Warning: The following may be controversial and confrontational. I’m doing my best to help you prosper during perceived tough times. I’m getting “in your face” so you can shake off limiting beliefs, drop the excuses, and begin to help yourself and others. May the following inspire you to do just that.
Often people have trouble attracting money because they unconsciously believe it’s evil. You wouldn’t want to attract anything you thought was evil, would you?
But is money really evil?
Ben Witherington writes in his book, Jesus and Money:
“Money in itself is just a means of exchange. It is no more inherently evil than any other material thing God created.”
Actually, the quote about money being evil is a partial one from Paul, not Jesus. Paul wasn’t enlightened but wisely warned about the love of money potentially being a problem.
I totally agree. Loving money over life itself could take you from the essence of life, not toward it. As I explained in my book, Attract Money Now, the wealthy people I know don’t love money. They appreciate it and leverage it, but they’re not in love with it. Big difference.
What about the story where Jesus said, “A rich man can’t get into heaven”?
It’s a misquote. Jesus said it would be difficult for a rich man to get in, not that he “can’t” get in.
And why difficult?
It’s difficult to get through the eye of a needle when you’re carrying a lot of stuff.
As I’ve taught, it’s fine to have material things — the material is the concrete form of the spiritual — it’s just not so fine to be attached to them. If your happiness is dependent on them, then you’re missing the miracle of this very moment.
What really matters is what is in your heart concerning money. If it’s your be-all and end-all, then money is your God and that, from a Jesus/Paul viewpoint, is a no-no. But if money is neutral to you, just a means to an end, then you are probably pure in heart concerning it. Godspeed to you.
What I do is appreciate money and use it to express my inspirations and Divinity. Money is just a cool agreed-upon tool to get things done. With it I can help myself, family and friends, and distribute it to causes and people I believe in. I do all that and more. It’s about being at peace with money.
I love Arnold Patent’s quote, in his book, Money:
“The sole purpose of money is to express appreciation.”
When you realize that money is neutral, that you can use it with a heart full of love, and you can be a steward for it to see that the Divine is expressed through you, then you are clear to attract all the money you will allow.
Mother Teresa said —
“Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God – the rest will be given.”
What is this “Kingdom of God”?
Religious wars have been fought over the answers. For me, it’s following your Divine connection; the voice in your heart that whispers what It wants you to do next. When you follow It, you move in the direction of experiencing and creating this Kingdom right here, right now.
What’s worth remembering is you can’t tell what is Divinely guided in another person any more than they can tell what is Divinely guided within you.
- Jay Leno and his car collection might be Divinely guided. I can’t honestly say. Neither can you.
- Bill Gates and his fortune might be there because he followed Divine guidance. We have no way of knowing.
- Jimmie Vaughan has 200 guitars. Not inspired collecting? How would you know?
- Donald Trump might be following his own spiritual path. Who’s to say, unless you project your own idea of wealth and spirituality onto him, and then who’s to say you’re right?
You’re on an ego trip if you feel you can determine someone’s motivation. We have to focus on our own connection and actions and refrain from judgments.
Scot Anderson, in his book, God Wants You Rich, says –
“What did Jesus say when someone was dumping perfume on His feet that was worth one year’s salary — in today’s numbers more than $40,000 — and someone said it should be given to the poor? Jesus said, ‘The poor you will have with you always’.”
Anderson goes on to say, “…Get out of your holier-than-thou attitude. Stop judging others and live your own life.”
That may sound harsh, but maybe it’s time to be more direct.
Buddha had his own thoughts on money, of course. According to The Buddha’s Teachings on Prosperity: At Home, At Work, in the World by Bhikkhu Basnagoda Rahula —
“The Buddha never imposed limitations on his lay follower’s efforts to be successful; instead, he clearly encouraged them to strive for success. Whether in “trading, cattle farming, archery, government service, or any other profession or industry,” a layperson should strive to advance in his or her respective field. Notably, the motivation to achieve success is an important requirement in any person’s life — an attitude of “I have a job that’s enough for me to live on” has no place in the Buddha’s teaching.
Next, the Buddha set no limits to a layperson’s wealth and never told his prosperous lay followers to stop or slow down. Instead, he unequivocally encouraged them to plan, organize, and even to obtain more…”
Buddha encouraged attracting more?
Jesus didn’t think money was evil?
The sole purpose of money is to express appreciation?
Pretty eye-opening, isn’t it?
Given these insights, how do you feel about money now?
Whether you think money is spiritual or not doesn’t matter when you need it in today’s world to survive and thrive. You best make peace with it. If you want to help yourself and others, you best clean up your attitude toward wealth.
