Money makes a terrible boss. When we are tricked into thinking that the primary purpose of our work is to make money, we have a difficult time being satisfied. In my three decades of leading businesses, I had the joy of giving (and receiving) bonuses and raises. I have also had the challenge of explaining to teammates why their compensation was not what they expected. Yet, even when someone was surprised and grateful for the boost in compensation, almost no one (including me) was satisfied with their compensation for very long. Even the most generous compensation often led to higher expectations for the future. 

My experience with leading people in the workplace is not unique or new. Over 250 years ago, Adam Smith warned that material wealth often makes us less happy, not more. “In the wealthy man’s heart, he curses ambition, and longs for his youth, which was sacrificed for the wealth that cannot give him real satisfaction.” - Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments 

This is still true today. Compensation has never been higher, yet Americans feel underpaid. A pre-pandemic salary report by Indeed found that just 19 percent of workers in the U.S. feel comfortable with how much they are making.

Money Is Not An End Goal

Money does not make a good boss in work or in life, because money is a means, not an end. When money is an end goal in someone’s life it causes worry and anxiety about not having enough and about running out too soon. A recent study found the following:

• 77% of Americans report feeling anxious about their financial situation
• 58% feel that finances control their lives
• 52% have difficulty controlling their money-related worries
  

The Mind Over Money study, conducted by The Decision Lab and Capital One, also found that under the effects of stress people are worse at saving and budgeting, feel less in control, are more impulsive in how they spend their paycheck, and are less likely to agree that success comes to those who work hard. Interestingly, this effect was present even when controlling for income and credit scores—meaning that it is likely a mindset effect, not an effect of financial circumstance.

Money Is A Terrible Idol 

Money makes a terrible boss. Money makes a terrible end goal. And, money makes a terrible idol. Jesus makes this clear in his teaching.  

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” - Matthew 6:24 

Andy Crouch recently unpacked this important teaching of Jesus at the Faith Driven Investor conference by questioning why Jesus said you cannot serve both God and money the way he said you can serve God and Caesar (Matthew 18: 15-22). Crouch explains why money is more dangerous than Caesar, “money gives you power that Caesar does not have.”

Three Powers Of Money 

1. ‍Fungible — you can turn it into what you want. ‍
2. Countable  — you know exactly much you have, it can be measured, and it can be compared (to others) easily.‍
3. Storable  — you can store it, and can use it now or later.
   

Crouch says that these three powers of money create the allusion that money is the supreme power. “There is no dependence in the power of money in the way that there is in most other forms of power, even political and military power. Caesar only had his role because he was the adopted or biological son of a man. It was a relationship that gave him power. Even in our modern democracies people gain power through the consent of the governed. But, if you have enough money the honest truth is that you can get whatever done that you want without anyone having to know, care, or validate who you are. Because money talks without you having to be a person. It’s impersonal power.  This is a power greater than any other in the world, and if you have it why would you need God?…Money is the most direct rival to God.”

Crouch provides a powerful second reason to watch out for the power of money as he explains why some translations of the Bible kept the formal name Mammon. “We are not talking about an ordinary noun, principle, or idea. We are talking about a quasi-personal namable power in human affairs that intends something that has a will in the world that is opposed to the will of God. The ordinary way we talk about this is that we are talking about a demonic power. The early church concluded that Mammon was not just an idea or principle, but that it was the name of a being in service of the enemy of all that is good, the opponent of all of God’s works in the world that we refer to as Satan or the Devil…Mammon wants everything to be impersonal so that there is no one left, only things and ultimately not even material things. Just an immaterial world devoted to pure power without dependence. You cannot serve a demon that wants to destroy persons, relationships, creation itself, and also serve the true God who wants to reunite persons, restore relationships, and liberate creation from its bondage and decay. You cannot serve both God and Mammon.”

Money Is For God’s Glory

It is true, money can be dangerous, and the love of money is evil (1 Timothy 6:10). However, money is from God and is given to us for the glory of God (Romans 11:36). Money is just paper, coins, or digital bits and bites, yet we have the responsibility to use these pieces of paper for God’s glory. John Piper says,  “The reason God gives his people money is so that we can use money in a way to show that money is not our God, but that God is our God. That’s why we have money. That’s why we have everything. And I think it’s important to emphasize that God does intend for Christians to use money.”

Detox and Dethrone Money 

To properly use money we must see money for what it is: Money is a gift from God that is given to us in vastly different amounts for the purpose of building the kingdom of God. In his talk at the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference, Crouch gives great advice on how to dethrone the idol of money and put it to use for God’s glory. Crouch gives us detox moves and creative moves to help us “take back territory from this demonic power and from these false promise of money….reclaim territory for our relational and loving God.”  Here is a summary of his advice. 

Detox Moves

1. ‍Generosity - this the basic way to destroy Mammon and the power money has over you — giving releases control. Do this by tithing on income, giving above the tithe and even give away assets.‍
2. Transparency - tell those your trust everything about your financial situation (not just your financial advisors), open your books to your friends who help point you to God. This should be normal. Secrecy is a sign that money has power over us.
   

Creative Moves

1. ‍Prioritize people over money - put blessing others before your own financial gain. Every transaction is a chance for love to grow.‍
2. Be ridiculously patient - mammon wants you to move fast. IRR (internal rate of return) is false benchmark and not nearly as important as MOI (multiples on investment). Ask how this use of money will help you and others know God better now and for thousands of years to come (Deuteronomy 5:10).
   

Andy Crouch's four bold moves are excellent tools that free us from the idol of money and better deploy our resources for the glory of God. These four suggestions do not mean it is wrong to ask for higher compensation for your work, or to raise the price of a product or service. The answers to these questions and others regarding the need for more or less financial resources are found in what will best turn our hearts to treasure God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-32).