There are weights – unhelpful significant additions we carry around restraining the divine work of grace and hardening us to leadings of the Holy Spirit in finances and other areas. Money baggage includes beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours developed from observing finance matters as we matured. This includes the formative associations, experiences and literature that shaped thinking as well as situations prevalent, tolerated or celebrated. When we surrender our lives to Christ, baggage rebels instinctively against the renewal of our minds.
In summary I list below five pieces of baggage related to finances – giving more attention to discuss the last of which I admit a bias to see as perhaps more encumbering especially from a spiritual perspective. All these items come in a deceptive garb but really are merciless predators positioned to tear apart God ordained destiny.
- Idols
- Certain lingering experiences
- Untested assumptions and misread observations
- Fears
- Philosophies of Achievement – Humanism
Idols: We unconsciously embrace the good and the not-so-good in kindred, leaders or examples of admired persons. How many lusted over 50 room mansions of celebrities? … Or gaped as films and TV commercials arrested our thoughts and screen idols alighted happily from white limousines (not considering that this joy could be only part of another script – unreal). Why is “Idols” – reality television competition – so popular in all nations? Many vain but well acted mind-distorting scenes and images remain etched in the mind, influencing desires and distorting priorities. We also tend to embrace the brand of faith and beliefs of people close to or historical icons admired by us. We unconsciously hold on to fond but made-up memories of people to whom we feel attached – clinging to models God may want released. These idols have crept into worship …producing music and pastoral theo-tainment instead of discipleship.
Certain lingering experiences: A vivid memory of the disgrace over bankruptcy or a grieving relation unable to meet bills can be foundational in a life that commits to wealth as ultimate protection to be obtained at all costs. This positive urge to succeed can also become a maniacal drive tending eventually to criminality. God give me grace to be freed of the chains of a corrupted past. We are accustomed to conditions that formed us – sometimes unable to appreciate a different wholeness paradigm. We simply do not know better…and cannot appreciate or desire the healing we need.
Untested assumptions and misread observations: Many have wrong perceptions of most situations. We impute truths in academic texts, classics, religious and philosophy literature, music lyrics, poetry and drama…traditional folklore and sundry documented narratives until completely mind-washed with fantasy. Many unproven suppositions are mixed in our most noble thoughts. Advertising reshapes realities until dangerous vehicles (like debt) resemble useful appliances of salvation – at least for a season. (See previous article on myths.)
Fears: Chiefly, the fear of failure and disgrace. Hindrances and opposition are overestimated – helped by fears. Fear helps to overrate the things we imagine will hold us down. Many have successfully overcome major adverse swings in fortunes and bad winds to emerge much stronger. But most are still afraid to move forward should they fail. Fears also include exaggerated thoughts of inferiority and distortion of perceptions/impressions as it relates to acceptance of others or the authority of others to stop us. This baggage encourages oppressive covenants innocently entered for protection and alignments with fraternities promising some insurance. (See article Dare to fail.) Fear robs of all the things we could do or have done and be – if we had no fear. Fear offers instead second-rate “safer” options and destiny substitutes having cremated and buried many great works, books, ministries, inventions and new business initiatives.
Philosophies of Achievement – Humanism: These are positive meditations and mental exercises to influence seen and unseen creation to attract wealth and success. The Andrew Carnegie Dictum was to spend the first third of one’s life getting all the education one can, to spend the next third making all the money one can and spend the last third giving it all away for worthwhile causes. Andrew Carnegie was involved in philanthropist causes, but he kept himself away from religious circles. He wanted to be identified by the world as a ‘positivist’. In “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill popularised Edison’s philosophies that perhaps foreshadowed today’s “prosperity” “humanist” and “motivational” movements…offering a mental solve-all that captured a generation. Napoleon piped his formula for success paralleled on studies of patterns common to achievers of the day. This new music enchanted billions ripe for the bait… and many slide down under the grip of a new lord – self. Others embraced perhaps unknowingly the occult behind the mask of brotherly love, charity, extra-biblical esoteric truth and generous philanthropy. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil again tastes better than that of life. The sufficiency and sole supremacy of Jesus Christ is debatable and His throne can be shared.