But how?
Attract Money for Good
I’ve created entire books and courses to help you get clear and then attract money to use for your own Divinely guided actions. Some of them, such as Attract Money Now, are free.
Have you read the book? If not, why not? If so, did you apply the seven steps in it? If not, why not?
Too many people have shrugged off the pursuit of money saying it was evil or material, or that Jesus or Buddha wouldn’t use or acquire or accumulate money today.
Come on. Obviously, that’s not true. They wouldn’t be attached to money, but they’d certainly attract it and leverage it for good.
And who’s good would they use it for?
Their choice.
Meaning they wouldn’t listen to you, but to their own inner direction. You might not even agree with how they handled their wealth. You might even be surprised and confused by it. You might even think they were greedy.
Do you think your opinion would stop them?
Hardly.
They’d adapt to modern times, too.
Do you really think they’d ride in an ox cart today? Not fly in an airplane to get overseas? Not have a bank account — or entrust someone to have one for them? Not do marketing to get the word out?
When I wrote my dissertation to earn one of my doctorate degrees, it was on the marketing methods every great religion and metaphysical movement did to attract followers. They all used money and marketing to spread the good word of their ideas. All of them.
Apparently their leaders were just fine with money.
But let’s dig below the surface of all this:
Why do you even care what anyone does with their money? Or what Buddha or Jesus thought about wealth?
Sometimes people use not having money as an excuse for not following inspirations.
I’m sorry, but excuses are no longer allowed.
It’s time to awaken.
You have a job to do here. I don’t know what it is. You do.
Dr. Kalinda Rose Stevenson, in her very enlightening e-book, Going Broke With Jesus, says —
“When you have money, you have the power to have a greater impact in the world. Most of us are used to playing small roles, partly because we don’t have enough money.”
John Kay, in his book, Obliquity, pointed out that the wealthiest people – from Andrew Carnegie to Bill Gates – achieved their riches through a passion for their work, not because they set materialistic goals.
Passion.
That’s the real ticket to success and the real thing to focus on.
Don’t let lack of money or time or energy or experience or education stop you. Far too many people with less than you have created their dreams.
Focus on your passion.
Don’t let opinions about what Jesus or Buddha would think or do stop you from following your own inspirations. That’s a cop-out.
Focus on your passion.
Don’t let religious bullies or well-meaning interpreters of ancient spiritual literature distort your perception of the world and what’s possible for you.
Focus on your passion.
It’s time to act.
Will you?
Ao Akua,
PS — Let me be even more in your face: Stop judging people with money and how they use it. How does that serve you, except to make you feel self-righteous? Start attracting money and using it for the good you see will help the most. If you want to make a difference, make a difference. It begins with you. Will you sit on the sidelines and judge or will you enter the game and be part of the solution? Will you follow your passion or not? The whistle has blown. The game is on. The clock is ticking. Get on the field and play. Now.
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34 Comments
There are no limitations apart from the ones we set up in our minds.
We are driven by our beliefs.
“Attract Money Now” http://www.attractmoneynow.com said it best in how “limiting beliefs are like thieves in the night.”
It’s fascinating how a single idea can change the direction of your life.
Thank you Joe for your life changing ideas =]
THANK YOU JOE!
Loved the post! You got to the heart of the issue. What do I do when I am awakened myself,but some of my closeset people and relatives are judging wealthy people, and I know that it’s not right, and at the same time it’s obvious they aren’t going to awaken? How do awaken our closest people?
You cannot ‘awaken’ someone else only yourself. You can introduce them to info that might allow them to alter their own beliefs and awaken, but don’t even think that you need to awaken them in order to proceed yourself. I have family and friends who do nothing more than scoff at Law of Attraction and such. I have my own beliefs and allow them theirs. Each person must be true to themselves. When they say something that is diametrically opposed to my beliefs I just consider where it’s comming from and ignore it (not easy but do-able!)
I wish you the best. Keep on your own path and let them come along or fall away as they choose.
I am glad you have written this article. Just this past week my own son made a comment about our neighbors being snobby and it being because they have money to spare. I had to point out to him that our neighbors on the other side and two doors down, who are millionaires many times over and who hold the titiles of Count and Countess (we live in Denmark) are as sweet as sweet could be and seek us out almost daily…they come over to say hello almost every day if even just for a minute. They are a prime example of people who have a lot of money but do not factor it to define who they are, they are our friends even if we don’t have two nickles to rub together. They are good, fun, kind people with big hearts.
