Making Money
Making Money
By Armstrong Williams
January 7, 2007
Get this straight: Making money is one of the noblest things you can do. As long as you are earning money honestly, legally, and ethically, your paycheck should be celebrated, not shamed. With a solid paycheck and sound investments, you can secure your future and help your family for generations to come. Financial security allows you to become a more productive member of society and give to those in need. And although money making can lead to many problems, if you have a sound mind and heart, every dollar you earn will be for good.
The positive impact money has on one’s mental, physical, spiritual, and social well-being is remarkable. Likewise, a lack of money can bring about a life of destruction, corruption, and ruin. Most people resort to crime, substance abuse, or prostitution when they are in desperate need of money to survive. The poor often will do anything for a quick dollar, despite the permanent scars that can occur. Furthermore, perverted and criminal minds exploit poor people. These villains know that without money, people will die. They know that a hungry young girl will trade sex for food. They know that a starving parent will sell their child for money or security. And despite all our noble efforts to eradicate poverty, there’s a sick, dark world out there that’s caused by a lack of money.
Somewhere along the line, money became a bad word. Perhaps we saw one too many celebrities blow their fortune. Maybe Donald Trump bragging about his billions turned us off. Or possibly the CEO who earns millions, while his workers earn hundreds just nagged the heck out of us. Or might it have been all those corporations pulling in billions while exploiting their workers and environment? Regardless of the reason, people today love to hate money.
The lower and middle class culture that most of us grow up in, urges us to disregard money and focus on other things. Rarely in our communities, schools, or churches are we taught how to make money. Can you remember anyone ever teaching you how to balance a checkbook, earn good credit, invest in the stock market, or avoid debt? Can you remember a mandatory class or seminar in school that gave you tips about buying property, starting a business, or embracing an idea? In fact, can you even recall a situation where you were encouraged to do the basics: get a good job, invest for retirement, and save for special circumstances? But this is no excuse. All of us can make money, invest properly, and save smartly regardless of our background, education, or experience.
