If there is one thing that college has made me acutely aware of, it is money. Since I am in my second semester living away from home, in a house on campus with four roommates, I am beginning to understand what all it takes to live on my own, without my parents paying for every little need I have. The sentiment of “broke and struggling college student” has never made more sense.
Instead of using my money for luxuries, I have had to take into account all the basic expenses to live. I try to use my meal plan whenever I can, but some days I need to eat something that is not cafeteria food. Therefore, I go to the store and get groceries, not just chips and candy to gorge myself on but actual sustainable organic food. Even then, there are nights that my friends want to eat out, and while I could just not attend to save money, I will restate that it is better than cafeteria food, and I want to spend as much time with my friends before I graduate and rarely get to see them.
On top of all that I have to pay for toiletries, cleaning products, laundry detergent, as well as any new clothes I might need. Because of the drive to and from college every weekend when I come home, as well as driving for any errands during the week, I now know the frustration and strain when inflation jacks up gas prices.
These are the main worries I have since, thankfully because of scholarships, I do not have to pay for the majority of college. But I know that once I enter the workforce, I will need to spend way more money than I do now, whether for rent or house payments and everything it entails.
The more money I spend during the semester, and the more I see my bank account number lessening, I understand why people think that “if only I had more money, all my problems would be gone,” and I do not even have it half-bad. Some people are barely struggling to make ends meet, in mountains of debt, barely keeping a job, and multiple other circumstances that make sustaining a living hard. Honestly, it is no wonder why everyone believes their worries would be solved with money.
It needs to be said that money is not a bad thing, despite what some churchgoers believe. Money gives you the means to provide for yourself and your family. After all, obtaining money is a need that people have in order to continue living. Because money, like anything that is inanimate, is only an object, it is neither good nor evil.
However, when you covet it, love it more than anything else, and turn to it to solve your problems, that is when you should begin to worry. First Timothy 6:10 (KJV) 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.” The emphasis is on the LOVE of money, this is where people err and let temptation in.
Even though it is not biblical, greed is one of the seven deadly sins for a reason. The verse right before 1 Timothy 6:10 gives the reason why loving riches is a danger. It states, “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
It is a general understanding that money equals power in the world, and when we crave more money, more power, when allow ourselves to be corrupted. If you follow the lives of the rich and powerful, many scandals, affairs, acts of immorality, and general unhappiness can be found, the downfall of the greedy. It is not a life to yearn for.
While wishing for money, do not let it consume you and turn into greed. Proverbs 16:8 says, “Better is little with righteousness than great revenues without right.”
If you do happen upon great wealth, remember the dangers that follow greed. Hold on to the truly important things in life, and pray for God’s wisdom on how to handle your newly acquired wealth.
