Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
“Money, That’s What I Want!” -The Beatles, 1963
The internet has ‘best of’ lists on every subject imaginable; songs and money are among the top choices. There is even a list that ranks the best songs about money. There is no denying that money plays a major role in society. Jesus said love of money is significant enough to rival a person’s love for God. That’s a good reason for us to understand money.
First, let’s look at money’s value. It costs just over 3¢ to print a $1 bill and just over 9¢ to print a $100 bill. So, other than paper and ink, money has no intrinsic value. Money’s value is in its purchasing power. The more money we have, the more purchasing power we have. Despite its power to purchase, there are a great many things money can’t buy:
IT CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS – “Money never made a man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.” – Benjamin Franklin
IT CAN’T BUY HEALTH – John D. Rockefeller once told a reporter his stomach was so ulcerated he could eat only crackers crushed into milk. He said, “If I could eat the steak you’re eating, I’d give a week’s salary.” At the time, his weekly salary was $1.1 million. In 1937, Rockefeller had a new worth of $1.7 billion. He also died in 1937. In 1976, Howard Hughes had a net worth of $2.5 billion. He also died in 1976.
IT CAN’T BUY PEACE OF MIND – Eccl. 5:12 “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.” For most people, the more money they accumulate, the more they fear losing it.
IT CAN’T BUY LOVE – An old joke says, ‘Money can’t buy love, but it can rent it.’ That’s cute, but not true. Another money-related song by The Beatles says, “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Yet, the Fab Four tried very hard to prove it could, but their attempts failed. At a retreat for couples married over 30 years, each couple was asked to share their happiest memories. The majority said it was the early years of marriage when they didn’t have much money.
IT CAN’T BUY SELF-WORTH – Generally, more money only makes us more of what we already are: if generous, we become more generous; if stingy, we become stingier; if wasteful, we become more wasteful; if unhappy, we have more opportunities to be unhappy. In the story Jesus told in Luke 16, the rich man was not guilty of being rich, but of assuming his money entitled him to ignore and degrade a sick and starving Lazarus.
IT CAN’T BUY SALVATION – Acts 8:20 “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” Money can buy a nice funeral, but the buck stops there. It can’t buy God’s favor.
Money is a wonderful tool when used properly: earn it, spend it, save it, give it – just don’t fall in love with it.
And remember, you are greatly loved!
–Jackie Chesnutt, Chaplain and Emotional Support Coach for Myers-Davis (6/15/2026)
