As we look to live wise in 2016, here is my third post in my series on New Year’s ReSOLUTIONS

Here is the first: The 1 New Year’s ReSOLUTION You’ll Definitely Want to Make

And here is the second: 4 Ways to be the Friend that Your Friends Need to Have: a New Year’s Resolution

Here’s a funny and cringe-worthy story for you.

When I was in my freshman year of college, I participated in studies that the psychology department conducted so that I could earn money. I earned, like, $5 per study and it was right by my dorm so did my best to turn this into a part time job.

Eventually I had earned $20 so obviously I joined my friends at Chumash Casino and I was going to turn my $20 into AT LEAST $100. Because that’s how these things worked.

(Note: THAT IS NOT HOW THESE THINGS WORK. THAT IS NEVER HOW THESE THINGS WORK.)

Friend, you and I both know how this ends.

I learned my lesson. Gambling is not how this overly innocent 18 year-old was going to make money.

Fast-forward three years. I was almost broke while on a summer trip in Berlin. But don’t worry, mom deposited five hundred dollars more into my account and I was set.

I withdrew all five hundred of it from the ATM. I walked approximately 100 steps and saw people playing street games where all I had to do is follow the hat that has the sneaky little ball under it and I’d double my money. If I followed very closely with my eyes, a win is pretty much guaranteed. After all, there were only three hats. The odds were totally in my favor. (#mathishard)

To this day I don’t know what happened (yes I do). The large crowd of Germans was all rooting for me and surely they wanted me to win and there’s NO POSSIBLE WAY on God’s green earth this was a scam and they were all in it together (actually this was very possible).

In a matter of moments, I lost it all. I had a few measly Euros left and I needed it to stretch five days. I felt so stupid and deceived and naive. I almost passed out. Clearly, I could not be trusted with money.

You and I can both look back and see how I was so irresponsible. Maybe I had an unhealthy view of finances, of how money came in and how money went out. Or maybe the root of the problem is that I wanted more than I had been entrusted with. Or that I wasn’t even responsible with what I already had.

I believed the lie that more is better. We strive to keep up with the Joneses only to find that the Joneses can’t even keep up with themselves. If we live a life of always wanting more, we will never be content with what we already have. And as the pastor husband preaches, “a life of gratitude is a life of joy.”

I like to think that I’ve grown so much, and maybe (hopefully) I have.

But after reading through Proverbs, I wonder if maybe I still have some growing to do. And maybe you do too. Because although you may have never squandered your (parents’) hard earned money at the casino or to the street gypsies, chances are that all of us still have a thing or two to learn from Solomon.

So here is advice fit for a king, given from a King and given through a king.

Earn Money in Light of Eternity

Solomon doesn’t have too much to say about how we earn our money, but he does have some choice words about the motives behind why we earn our money.

When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off into the sky like an eagle.

Basically, if you are working to amass wealth, don’t do it.

“WhAaAaAaAaAat?!?!?!?!?!?!?” (#Iknowright?!?!)

Then WHY THE HECK WOULD I HAVE A JOB, SOLOMON? YOU COMMUNIST.

Why would we not wear ourselves out if it means we will get rich? Why would I not want what others have, if it provides a shinier, more fun, more enviable lifestyle? Why would I not work to amass wealth?

Because it’s all so fleeting. And as my mama would say, “you can’t take it with you when you die.” And here’s the thing: if you don’t believe that Jesus is God, or are unsure about Jesus and you wouldn’t call yourself a follower, you are off the hook for this one. To these friends I say, I love you and you do you to your heart’s content.

But for those of us who long to hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” once they die, these ancient and holy words are for us.

These words can be trusted because they came from a king. They came from someone who already had all the wealth. There is nothing he was in want of. And he knew, all that glitters is truly not gold. He knew what he was writing about because he lived it.

May we never look at what someone else has and be blinded by our greed for it. According to Solomon, it’s better to die than to work to earn riches. Probably because enough is never enough.

I confess that I don’t want to be a person who amasses wealth at the expense of the Kingdom, my family, my relationships, and my church. I confess that delicacies are fleeting. I confess that my self-worth is independent of the number in my bank account. I want to live a life worthy of Jesus’s death, and that looks like earning money to build His Kingdom and not my own; valuing His sheep over my comfort; honoring His heart over my ego. I confess that I am of infinite worth because of Jesus, nothing more and nothing less. Lord, create in me a more generous heart.