Money Myth That Hinders
You can’t worship God and money. Money is the root of all evil. Don’t be like the rich man that went to hell because he didn’t help a poor man. You can’t worship two gods.
-Thoughts From Why Netta’s Upbringing
I am decluttering any lingering negative thoughts about money to enjoy future financial blessings. I am not ashamed that I was raised in a religious home. But I am ashamed of the guilt about money I developed because of what I was taught.
I remember seeing the blessings my great-grandparents had. I wanted to live a life of comfort like them. I thought I had my plan together until the side effects of life happened. Three homes went into foreclosure. The Cadillac was taken away. Because of Alzheimer’s, the life I became accustomed to went away.
Selfish much, Netta? No, please don’t misunderstand. I am speaking from that preteen part of me that witnessed and interrupted the events in this manner. As an adult unpacking the why’s, I wondered why I feared financial security. I developed a fear of being rich.
The phase I mentioned above has had me bonded to a limited life. Because I choose heaven as my happily ever after, to have a chance to do so is to remain poor. This is what my pubescent brain heard and tattooed on my spirit: Lazarus went to heaven as a poor beggar where his life of wealth is stored in a mansion for him, and the glutton was doomed to torment because he had money and didn’t share at all. Jesus being betrayed by Judas over money sealed the deal of why I should remain poor. Money equals power, and having control is terrible because you are worshipping another god. Remember, money is a god that we shouldn’t worship.Thus, putting fear before God.
As confusing as that may seem, that is what was hardwired in me. In my opinion, this fear embedded in me is a generational curse. A curse that is engrained and wrapped by biblical backing to why you shouldn’t want to prosper much on Earth. Yep, I unsubscribed from that notion.
The last blog I posted was what I lived over a decade ago and sometimes had to revert to. Those decisions I made to survive would have been easier to navigate if I had learned not to fear money in my formative years. I discovered that money is at the root of certain evils, not all. I learned that money brings happiness in knowing you don’t have to worry about everyday needs. That is the type of happiness God promises in His Word, right? I learned to take the fear out of moving forward financially.
Lastly, I learned that you can’t worship two gods simultaneously. I can’t claim to hold to old-school traditions but live a life that screams modern. I can’t say I am down with the struggle while secretly trying to create a path out of it. I can’t be ashamed of my true intentions while masquerading around, living the life of someone who would be comfortable in my shoes. It’s an either/or type of situation, and with confusion like that, no wonder why God hasn’t stepped in.
My choice is to continue to rock this gorgeous melanin God gave me, be accepting of every penny He blesses me with, and continue growing. And just a side note: momma, daddy, and grandma are NOT always right. Don’t allow their ancient teachings keep you in a state of delayed blessings.
