As I See It
March 26th, 2007 by Northern FarmerIt’s been a while again since I’ve been on here but such is life in the fast lane, eh! It’s been warm here, in the seventies, sunny out. Translated from Minnesotan to English this means a sea of mud on the farm. Can’t hardly do anything except try to feed cattle in the mud. Hopefully the deep mud season will be a short one.
But tonight I have one thing on my mind and that’s money. No, I’m not in need of any or anything like that. Don’t want to spoil my perfect record of living broke or anything like that. I just want to put in my two cents worth here. I read on many different blogs about it, which is fine. Everyone has an opinion. Well, here is mine. And let the first person that reads this and lives completely free of the money system throw the first stone! For some reason I’m not worried about any stones being thrown at me!
Now there’s all kinds of opinions out there and most don’t mean all to much to me. There’s the folks trying to figure out how money should be according to the “LAWâ€. And there can be endless discussion on that point of view. But on this blog I write from a perspective of following Christ, not the “LAWâ€, the law which brings death. It’s never ceased to amaze me how people will throw away the Grace of God and follow death through the “LAW. After so many warnings in the New Testament about such a thing people still choose death over life. That’s called “religionâ€. To walk away from the Grace of God and come up with rules that no man can follow. Endless rules, blogs of hate is all they turn into. Paul warns of this over and over.
Speaking of Paul, even Jesus, why doesn’t anyone mention that they lived in the money system of their times. You know, them folks that are always quoting laws are blind, nothing less. The trouble is they lead so many into destruction, and boy you don’t have to look very far to find that! But what I’m getting at is the hypocrisy on so many blogs, including some comments on this one. There’s no way around it, it’s hypocrisy when folks comment that someone shouldn’t be trying to make some money on the farm. You heard me! Very seldom do I write like this, but truth demands it. And like I say, if you want to argue first prove that you live totally outside the money system. I’d bet anyone making comments like that or writing posts makes more money than the farmers they are condemning. Now because of lack of time here I won’t get very far into that, but I’ll wait for any comments, cause I’m loaded for bear on this and just hope someone steps into the trap. Reminds me of a saying my dad always told me about communists. It goes something like, a communist is someone living in misery and wants to share it with everyone. I would like to find out the money situation of the folks that knock farmers making some money, it would be interesting to say the least, hypocrites!
But moving on here, I’ll touch on this quick. This is being written from a perspective that it’s the love of money that’s evil. Got that? I won’t waste words anymore on that. I think many can agree on that. So do I feel guilty living in the current money system? The answer is no I don’t. The reason is because currently I can vote with my dollar. There’s some things I hate to be sure, but I’m not going to lose sleep or feel guilty about it. Because if I steward the money wisely there’s nothing wrong with it, nothing. But here’s the kicker, taken out of the Book of Acts. How to change the money system, hmmm. Now if you’re a legalist and want to live by the “LAW†and death this might not make much sense, about as much as eating pork, but here goes. When Paul was on a missionary journey he planted a church in Ephesus, they preached the Word of God, the church grew and in a couple years the pagan society went bankrupt! The money system that was previously a pagan system went belly up! The church became the premier force in Ephesus. Simple, the preaching of the Gospel changed a whole society. The pagan silversmiths, temples and such were reduced to almost nothing.
I’ve said it before and will say it again, nothing can withstand against the Word of God! A person can come up with all the manmade plans in the world and fail, but the Word will endure! As for myself and my family, we aren’t ashamed to be in this money system, no matter how corrupt the system because we will have to answer what we’ve done with our stewardship. It doesn’t matter if its dollars or old fashioned barter, don’t matter in the least. It’s how a person stewards it for God that matters, just like everything else. To take a corrupt system and use it for the Glory of God, it’s Biblical! Over and over again, New Testament! Jesus used money, the Apostles used the Roman system also.
And again, this isn’t saying we’re running after money, or the, we deserve it modern day ways. Nope, not at all. But a person has to set some things straight here. I’m not going to waste the time God gave me trying to figure out rules. Nope, I’m gonna figure out how to use every dollar wisely for the Glory of God just like in the Good Book. If the system fails, which I do believe it will, not having the love for money will make things much easier to be sure. Just as simplifying will make it easier. A person can sleep at night when they handle money the way God wants us to.
Maybe it’s just me, writing like this, I don’t know. Ever notice how when folks are trying to figure out the “LAW†a sick feeling comes over a person? And ever notice when a person uses anything for the Glory of God, a calm comes over them. The Holy Spirit moves, the church moves and the blessings are abundant. So much different then the self inflicted death of the law! As Paul says, “Oh foolish Galatiansâ€. If I decide to post in a while I probably will show what the “LAW†followers have mutated into regarding racism, ethnic cleansing and such. You’d be surprised, at least I hope so! I’ll only pick on ones in the agrarian community so as to not bore folks.
March 26th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
One thing that is great about the “Law” though, is that it points out how helpless we are and how much we need a saviour. Thank you Jesus for coming to this world and making all things new.
March 26th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Good Evening Tom,
First, I want to tell you how sorry I am if I have offended you with my last several posts on our society’s love for money and trusting in debt. None of what I wrote was aimed at you personally or criticizing your financial management of the family farm. I’d like to repeat what I wrote in one of my posts:
“Northern Farmer, you have inspired me beyond what you can image by your devotion to God’s word in your daily life. Galatians 5:6 … The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through Love.
I honor your devotion to your faith and the choices to walk down this path. I’m sure not one to sit in judgement. All I have to do is look at myself in the mirror to see a hypocrite. Maybe that is why I feel such guilt over all the people I’ve hurt by the choices I’ve made in how I have lived my life.
