Money and Possessions Why does our society have such a fascination with wealth? Why does our society have such a fascination with wealth? Society has.

Money and Money and PossessionsPossessions

Why does our society have such a Why does our society have such a fascination with wealth?fascination with wealth?

Society has a fascination of wealthSociety has a fascination of wealth TV ShowsTV Shows ClothingClothing InventoryInventory

What role do money and possessions play What role do money and possessions play in your life?in your life?

On Loose-leafOn Loose-leaf

You have just won 2 million dollars from You have just won 2 million dollars from the New York State Lottery. Make a the New York State Lottery. Make a detailed list of the things you will buy and detailed list of the things you will buy and how you spend the money.how you spend the money.

Write a reflection about how it would make Write a reflection about how it would make you feel to have this money or these you feel to have this money or these things and why.things and why.

Common Attitudes Toward Common Attitudes Toward MoneyMoney

Money gives freedomMoney gives freedom Buy anything we wantBuy anything we want Go anywhere we wantGo anywhere we want

Money brings securityMoney brings security Hold on tightlyHold on tightly Fret about itFret about it Manage itManage it

Money as a way to solve problemsMoney as a way to solve problems Makes everyone happyMakes everyone happy

Money as a necessary meansMoney as a necessary means We are not possessed by moneyWe are not possessed by money Kept in its place not before other valuesKept in its place not before other values

Deciding the role money and possessions Deciding the role money and possessions will play in our life has a huge impact on will play in our life has a huge impact on the lifestyle we create for ourselves.the lifestyle we create for ourselves.

Tells who we are and what we value Tells who we are and what we value

Enough vs. ExcessEnough vs. Excess

What do we need money for?What do we need money for?

What are the basic necessities are required What are the basic necessities are required for living?for living?

Do these same necessities constitutes a Do these same necessities constitutes a dignified life?dignified life?

Survival needs vs. Thrival needsSurvival needs vs. Thrival needs Are people satisfied with simply these needs Are people satisfied with simply these needs

being taken care of?being taken care of?

Discretionary IncomeDiscretionary Income

Income over and above what will cover Income over and above what will cover necessitiesnecessities

Why do people want a greater Why do people want a greater discretionary income?discretionary income?

Does money buy happiness?Does money buy happiness?

3 Illusions about Money and 3 Illusions about Money and PossessionsPossessions

How do we confuse wants How do we confuse wants with needs?with needs?

Make a list of the things that you want in Make a list of the things that you want in your life right now?your life right now?

Put a star by the things you needPut a star by the things you need Put an x by the things you wantPut an x by the things you want Take a look at the list of your wantsTake a look at the list of your wants

Can these wants ever be satisfied?Can these wants ever be satisfied? Greed can never be satisfiedGreed can never be satisfied

Cry for Soul FoodCry for Soul Food

Our need and want for more and more Our need and want for more and more comes from our soul needscomes from our soul needs

We need nourishment for our starving We need nourishment for our starving spiritsspirits

Material possessions can never fill the Material possessions can never fill the voidvoid

Only our relationship with GodOnly our relationship with God

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider

Do I equate money or possessions with Do I equate money or possessions with happiness?happiness?

Do I harbor the belief that if I only had a Do I harbor the belief that if I only had a certain amount of money or certain things, certain amount of money or certain things, I would be happy?I would be happy?

Do I turn to buying things when I feel Do I turn to buying things when I feel restless or unsatisfied?restless or unsatisfied?

How do we confuse social How do we confuse social image with self worth?image with self worth?

Why do people carry Coach purses or Why do people carry Coach purses or wear name brand clothes?wear name brand clothes?

