Money Money Money

Sometimes, society pressures make us want to "keep up with the Jones'" or "be like the next guy.

Recently, a good friend of mine, got a new job. It's an amazing opportunity. Since we do the same job, the first thing through my mind was a craving to be like this guy. It was a hallmark of success.

BUT - wait. I have my own karma to get through.

I can't live another person's life. It may not be what's "right for me" or what God wants for me at this point.

This desire, if not the right path, could end in futility. Thus Frustration.

My friend had the Karma to get into a great gig. That's awesome.

If I were to live someone else's life and goals and get a boost in pay, if it's outside of God's will either A) be a frustrating exercise or B) it won't happen, and be frustrating.

That's not to say, don't go for an opportunity. Go for it, without expectations. BUT if you know you're where you're supposed to be, there's no reason to move.

In my recent past - starting around 2008 I started trying to make extra income... I ran a few side businesses, and got into day trading. All of it, ended in ruin. I also tried selling my photography and art, and that ended in ruin.

Not only did my ventures fail, but then when I tried to stabilize and stop the ventures, I got hit with enormous problems that cost me a lot of money.

I would get an extra $5000 only to get hit with an emergency requiring $8000. It was a repeat of a problem, that was so coincidental, I began looking for a deeper reason behind it all.

I recently discovered, I had a deep seated desire to be "free" of debt so I could be "free" of relying on God for my daily life.

We are IN FACT, taught this from an early age. "Save your money," "Invest in a 401k," "Prepare for rough times." I'm not saying that's bad, but if the motivation is to be self reliant - then our need and dependency upon God is weakened.

We can be out of debt. We can have the money to meet our needs. But with the right motivation. If we are close to God, living a spiritual life - God will take more interest in guiding us. This can initially be frustrating. But once we see what's going on, it's liberating.

For me, I strive to never accept something that isn't paid for. Movies, DVD's, Music - I wont take it, if it's copied. I don't want the karma of 'theft' on my mind.

I also began Tithing. 10% given to a source of spiritual knowledge or inspiration. I currently divide the 10% of my earnings amongst 2-3 sources.

Pray believing that God will assist my needs.

Maybe God will give me a job that's as good or better then this friend of mine. OR, maybe that's the WORST thing for ME. The most important facet of life, for me, is being in God's will. I've had points in my life where I got enormous wealth, and squandered it, and left the spiritual path I was on. Those were incidents and lessons, due to having wrong motivation.

The motivation must be pure. The desire of having something, just to have it, is impure. For me, the reason to be out of debt (however I can achieve that) must be for goals that do NOT take away from God.