes an occupation in itself.). With just the right amount of grease (which is a matter of personal judgment) the wheel turns effortlessly (you are comfortable).
In this world, you have to have money. That is a fact. But you don’t have to have a special relationship with money. You can accept that money must be made and exchanged and leave all judgment to your Holy Spirit. You can trust that your Holy Spirit does not want you to spend your time here thinking about money, either because you have too little or too much. And you can trust that when a situation arises in which you need money to do what it is you are here to do (awaken), the money will be there.
www.acimmentor.com
To receive this blog in your email contact me at Liz@acimmentor.com.
Comments
I have always wondered about the proponents of The Secret and all the other LOA systems that seem to focus on money. Are they wrong? No, not if that is what they really want. The Course says [MFT p53 para 3]:
"The prayer for things of this world will bring experiences of this world. If the prayer of the heart asks for this, this will be given because this will be received. It is impossible that the prayer of the heart remain unanswered in the perception of the one who asks.....Herein lie hell and Heaven"
I have read this section 21 of the MFT before and never seen this. I clearly was not ready...