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Along Life’s Way
The Importance of Dollars and Sense
By Lois E. Wilson
To some people the way the financial world works is a mystery. One
woman went into the bank to cash her husband’s paycheck. The teller
advised her, “It needs your endorsement.” The woman happily complied by
writing on the back of the check:”Harry is a wonderful provider.”
Some years ago, a clueless man heard a financial specialist say, “There
is a new millionaire created in the United States every forty minutes.”
As he waited, the man frequently checked his watch. No matter how often
he looked at it, nothing happened. He had no understanding of
statistics or probabilities. A more recent study cites that in our
country there are 1700 new millionaires each day.
In 1 Timothy 6:10 (AV) it states:”For the love of money is the root of
all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
There are those with money who are community minded and unselfishly
contribute it wisely to support churches, charities, and non-profit
organizations. Many groups depend on their generosity and could not
fulfill their missions without this help.
An old saying goes: “Poor people spend like they’re rich---so they
remain poor. Rich people spend like they’re poor—so they stay rich.”
Some, if they receive a windfall such as winning the lottery, do not
use sense in planning for their future needs.
One unconfirmed study claimed that 70% of lottery winners end up broke.
Another study found that after 3-5 years, they are more likely than the
average American to declare bankruptcy. One study discovered that the
windfall did not make them happier or healthier. Here are some of the
lyrics from an old song “The Best Things in Life Are Free:”
The moon belongs to everyone
The best things in life are free
The stars belong to everyone
They gleam there for you and for me
The flowers in spring, the robins that sing
The moonbeams that shine
They're yours, they're mine
And love can come to everyone
The best things in life are free
It is good sense to remember the fact that these gifts are free. They
do not require knowing someone’s size. They do not need to be assembled
before giving. And best of all, they only take up space in your heart.
You ask, “What would my favorite gifts be?” Your friendship and smile
are enough for me.
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