Also ‘Ask and Ye shall receive’ and ‘The Lord will provide’ are known to all and further proof that God and Jesus have nothing against their children having money and wanting more as long as their hearts are in the right place and the Lord does provide when needed and more. Last year when my brother died suddenly, my parents were sitting with a whole $130 until payday. The afternoon of the day he died money started pouring in with cards and when the cards stopped coming in two weeks after his death, there was exactly enough to pay for his funeral with 14 cents left over. The Lord provided. Two weeks ago they decided it was time to get his headstone because they have been putting it off being it was so final, but the figured it was time to order it even though they had no idea where the money would come from with only Mom working and Dad having no income of any kind. Low and behold, somebody came by the house they had never met and aked if Dad would be interested in sellling one of his classic cars. Once again the Lord provided and the stone was ordered this past Wednesday and they have ‘a lot’ of money left over to enjoy. God wants us to have money for the things we want and need.
If you believe God and Jesus think money is evil, just take a good look at the Vatican…that took more than a few bucks to build and to me that is one of the most holy places on earth.
this could not have come at a better time for me…
with all the reading I am doing I was suddenly overwrought with confusion and guilt (reading “Beyond the Secret”) but I kept “cleaning” on the confusion and this emailed article has totally cleared my confusion 🙂
Thanks Joe!
G~
Thanks, Joe!
There are many examples of wealthy people in the Bible that were blessed by God to have riches. I totally agree with you that God looks at the heart-that’s the only thing that matters to him. Money is just an object that we can choose to use for good or evil.
Wow, another great post. thank you Joe, your are just wonderful. it helps me shift one of my great impeding belief about money. I know your new book “the awakening course” will also easily and significantly help me improve my life. So I purchased it 2 days ago here http://www.awakeningcoursebook.com/ , and I have downloaded all the amazing bonuses of the book. I’ve started eat them. Thank you sooo much because they are PRICELESS. I think it’s worth 100 times the little money I’ve invested. However, I have trouble downloading the main e-book “the awakening course”. On barnes and noble, they thank me for my order and give me my receipt order, but I don’t know how to grab it. Please could you tell me how to do? Thank you Joe
I sincerely appreciate your “in your face” style…this is how some of
us get awakened. Thanks for caring enough to want for us what
you have obtained regarding financial freedom. I read somewhere
in one of your articles that it is the FREEDOM that rich people want
that having enough money and to spare provides. Continued success to you in every area of life that you so desire.
Yolie
Amen.
Dr Vitale. I totally agree with Mrs Stevenson, about the confusion in the christian faith about money. I grew up in a christian church where money was seen as the devil himself. As I grew up in my christian walk I realized that God wants me rich, because I learn that money can give up the power to give, and I believe that what God is all about give. I love money in a pure, honest, and good intentions way because I get pleasure in helping others, and protect the peace and happiness that life offers. Dr. Vitale I read your book “attract money now” Love it……………..Yuri
Thanks, Joe! What you wrote, I needed to read… thanks so much!
April
Hi Joe,
Thanks for that and for the reminder about the book. I have it downloaded and find the seven steps are effective although challenging at times.
This is another chance for me to say that my own daily readings – in the Church of England Franciscan prayer book – back up what you say time and time again.
Once again, thanks,
Yours ay,
Ted
(The Reverend Doctor Edward Baty IMM)
Excellent discussion.
FYI – the Eye of the Needle story. (at least one version)
It had to do with getting camels through the eye of the needle. If you recall, … it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to get through the eye of the needle..
The gate to ancient cities was called the needle. It was an arch in the walls protecting the villiage. Unfortunately, the arches were not tall enough for a camel to walk through, so they had to get the camel to get on his knees and scoot through. As you might guess, camels did not like this! Still, they did it all the time. : )
Thank you George!!! This explanation of the story is what my intellect needed to know to open up. I couldn’t make all this wonderful ideas about money get through because I was thought the meaning of this story literally as a child and cannot pass through it to my subconscious. I was really stuck in the concept that if one is reach FOR SURE is not going to heaven, no matter what Joe says. Your explanation blow up a wall. Thank you for taking the time to write it here so I could find it!!! And thanks Joe for everything you do.
Ines
I am an Attractor Fan for sure! Joe you continue to inspire and enlighten! Thank You, Joanne (MamaJo)
yes i mean lets face it, this shit Joe shows us is pretty miraculous. like in one year i went from making 220 a month to over 10 000, and i try to invest it all back in to the mix towards using my life to acheive personal success while simultaneously improving the world around me, i would doubt Jesus would mind
This was just what I needed! You once again found the right way to say it so clearly and simply. I wish you a nice day Joe!
