MONEY

John G. Wendel and his sisters were some of the most miserly people of all time. Although they had received a huge inheritance from their parents, they spent very little of it and did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves. John was able to influence five of his six sisters never to marry, and they lived in the same house in New York City for 50 years. When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million. Her only dress was one that she had made herself, and she had worn it for 25 years.

The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers. Even worse, they were like the kind of person Jesus referred to "who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). 

Daily Walk, June 2, 1993.

Godfrey Davis, who wrote a biography about the Duke of Willington, said, "I found an old account ledger that showed how the Duke spent his money. It was a far better clue to what he thought was really important than the reading of his letters or speeches."

How we handle money reveals much about the depth of our commitment to Christ. That's why Jesus often talked about money. One-sixth of the gospels, including one out of every three parables, touches on stewardship. Jesus wasn't a fundraiser. He dealt with money matters because money matters. For some of us, though, it matters too much. 

Our Daily Bread, August 26, 1993.

Money is s lousy means of keeping score. The futility of riches is stated very plainly in two places: The Bible and the Income Tax form.

Billing's Law: Live within your income even if you have to borrow to do so. 

Official Rules, p. 14.

Money can be hazardous to your health. Two medical researchers at the University of Louisville have been looking into the question and have found that "13%" of the coins and 42% of the paper money carry disease-producing organisms." Small denomination coins and bills are more dangerous because of their rapid turnover.

Source Unknown.

When the Fellow says it's not the money but the principle of the thing, it's the money.

Source Unknown.

Every time you lend money to a friend you damage his memory. 

Source Unknown.

Someone asked Willie Sutton, the notorious bank robber why he robbed so many banks. "Because," replied Sutton, "That's where the money is."

Source Unknown.

Young Families in Debt: Spending habits of young married couples with children (both spouses 18 to 25): Average after-tax income, $19,783. Average annual spending, $21,401. They are spending around 8% more than they make.

Family Economics Review, quoted in U.S.A. Today, May 20, 1991, p. D1.

What's the most outrageous thing you would do for $10,000 cash? That's the question posed recently by Chicago radio station WKOX, which attracted responses from more than 6,000 full-tilt crazies.

The eventual winner: Jay Gwaltney of Zionsville, Indiana, who consumed an 11-foot birch sapling -- leaves, roots, bark and all. For the event, he donned a tux and dined at a table set elegantly with china, sterling, candles and a rose vase. Armed with pruning sheers, the Indiana State University sophomore began chomping from the top of the tree and worked his way, branch by branch, to the roots. His only condiment: French dressing for the massive birch-leaf salad. The culinary feat took 18 hours over a period of three days.

When it was all over, Gwaltney complained of an upset stomach. Evidently the bark was worse than his bite. 

Campus Life, December 1980, p. 19.

Percentage of all paper money in the U.S. that contains traces of cocaine: 97% 

Charis Conn, Ed., What Counts: The Complete Harper's Index.

In 1928 a group of the world's most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. The following were present: The president of the largest utility company, The greatest wheat speculator, The president of the New York Stock Exchange, A member of the President's Cabinet, The greatest "bear" in Wall Street, The president of the Bank of International Settlements, The head of the world's greatest monopoly. Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the U.S. Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples. Twenty-five years later, this is what had happened to these men:

The president of the largest independent steel company, Charles Schwab, lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life and died broke. 

The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died abroad, insolvent. 

The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served a term in Sing Sing Prison. 

The member of the President's Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. 

The greatest "bear" in Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed suicide. 

The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser, committed suicide. 

The head of the world's greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed suicide. 

All of these men had learned how to make money, but not one of them had learned how to live.

Source Unknown.

When a person with experience meets a person with money, the person with experience will get the money. And the person with the money will get experience. 

Leonard Lauder, president of Estee Lauder.

Research indicates that most households tend to spend 10 percent more than their income, no matter what the income level.

Source Unknown.

He that is down needs fear no fall,

He that is low, no pride;

He that is humble ever shall

Have God to be his guide.

I am content with what I have,

Little be it or much;

And, Lord, contentment still I crave,

Because Thou savest such.

Fullness to such a burden is

That go on pilgrimage;

Here little, and hereafter bliss,

Is best from age to age.

John Bunyan.

