Your mission is not to make money. Your unholy obsession with making money will derail you from your mission. There needs to be an understanding that there is no amount of money that would bring you the fulfillment and sense of purpose your heart craves for. Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV) says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity”. Jesus never emphasised having material possessions as a virtue. The mission is to be the salt and light of your world. When you embrace your mission, every other thing will take care of itself.
John C. Maxwell, a renowned leadership expert, wrote about an intriguing case study about making money in his 2008 book; “Leadership Gold”. From 1960 to 1980, a study of business school graduates followed the careers of 1,500 people. The graduates were divided into two groups from the start. People in Category A stated that they wanted to make money first so that they could do what they really wanted to do later—after they had addressed their financial concerns. Those in Category B put their true interests first, confident that the money would follow. The money-now Category A made up 83 percent, or 1,245 people, of the 1,500 graduates polled. Category B risk takers accounted for 17% of all graduates (255 people). After twenty years, the group had 101 millionaires. Category A produced just one millionaire. Category B, the mission-minded people had produced 100 millionaires, despite having the smaller size.
The wealthiest and most powerful people in the world are not driven by making money. It is an irony to see that most people driven by making money, never even make the money in the long run. Jesus calls you out of a life of mediocrity, and hustling for the money. Embrace your watch. Watch over your world and commit to steer it towards where God wants. As you work hard on your mission, you will create value. When value is created, wealth and power is accumulated. The peace, riches and fulfillment you want are all side effects of a life centred upon a mission.