Money, The System & God
What Our Finances Can Teach Us About Our Spirituality
Well, the subject of money was bound to come up sooner or later.
Because, whether we like it or not, being human in today’s age means that money is a subject that often consumes our minds, for better or worse…
And while many of us may still seperate money and God, in my view they’re not that seperate. Is God & Spirituality not something we turn to in times of stress, worry and suffering? Is money not one of the things many people stress about?
So I want to explore this topic today. Firstly I want to say, that I by no means think what I’m about to share here is ‘the truth’, nor am I a money expert, a money coach, or here to help you heal your ‘money wounds’. Think of this more as an exploration of concepts and solutions. There will be an opportunity for reflection at the end where you can try on various aspects I’ve shared and see if it works for you, or not.
A few weeks ago, I woke up to an email from my accountant back in Australia, who was in the process of closing down my company over there.
Apparently I had unpaid company renewal fees to the tune of $700, that I had been completely unaware of.
Well of course, I was irritated. A $700 bill out of nowhere, that I now needed to pay ASAP to avoid more late fees (and in full).
I had the money in my account, we weren’t going to go broke or starve. Yet it still bothered me. That money was supposed to stay in savings after all.
I worked through my own internal process around the event, reframed the situation in my mind, and paid the bill.
A week later, our dog started vomiting her breakfast (a few days in a row).
So we took her to the vet.
$600 later, she had been examined, bloodwork had been done, and the vet’s couldn’t tell us anything other then she seems totally healthy.
Great she’s healthy. But also could we not have done without the silly $600 vet bill?
Then we booked her in for her surgery to get spayed.
Another $1500…
On the way home from the vet, I sat in my car and reflected on how easy it is to get caught up in the drama of unexpected expenses, and subconsciously start to feel enslaved to 'the system’.
The System
The way our postmodern western society has been set up by ‘the powers that be’, one could say that to be in the middle working class is to be enslaved.
In financial literature such as that by Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad), this is referred to as ‘the rat race’, or in other literature as ‘the matrix’ - the system imposed on the working class by the elite class. The poor and middle classes are put to work, while the elite reaps the reward.
While I do believe there is some truth to the above statements, I also don’t totally buy into this narrative for myself. To me it feels disempowering and it can all too easily keep ‘the working class’ in a state of disempowerment, or what is often referred to as ‘victim consciousness’.
Not to mention it creates an inherent sense of separation, ie. ‘Us versus Them’. Given that we all have a seed of God embedded in our human hood, and the ascended masters say we are all ‘One’, doesn’t this idea of an ‘us versus them’ ultimately move us further away from God?
Still, I think it’s important to be aware that there is, indeed, a system.
Because once we are aware of this, we can then take back the power of choice.
I believe it is our choice whether we want to adhere to the rules of the system, or not. Because I am all about making things practical, later in this piece we will explore some of the various solutions I’ve personally witnessed for either existing within the system, or outside of it.
Personally, I recognise that I have chosen to live inside of it.
I choose a city lifestyle that requires a vehicle, and living in a home that costs more than it would in, say, the country. My lifestyle, my education and vocation requires a smartphone, my husband and I occasionally eat out, hang out with friends, and spend money on entertainment… and of course we pay a premium for food to get from its source to my plate.
I could cancel my Netflix and Spotify subscriptions… but I don’t want to. (I’ve already minimised many of my subscriptions, because I’m into simplifying my life as much as possible and have been working on reducing overconsumption).
And let’s be honest… I may complain about vet bills, but no one told me I had to get a dog… my husband and I wanted one. And the joy she brings to our lives is well worth the price of vet bills and her surgery! I mean, we knew this when we got her.
And so while you and I can complain about how much things cost, I find it better to fully lean into gratitude about all the system affords us, if we do indeed choose to play in it.
We always have choice.
Yet, I recognise that we don’t all have the same opportunities and privileges.
What about the ones who for whatever reason can barely afford to feed their children, let alone put them into any extracurriculars or fund their school field trips?
What about the ones who just left a dangerous domestic situation with 2 kids on their hip, and now have to find work, childcare, and a place to live?
These are just 2 examples of the multitude of challenges much of humanity is dealing with.
Most of humanity is consumed with survival.
They’re not feeling like they have any choice whatsoever.
I recognise that.
I also recognise the power in seeking solutions from an objective viewpoint. And so that’s what I want to explore. 5 various solutions that exist that may support someone in transitioning out of ‘survival mode’ into one that feels more empowering. Please know that I am speaking from the perspective of a white woman who grew up in a fully developed country free from war and violence. Take what you will from this.
The Middle Class Solution:
Get a good education, work hard, climb the promotional ladder, and earn a salary big enough to afford the lifestyle that suits your family.
As the granddaughter of Greek immigrants, I know that one of the keys that moved my family from poverty to a fair degree of wealth in only 2 generations was education.
My grandparents on both sides had nothing when they came to Canada… but over the years of hard work, they were able to get educated, get better jobs… and live a pretty decent life.
Education is, indeed seen by many as the holy grail.
It doesn’t work for everyone, and for many it’s not financially viable… especially depending upon where you live… but it does work for some.
My parents took this one step further, knowing that it was getting educated and finding a job doing something they love and gave them a sense of purpose that would sustain them financially, emotionally and spiritually.
However not everyone finds that. Some end up working jobs they thought they’d like but end up hating… and they feel they have no other option in order to pay the bills and provide for their family.
Some people’s brains are just not designed for academic education.
And some cannot get decent paying jobs because they cannot afford the education required.
So what other solutions are there?
The Capitalist’s Solution:
Become Your Own Boss & Get Rich.
