Building Character in a Money-Driven World

Building Character in a Money-Driven World
by
August 23, 2025

This Sunday, we are having our Mission and Ministry Fair right after the early services. If you are looking to get plugged in at Woodmont, this is a great opportunity for you to do just that. Come and see all of the different ways that Woodmont is connecting and serving our community. We are also continuing to form many new small groups including Dinner for Eight groups. The new sermon series on “The Book of James” continues Sunday. We have so much to unpack in this powerful epistle.

One of the worst aspects of social media is the ongoing social comparison that we now see in our culture. Social comparison has been described before as the primary “thief of joy.” Friedrich Nietzshe lived during the second half of the nineteenth century and was known as a pessimistic nihilist who became hostile to Christianity and morality. However, despite his many issues, he was very intelligent and once made a prediction that should haunt all western people of faith. Nietzsche famously predicted, “One day, money will replace God in Western culture.” If we take a look around, for many people today, Nietzsche’s prediction has proven absolutely true. Money is perhaps the number one idol of our time. Some people are much more concerned about their net worth than self-worth. Materialism, consumerism, and superficiality often rule the day. The rat race is one big competition to see who can acquire the biggest, shiniest, most expensive new toys. Those who have money and means are often admired, respected, and envied. Those who struggle can be judged and looked down upon. Money can breed a certain level of arrogance. But there is a shallowness to it all that any honest person can see.

Jesus was aware of the human temptation to cultivate a materialistic mindset, so he addressed it often throughout his ministry. He said, “You cannot serve both God and wealth.” One always wins out. He also asks: “What does it profit you to gain the whole world, but forfeit your soul?” (Mark 8) Or, let’s reframe this question for today: What does it profit you to build a huge company if you lose your marriage in the process? What does it profit you to become a workaholic if you miss all your children’s games, plays, and family dinners? What does it profit you to become a multi-millionaire if you have no true friends left in your life and you are all by yourself? To be clear, there is nothing wrong with working hard, making money, and investing money. We all must do it to survive and be responsible. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy as long as your values remain in place. But here’s the question: How can we prevent our culture from becoming one where money and success define our lives?

Could it be too late? Perhaps for some, but not for most. A price tag cannot be placed on character, values, and integrity. This is what really matters: telling the truth, being kind, remaining humble, listening to others, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, withholding judgment, mentoring the young, visiting the sick, forgiving those who have hurt you, and spreading peace to a hostile world. Socioeconomic status has no bearing on whether you can do these things. Even capitalist icon Ann Rand once said this: “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.” So if we are the driver, where are we going? What are we trying to accomplish? What matters in the big picture? The ongoing tension is: “how do we exist in a society where money is needed to survive but not let it become an idol?” Nobody said it was easy.

Winston Churchill famously said, “We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.” What kind of life are we making? What kind of priorities have we established? How do we differentiate between generosity and greed, self-absorption and selflessness, wants and needs? Issues of character should always trump possessions. Or as scripture says: “Mortals look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Intentions of the heart will always define the spiritual life.

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