The only choice that matters it the choice between Light and Dark, the choice between the culture of Death to borrow Northern Farmer’s term and the culture of Life as taught by Jesus. Jesus taught us to love one another…”
I did however, attempt to criticize our Federal Reserve System which creates $$$ out of thin air without basing them on grain or cattle or gold or lumber or anything else that has real value. The purchasing power of the dollar has lost 97% of its value since the Fed was created in 1913. History shows that every time a government ‘cranks up the printing presses’ so to speak, the paper currency falls in value and eventually reaches zero. There are a hundred news reports outside of the spoon fed nightly news that warns of a coming economic crisis or even a collapse. Trusting in paper wealth doesn’t seem to be a good idea even without considering Biblical teachings.
I also wanted to criticize our entire self-centered, consumerist society. It seems that the very basis of today’s ‘American Dream’ is to attempt by good or by evil to accumulate as many dollars and the ‘Great Society’ ego boosting toys those $$ will purchase. I’ve heard it said that the person that dies with the most TOYS wins. What a load of bull!
And a person’s income is never enough in our Great Society. Our entire economic structure is based on DEBT. Most everyone from our gov. all the way to our young people and even our children have been indoctrinated into a slavery to debt. In just a matter of a few decades, our country has gone from the largest creditor nation to the largest debtor nation. One day, other nations and peoples are going to start calling in these debts. The collapse of the sub-prime mortgages could just be the beginning.
As I said, you inspire me beyond words by your devotion to God’s Word expressed in your daily life! I absolutely agree with you that we should follow Christ and not the Law. I completely agree that the Love of Money is what’s evil. I believe that money by itself is just a convenient means of commerce—and I have nothing at all against commerce—reaping the bounty of the good earth. May your barns be filled to overflowing!!!
I absolutely applaud you for expressing the sentiments that you “vote with my dollar.” “It’s how a person stewards it for God, that matters.” “Use every dollar wisely for the Glory of God.” “This isn’t saying we’re running after money or that we deserve its modern ways.”
I did comment on how I see even devote Christians so caught up in society’s quest for money. I’m not saying that they are any less faithful. In my obviously inept way, I was attempting to warn fellow Christians how much it’s just an accepted part of life in this day and age.
AS you said, “If the system fails, which I do believe it will, not having the love for money will make things much easier to be sure. Just as simplifying will make it easier. A person can sleep at night when they handle money the way God wants us to.”
Sleep well my friend!
March 27th, 2007 at 5:49 am
Steve,
Exactly! I won’t try to keep discussing what the Bible has so clearly covered, time after time after time. Thank you Jesus! Reminds me of the song I played at church this past Sunday, “I’m Not Under The Curse”.
“I’m not under the curse
I’m not under the curse
Jesus has set me free!
From sickness I got health
From poverty wealth
Jesus has ransomed me!”
Hope you keep enjoying the weather your way Steve!
Steven,
Oh boy, wires crossed here! Steven, your post about the love of money is the best! Now for anyone that didn’t read it just click on Steven’s name at the top of his comment and scroll down to the second post, and a few more posts below it. This is one reason I wrote without getting into full explanations, want explaining, read Steven’s posts. I use much of it for a base.
Funny, my post was around 1100 words and there was very little room to go in depth. The warnings that were continued from your posts are aimed at a broad range of society, although like the epistles of the New Testament what was written here was for people that already believed in Christ. And how many different directions folks can stray, from the love of money, which covers commenters that get envious when a farmer talks about finally making a living that doesn’t require several off farm jobs to support the farm, to those that turn back to the law and make endless rules that everyone will fail at.
But the biggest point I want to make is what happens when Christians that have submitted to Christ steward any money or earthly possesions with the love of Christ in their hearts. Then no matter what system they are in there’s heavenly backup and things happen! Some folks don’t like that, they figure they got to take charge, now there ain’t nothing wrong with changing things. From the system we have now, egad! But for now we live in it. And as many of us are doing, we are using it to further the Kingdom. As you are my friend!
To sum it up, we are in this system now, don’t feel guilty like your sinning when using it. Your only guilty if it becomes the idol of your life. Use our abundant resources for furthering the Kingdom. Preach the Word, spread the Gospel. Hell isn’t a nice place, and hell is real, very real! And like Paul and the missionary team, change the world!
March 28th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
I know of a family that decided to live without money and moved to South America to do so. Now whenever they have a crisis or want to come back to the states for a visit, they call up the father-in-law and he sends them money so they can survive! Yup, out of the money system they are!
But seriously Tom, not getting to deep into the debt pit/money chase is quite a tight wire act for most of us! Keep up the good work!
March 29th, 2007 at 5:33 am
Brent,
Good one about that family! Come to think about it I’ve known of similar ones like it. Only thing different was they didn’t go to South America, they headed up to the north woods in Minnesota.
A tight wire act is a pretty good way to say it. And don’t ever think I’m immune to it all. Even yesterday I went to town to buy an idler pully for my pickup and while I was there I started looking at newer model vans. Because we’ll be in need of one in the next year. I came home all excited about an 02 model, it really had a pulll on me. But by the time I got out of church last night that pull was gone, as it is this morning. Got me thinking long before this reply how something like that can all of a sudden just take over, the excitement of wanting it. The looking for excuses on why I need it now.
Then going to a Wednesday evening church service, a service about eternity, heaven and hell, the nitty gritty, eight people saved, a full house in church on a Wednesday evening when normally there’s only a couple dozen faithful there.
I got reminded on what’s truely important. Oh, we’ll get a good van in the next year I’m pretty sure, but when it comes it ain’t gonna have a pull on me. Yesterday was one of the most interesting days of my life, just a rainy, gloomy day with mud everywhere, but God showed me stuff I’ll never forget. It’s not the money, it’s the me that gets me in trouble!
Have a Blessed Day!