Back in the 18th Century, Benjamin Franklin, American patriot was appointed to design our paper money. With consciousness of the God living in him, he made sure that paper included the inscription, In God We Trust. He hoped that in seeing that inscription every time we pulled our money out, we’d value its worth and its Source.
Coming from his Colonial British Pound, this must have seemed a revolutionary idea indeed. God and money had never been connected before. But he also knew from his experience in the fast paced Colonial life, how money could be immorally used. That inscription was to remind us to hold money as sacred, pass it on to others, never allow dishonesty to diminish the sanctity of our exchange.
Do you and I still notice that inscription? Do we allow our identity with God to connect to the money. Aren’t we all more inclined to substitute: “in business we trust,” or “in government we trust,” or “ even in church .....? So who do we really trust?
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2 comments:
I like what you say about holding money as sacred. I am starting to look at money as a resource, like water, petroleum, and clean air. We have been taking these natural resources for granted and now we are running out.
If I have a greater respect and appreciation for my resources, it completely changes my relationship with them. This includes money, too.
How fascinating that Benjamin Franklin came up with this concept. I'm no authority on old Ben, but if I recall correctly, he was not a poster child for orthodoxy, and it's curious that he has ultimately become positioned as a sort of defender of the faith. Obviously the definition of renegade changes over time.
I especially love one of his aphorisms that's appropriate here: "It's easier to be a philanthropist with a full pocket than an empty one."
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