Judge ourselves and others by status Judge ourselves and others by status itemsitems

If we equate self worth with socially If we equate self worth with socially approved consumer items we will always approved consumer items we will always feel less than adequatefeel less than adequate

Our perception of our own value will Our perception of our own value will depend on exterior things instead of the depend on exterior things instead of the belief that we are essentially good and belief that we are essentially good and worthwhileworthwhile

Created in God’s image and loved by God Created in God’s image and loved by God as we areas we are

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider

Have I ever told myself, even Have I ever told myself, even subconsciously things like, “I’d really be subconsciously things like, “I’d really be attractive or popular if I had…”attractive or popular if I had…”

Do I judge other people’s value on what Do I judge other people’s value on what they have or how much they spend?they have or how much they spend?

Do I get a rush when I buy an item that I Do I get a rush when I buy an item that I know will make me the envy of my know will make me the envy of my friends?friends?

Confusing Spending with Confusing Spending with FreedomFreedom

The Christian ApproachThe Christian Approach

St. Paul tells us:St. Paul tells us: ““We brought nothing into the world, so will We brought nothing into the world, so will

take nothing out of it.”take nothing out of it.” Wealth gives us a false sense of securityWealth gives us a false sense of security Only true sense of security is found in GodOnly true sense of security is found in God

Freedom from SlaveryFreedom from Slavery

“ “No one can serve two masters…”No one can serve two masters…” Economic Justice for All: Catholic Social Economic Justice for All: Catholic Social

Teaching and the U.S. EconomyTeaching and the U.S. Economy Different kind of freedom then freedom to buyDifferent kind of freedom then freedom to buy

How do we become enslaved by wealth?How do we become enslaved by wealth? How do we serve it as a master?How do we serve it as a master?

New Attitude Toward New Attitude Toward OwnershipOwnership

“ “Whatever belongs to God belongs to all.”Whatever belongs to God belongs to all.” What does this mean about personal property?What does this mean about personal property?

Right to private property is not an absolute rightRight to private property is not an absolute right Lent to us by GodLent to us by God Cannot use possessions in ways that hurt others and Cannot use possessions in ways that hurt others and

the worldthe world How do you feel about this notion?How do you feel about this notion? Accumulation of wealth and resources by a Accumulation of wealth and resources by a

minority of the world’s population betrays the gift minority of the world’s population betrays the gift of creationof creation

Christian Attitude Toward Christian Attitude Toward Ownership Characterized byOwnership Characterized by

Sharing: Sharing: Fair balance: giving so people can live with Fair balance: giving so people can live with

dignitydignity Those who have much do not have too much, Those who have much do not have too much,

those with little do not have too littlethose with little do not have too little Don’t give so much that you despairDon’t give so much that you despair Give freely and cheerfullyGive freely and cheerfully

When was a time you shared? Why did When was a time you shared? Why did you share? How did it feel?you share? How did it feel?

SimplicitySimplicity Live close enough to the limits of Live close enough to the limits of

resources that we can rely on God’s love resources that we can rely on God’s love for usfor us

Having just enough to not push you to Having just enough to not push you to either extremeeither extreme

“ “Live simply so others may simply live.”Live simply so others may simply live.” If you decided to simplify your life how If you decided to simplify your life how

would you do it?would you do it? What would you give away?What would you give away? What would you keep?What would you keep? What ways could you have fun without What ways could you have fun without

spending money?spending money?

EqualityEquality

All persons in God’s sightAll persons in God’s sight No class distinctions between ChristiansNo class distinctions between Christians Live by the principle love our neighbors as Live by the principle love our neighbors as

we love ourselveswe love ourselves

Four GuidelinesFour Guidelines

Celebrate the Creators Gift:Celebrate the Creators Gift: Life is a gift to be celebrated and cherished not Life is a gift to be celebrated and cherished not

possessed and hoardedpossessed and hoarded Remain FreeRemain Free

Cant be taken in by materialismCant be taken in by materialism Love ourselves where we areLove ourselves where we are

Share Generously and FreelyShare Generously and Freely God promises blessings to those who give to God promises blessings to those who give to

neighborsneighbors Live SimplyLive Simply

Consume only what we needConsume only what we need