Joe, regarding Jesus and Buddha, you’ve asked, “Do you really think they’d ride in an ox cart today? Not fly in an airplane to get overseas? Not have a bank account — or entrust someone to have one for them? Not do marketing to get the word out?”
And what would be the word that they were getting out? Would the message be that we should line up like lemmings for American ideals of success and wealth — is that what they were trying to get across?
“Why do you even care what anyone does with their money? Or what Buddha or Jesus thought about wealth?”
Joe, why do you care what Jesus and Buddha thought about wealth? I believe you introduced this thread by asserting that they were wealthy. Why do you care what they thought? Because people have challenged your assertion, you consider such critics judgmental, bullies, limited, negative, etc. But it is a matter of integrity, Joe, not a matter of judgment, to try to understand and accurately represent their teachings for those who do give weight to them.
Regarding the kingdom of God, it seems apparent that Jesus was talking about creating a community of justice, compassion, and love in contrast to the Roman empire. In my opinion, America begins to look more and more like the Roman empire, so if Jesus were trying to “get the word out” today, again, what would that word be?
Also, how does one remain neutral and unattached to money if obtaining ever more of it becomes the whole focus of one’s life?
No one in this discussion said that money itself is evil. I think you’re extrapolating that from Stevenson’s web site. And Trump and the others you’ve named don’t portray their efforts to obtain wealth as a spiritual pursuit in the first place, as far as I can see. Who is judging them?
For anyone who is pursuing a spiritual path, though, in which love and compassion are paramount, we *should* ask, what is money doing? And where we see an excessive emphasis on it bringing destruction to the environment, people and animals, it is not neutral anymore.
I agree with you Kathryn price
there is a problem that when we talk about proponents of material gospel oversmphasising the spirituality of money,we sound as if we are saying poverty is good,but thats not it,nobody loves poverty naturally.
To me this article as convincing as it may be,it has failed to produce biblical backing.the entirity of the bible has many rich people and as well it has poor people as being righteous.The kingdom of God is neither wealth nor porverty.
Take Solomon for instance,he was the wealthiest of his time,bt after all he had,he considered all as vanity and he encouraged people to just seek God,for thats the whole duty of man.
1 timothy 6 verse 6 says “…..but godliness with condentment is great gain.for we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. 8 but if we have food and clothing we will be content with that” So what are we to say,should we pre occupy ourselves with material things against such scriptures as these? Shall we say its “ancient literature”
What we are failing to realise is that blessings come to us from God as grace,not because one has followed his path or passion.Everyone has a passion but that counts to nothing if the grace of God is not present and if itd grace then its all to do with God not ourselves
Money is nothing more than a means of trade…it is not appreciation. Jesus spoke to the heart of man, because out of it are the Issues pertaining to life.
As a student of the Word for over 35 years, I found it interesting that you thought Paul was not enlightened. What do you consider “enlightened”?. You might want to read about his conversion and define your terms more clearly about someone who was anointed to write 3/4 of the New Covenant. Also, You mention that you think ego is involved when discerning motives of people. Yet you have promoted Napoleon Hills work. I’m sure you are aware, if not have participated in the Master Mind experience. You have some enlightement, for sure. However, you need to understand that the whole of the Word needs to be studied to properly interpret it. And then you’d find the truth IF the Lord would choose to reveal it to you.. The Kingdom of God is indeed in you in that you spirit can connect w/Father God.. However, as many as are led by the Spirit of God are children of God, in all matters. You seemed to skip:
Matt.16: 26: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul.”
John 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me
John 18:37 “….. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Also, a major key is:
Deut. 8:18: But keep in mind the Lord your God: for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, so that he may give effect to the agreement which he made by his oath with your fathers, as at this day.
Money is simply a trade agreement. In itself, it is not evil
Booyah Joe -You nailed it with this one. I like the ‘in-your-face’ version of Joe. Keep it coming.
-Brandon Jones
Aloha Ao Akua,
Fantastic blogpost about money!Totally agree,money is good and they help things to flow more easily in our lives.The most important value of a human being is the spiritual connection.Without it you’re nothing because your are a part of and created by God.More,God means love,appreciation and giving so the purpose of money is to express more of these things.
Great point,if we focus on our passions and natural abilities the money will come easily and frequently.
Thank you Joe for all these great resources and inspiration:)
Radu
Is money all your life revolves around?
There’s so much more in life then money.
