I could write an entire book about this topic. I have been broke three times in my life, and I can tell you, the view from the bottom of the pile is not very good. Everything in our life is there to help us to learn a valuable lesson. When we fail to learn this lesson, unfortunately we get another opportunity to learn it. And another, and another… if we persist in failing to pay attention to our life teachers.

Money is a tool – nothing more – that creative people use for any number of reasons – some worthy and some not so worthy. Money, unfortunately, is the primary measuring stick used today by most people to determine their worth as a person. I have known a lot of wealthy jerks, and I have also had the honor to know many hard-working, decent people who were good friends, parents, spouses and sons or daughters, squeaking by financially week after week, year after year.

You are not your money and your money is not you, and I don’t really care what you are doing with it. I have met some very wealthy people who gave a great deal to charity only for the recognition, and I know people who have very little and give a great deal (more than they can afford) to others. Financial crises are valuable tools. They can teach you humility, tolerance, creativity, a valuable work ethic, caution, and any number of worthwhile lessons.

So, if you are in the middle of a crisis, don’t whine, blame or feel sorry for yourself – get busy. If you are wealthy and want for nothing, don’t get too cocky – you never know. And besides, no one can buy his way into God’s good graces. Trust me, He doesn’t need your cash or your gifts of charity. He is doing very well, thank you, on His own. Remember that money is a measuring stick for your success and worth, but only if that is how you choose to be measured.