Napoleon Hill’s models of humanism were great inventors, achievers, thinkers and philanthropists like Thomas Edison,George Eastman,Henry Ford,Elmer Gates,John D. Rockefeller, Sr.,Charles M. Schwab,F.W. Woolworth,William Wrigley Jr., and John Wanamaker. The good end was said to justify any means or mix of beliefs. i.e. a good man was one who did good things in a bad society – free to worship whatever he fancied.
Edison believed “Nature is what we know. We do not know the gods of religions … nature made us — nature did it all — not the gods of the religions…. what you call God I call Nature, the Supreme intelligence that rules matter.” In 1932, Eastman (who changed the face of photography when he found the Eastman Kodak company at New York) committed suicide with a single gunshot to the heart, leaving a note which read, “My work is done. Why wait?” Ford and Adolf Hitler admired each other’s achievements. Henry Ford said “I adopted the theory of Reincarnation when I was twenty six. Religion offered nothing to the point. Even work could not give me complete satisfaction. Work is futile if we cannot utilise the experience we collect in one life in the next.” Ford captured the final breath of Edison in a test-tube kept till today in the Ford Museum. Gates introduced the science of “mind-using”. Rockefeller became an oil “Baron”. Schwab the steel magnate who became notorious for his “fast lane” lifestyle died broke. Woolworth the stores magnate was deeply fascinated with Egyptology and spiritualism. John Wanamaker, the father of modern advertising was a Pennsylvania Mason. Norman Vincent Peale – a Protestant preacher and also a Scottish Rite Freemason – another later day piper of humanism wrote “The Power of Positive thinking” described by a critic as “The Bible of American auto hypnotism”.
Luke 9 [25] For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
There are few that have not had to deal with any of these besetting weights in one form or the other. Many still do not see the junk… after all carrying them seems to work just fine. However, where they are not boldly conquered, “innocent” baggage transforms to hungry dragons waiting in the den that life eventually throws all into. The most ravenous of these beasts being “Philosophies of Achievement” or more accurately “Doctrines of demons” – as disciplines of the mind and mental manipulation to influence others graduate into more elaborate ritual. Once the bait is bitten, the snare closes and many drown in destruction.
Hosea 4[6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
I Timothy 6 [9] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Ephesians 4[22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Daniel already conquered when alone he purposed firmly not to defile himself and said “no Babylonian junk food for me”. When the beasts saw him in the den they only saw Christ – the Lion of Judah. Compare this to the mongers of his destruction – quickly and completely torn to shreds before slipping down the cave.
Perhaps “baggage” items are in your house…still lurking somewhere in more private chambers. Domestic pets you call them … fed by your attention but soon to manifest their vicious identity. Unlike Daniel …who from the onset purposed to be apart…it took a while for me to risk confronting the baggage once and for all…only to find there’s even more than I thought that I could ever list … I do not justify them but rather still go to my prayer closet to express my frustrations at the Throne room of God – laying all my ugly burdens at the feet of Jesus…not finding shameful rebuke but always encouragement, help, fresh mercy, resolve and strength as Jesus moves out the rest of the rubbish and rebuilds where I went amiss.
Nehemiah 4[10] And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
Nehemiah rebuilt successfully. Pray that the Holy Spirit should reveal your own peculiar baggage (lion) and receive grace to see what the word of God calls rubbish. God help us to be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus…and may His grace be sufficient for all our prosperity. May Christ help us to victory. May we be made truly financially whole by Him.
Success is for the will of God to prosper in our lives. In Christ – you will succeed. Conquering is to master the things that seek to master us internally and externally. Like Daniel – you will conquer. Finishing well is to make Heaven and earn the well done of God. Like Nehemiah you will finish well. Amen
John 14[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(Originally published in the Christian Post)
There are two warring masters who are distinct in their influence to dominate your life, thoughts and very being. You cannot be on the fence…indeed one master must be despised if the other reigns. Christ says we cannot serve both. He also teaches that we cannot be neutral to these commanding forces…if we are not under one domain by default we are under another. I have encountered many Christian finance blogs that seem to suggest we can have the best of both worlds but this is not the teaching of Christ. I have also seen so many great and helpful tools (some on my blog) that help us be financially responsible and often concerned (if we are not careful) that these do not become a new line of “modern toys “ that preoccupy us well. But we eventually miss the point as they do help us to win the urgent money battle only to lose the critical war. When we put so much focus on money, we are always lured into a romance with an intensely jealous and controlling mistress that will not permit Christ any ground. 