Hopefully some day you’ll understand this – and quit putting out useless dribble about getting rich.
I submit that neither Jesus nor Buddha rode about, carried by the labours of their followers. Their “motorcars” would have been grand litters, had they chosen to use them. But no, they walked among their followers. And when they were blessed with some token of wealth, it was always distributed (think fishes and loaves). And if you recall reading their stories, neither went about, heralding their great works. They taught, then they moved on to yet another place to teach yet again.
Compare their travels and tales to your own, Mr. Vitale. How oft did they speak of their fortunes or seek to grow those fortunes? How many of your own “lessons” are bereft of any mention of wealth? And yet, you continue to claim that your teachings are consistent with theirs. I would advise any seeker to delve into the teachings, rather than take anything at face value, most certainly when those “teachings” are a path to wealth for the “teacher.” Most industries have some means of ensuring the veracity of marketers’ claims (with a bar set much higher than “what if it works?”), not to mention ethics guidelines to ensure that potential customers are not misled in the quest for profits. A wise consumer should ask whether your claims meet any such standard.
Great article! Thanks a lot Dr. Vitale.
This reminds me of the tapping session you had with Brad. Still have and use that, btw. It also brings to mind a story one of my very first mentors said. He did some research that led him to believe, during a walking tour that followed in the footsteps of Jesus, that the “eye of the needle” was a physical location. He saw what was a passageway to get in and out of a city, and it looked like a needle.
If you were loaded up with goods, passage through the needle on a camel would be difficult. The camel would have to bow. Smart men would get off the camel *leaving their possessions* and lead the camel carefully through. They would also *travel light* – which you can’t do if you have possessions for the sake of having possessions, rather than through having passions.
It is so much harder to accumulate wealth if you have a deep seated belief that money is evil. And so many people have it, but don’t know it. Such a great reminder. Thank you, Joe. Hope you’re doing well.
Hi joe!
Thank you for all those gifts you’ve send to me by e-mail! I’ll soon read your message with more care. I see that the higher quality of “The Secret” ‘s teatchers is organization. Am I right? I’m not able to send you messages from my e-mail boxe so I come here. I love that you say about Jesus and money, it’s true. St Augustin was saying : “love and do what you want”. So we haven’t to be afread when we see a person who become rich, because we know that God’s love is written in every body’s heart. It is why a person who works to be rich and even very, very rich, will soon or late want to accumplish the deepest desire of his heart that is the same for every body and that is the secret of eternal life : love one’s enemy and give him again love.It’s the secret of the Jesus’ arrival on earth: his message is clear: love will give you possibilities to live.And forgiving, that is to give love again when love is dead , will give you possibilities to resurrect for eternal abundance and happyness! What’s a present! Abundance now and for EVER! Yes: God loves all us! Me to.
Hi,if you can send me a mail adress,i have to ask something,tks so much.
THANK U JOE!
Jesus admired King Soloman for his successes in building a huge abundance fortune and providing well for everyone in his family circle and friends. Religion tried to make everyone feel bad about money to get tithe payments, but God wants everyone to be prosperous, because he did not make any junk. The more successful we are, the more we can help others. God did not intend for people to be poor, because he wanted everyone to reach their full potential in life. Make money your friend and use it to make the world a better place. Your success vibrations that begin in your mind, will encourage others to follow your lead – and they can be successful, too. As long as you give good value, you will become more abundant.
Money is only evil if you cheat, mislead or steal to obtain it. Give good value to others and they will gladly buy whatever you are offering. Start with good samaraton acts, and dish out words of encouragement to those who need a boost of confidence. If you make it a habit to do at least one good deed a day, it will be difficult to make any enemies. If you feel you are a better person than others, your actions will reflect your thoughts, and your friendship will be hollow.
Hi I am a sngle mother to a hansome lad of 2. Living in Lonfdon in the UK, I have a vision concerning a project to help instill moral values and positive belief into a flagging social system.
I see an opportunity to head up a scheme where single mothers/ fathers can attend to attend lectures and seminars on positive visualitations, hypnotherapy, workshops, literacy and numeracy classes and focus on pragmatic and strategic goals outlined to achieve success and not allow parents to feel misguided or failed by a system and achieve work employment direction a nd a sense of giving morally and with values. Avoiding drink and drugs and offering support for abuse and such like. London has the highest teen pregnancy rate in europe and as seen most recently in the London Riots, the moral and sense of community is lacking.
We need to implement a strategy for protect our next generation of youth and ensure a safe environment for others, so we can generically feel empowered and evolve successfully.