This is a solution that has become increasingly popular with both those traditionally educated and not.
It’s also a solution I am familiar with… I have run some form of my own business for the last 8 years.
One of my mentors in this space didn’t even graduate high school and yet has built a thriving company worth multiple millions of dollars.
I have witnessed so many rags to riches stories - and increasingly more of these stories of those of female entrepreneurs… stories of single moms in horrible situations, people living in poverty or declaring bankruptcy…
Coming out of it only to start earning hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, by offering solutions that speak to a gap in the marketplace… offering breakthrough technology, products, services, or transformational offerings that truly make the world a better place.
But let’s be honest… this solution IS NOT for everyone.
Not everyone is built to be an entrepreneur.
And not everyone can withstand the financial failures alongside the mental and emotional ones, that often come before one ‘makes it’. Not all can weather those financial storms, or can physically sustain working part time and starting a business ‘on the side’ before they can reduce their employed work hours, although many do this.
So let’s explore another solution…
The Socialist’s Solution
Ah yes, the socialist dream. A society that supports everyone, there are plenty of free services, and everyone is provided for.
Sounds idyllic.
And countries like Canada or Scandinavian countries already have many of these systems in place, that afford people free healthcare, decent welfare programs and plenty of free services.
Of course, this is all government run, and not really in our control. Certainly not every country is designed this way.
I am also personally weary of anything that is overly government controlled. I’m sure there’s some genuine politicians who mean well… but politics is a world of its own that is hardly free of corruption, agendas, and big egos…
So what if someone wants to leave the system all together?
The Alternative Community Solution
I know of many ‘off-grid’ and eco-communities which have been created with the vision of living off the land and being completely self-sustaining.
Crypto-currency, alternative forms of currency, tiny homes, eco pods, immigrating from western countries to developing countries where everything costs less… these are all a variety of ‘alternative’ solutions that have been put forward as part of the creation of new, communal based economies and lifestyles.
I have plenty of friends who made the move to countries like Costa Rica, Mexico, or Bali, and have thrived financially, physically, and spiritually.
I personally think these solutions are great…
But again, they’re not for everyone.
The Spiritual Solution; The Solution for Everyone
Out of all these so called ‘solutions’ we’ve explored… this one is my favourite. And it is quite simple… to deepen our own relationship with God.
With deep faith, comes trust that we will be taken care of.
When we call on a divine being like Jesus, we choose to walk the path of love.
When we operate from the place of love, we are pointed to the correct solutions for us and our families.
God speaks to us, always. Guidance is available for us, always. But if we are too caught up in the energies of survival, of worry, fear, distrust, apathy, shame, guilt, anger… or if we believe that someone else is the problem… that money is the problem… if we consume ourselves with everything that is WRONG about our situation…
We miss the guidance.
We don’t allow space for it to land.
And while I do acknowledge that for someone who is merely trying to survive, to have their basic needs met… it is much harder to step into faith and trust… to let thoughts of survival NOT consume them…
I also believe there are gifts here for everyone.
Maybe it’s a little optimistic.
But isn’t this what scripture tells us?
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
- Matthew 11:28-29
The more we hand our burdens over to God, the more we allow God to transform us from the inside out.
It’s high time we allow ourselves to relish in the very gift of being alive. Of feeling the sun on ones face, listening to the wind rustle the leaves of the trees, taking advantage of all the free gifts offered from God and God’s manifestation through Mother Earth.
God’s guidance isn’t just for Sunday. It’s not just for when we’re in meditation. It’s not just for our enlightenment in a far reaching realm we can’t connect to whilst in the midst of our human struggles.
God’s guidance can help us with our everyday struggles, whether it be with money or otherwise.
One practice that a mentor taught me and has served me well is to visualise ‘handing’ my burdens over to God, while repeating these statements:
Holy Spirit, I hand ALL my thoughts over to you now, in this very instant… to do with as you wish.
Holy Spirit, I hand ALL of my relationships over to you now, in this very instant… to do with as you see fit.
It was God’s voice that told me it was time for my husband and I to leave our home in Australia, and move back to Toronto, where we would have more family support and I could do further studies in Theology & Psycho-Spiritual Therapy.
Despite the fact that we’re currently living in my mom and step-dad’s home, we’re happier than ever.
God might speak to you by giving you the spark to move to a new country, join an eco-community, go into politics with the goal of creating better government solutions for the people, or start a new business venture that makes use of your gifts and spiritual purpose.
God might call you to drop the luxuries you think you need, and opt for a more simple lifestyle.
Maybe God will call you to start studies in a new vocational direction that will open up employment opportunities in an area you will enjoy devoting yourself too. Perhaps it will require you to work part-time and move through your studies slowly… you will be busy… it will be hard at times… but God will support you in doing it.
What solutions do you feel drawn to?
What is God calling you to learn or discover right now?
A Reflection Opportunity: What spiritual lessons can you learn from your current financial situation?
Perhaps your current financial situation is asking you to find deeper faith and trust.
Perhaps it’s asking you to be patient, and let go of instant gratification.
Perhaps it’s asking you to simplify your life, and let go of the luxuries you think you need, but don’t actually make a difference to your happiness.
Perhaps it’s asking you to let go of your pride, and allow others to provide for you for the time being.
Perhaps it’s allowing you to explore things you’ve never had the opportunity to explore before.
Perhaps it’s asking you to give more money to those in need.
Perhaps it’s asking you to move forward with that entrepreneurial dream you’ve always had, because there are people in the world who need the solution you can offer.
Perhaps it’s asking you to heal your negative beliefs about money.
Perhaps it’s asking you to find God in even the most mundane jobs and tasks.
Your thoughts?