How rich is rich? According to a survey of people who ought to know, the answer is $1 million to $5 million in assets. Investment managers Neuberger & Bergman sponsored the survey of people who stand to give or receive inheritances (median household assets: $500,000). Paradoxically, 55% of those whose assets ranged from $1 million to $5 million don't consider themselves wealthy. 

USA Today, November 11, 1991, D1.

Albert J. Lowry set out to prove that it was easy to get rich quick in real estate with no money down--and he dud just that. Not surprisingly, his 1980 book, How You Can Become Financially Independent by Investing in Real Estate, was a bestseller. In a May 1981 cover story, Money magazine estimated Lowry's net worth at $30 million and called him a "real estate wizard." But something went wrong, and in October 1985 the Success development Institute, which promoted Lowry's theories, collapsed with $2.5 million in debts. In June of 1987 it was reported that Lowry's assets were being liquidated in Los Angeles under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code. 

Today in the Word, November 22, 1991.

Whoever says money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to shop. 

Donald Trump, U.S. News and World Report, January 9, 1989. 

Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money. 

Source Unknown.

According to a Gallup survey, almost half the total charitable contributions in the US come from households with incomes of less than $30,000. 

Reported in The Other Side, quoted in Discipleship Journal, Issue 53, 1989, p. 20.

There are two ways in which a Christian may view his money--"How much of my money shall I use for God?" or "How much of God's money shall I use for myself?" 

W. Graham Scroggie.

In I Talk Back to the Devil,  A.W. Tozer reminds us:

"Money often comes between men and God. Someone has said that you can take two small ten-cent pieces, just two dimes, and shut out the view of a panoramic landscape. Go to the mountains and just hold two coins closely in front of your eyes--the mountains are still there, but you cannot see them at all because there is a dime shutting off the vision in each eye."

It doesn't take large quantities of money to come between us and God; just a little, placed in the wrong position, will effectively obscure our view.

Cedric Gowler.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer--and it seems that compound interest would virtually guarantee it! Not so, according to investment counselor David Dreman. Writing in Forbes magazine, Dreman noted that most large fortunes diminish and sometimes disappear in only two or three generations. He observed, "Why most nest eggs dissipate over time is a major problem..." 

Today in the Word, April, 1990, p. 9.

The average charitable giving in the United States is 1.7 percent of adjusted gross income. The average among Christians is 2.5 percent. 

Ron Blue, quoted in Discipleship Journal, Issue 53, 1989, p. 20.

In the United States in 1950, 10 percent of all income was spent for luxuries ($50 billion). By 1980, 30 percent of all income went to luxuries ($350 billion).

Source Unknown.

The real measure of our wealth is how much we'd be worth if we lost all our money. 

J.H. Jowett.

If you had your life to live over again--you'd need more money.

Construction Digest.

Money will buy a bed but not sleep; books but not brains; food but not appetite; finery but not beauty; a house but not a home; medicine but not health; luxuries but not culture; amusements but not happiness; religion but not salvation; a passport to everywhere but heaven. 

The Voice In the Wilderness, quoted in Discipleship Journal, Issue 53, 1989, p. 21.

Before borrowing money from a friend, decide which you need more.

Addison H. Hallock.

What the wealthy think about money:

I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness--John W. Rockefeller. 

The care of $200,000,000 is enough to kill anyone. There is no pleasure in it--W.H. Vanderbilt. 

I am the most miserable man on earth--John Jacob Astor. 

I was happier when doing a mechanic's job--Henry Ford.

Millionaires seldom smile--Andrew Carnegie.

Source Unknown.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend their incomes as follows:

Shelter 23%

Transportation 21%

Food 15%

Retirement plans 8%

Utilities 7%

Clothing 5%

Entertainment 5%

Medical care 5%

Savings 3%

Insurance (excluding care and home) 1%

Miscellaneous 7%

Reported in First, quoted in Discipleship Journal, Issue 53, 1989, p. 21.

According to Social Security records, 85 out of 100 Americans have less than $250 when they reach age 65. 

Ron Blue, Master Your Money.

Almost half of Americans report having less than $5,000 in savings and investments, including 1 out of 10 who have none at all. Significantly, more than one-fourth of Americans did not save or invest any of their income in the past year. 

Dr. Seymour Lieberman, Homemade, January, 1985.