When I was in college, I made a goal to keep my budget as student-like as possible no matter how much money I made in the future. Whatever extra I made, I aimed to give away. That would keep me from getting greedy and at the same time help others. Well, unfortunately, as my earnings have increased, my spending has too. But it’s still a goal.

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a full tummy, a warm coat, and a roof to sleep under. It can’t buy peace of mind, but it can buy an education and important medical care. This is the view I want to have of money. An outlook that values money not for the power, comfort, or luxury it can afford, but for the real needs it can meet. When I value it for meeting real needs, I don’t have a desire to collect it but to supply it where it is lacking.

These days, Micah 6:8 has been on my heart: “What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Lately, the “do justice” bit has convicted me and I’ve begun to think that justice starts by redistributing my wealth and possessions among the people I actually know. You’re either thinking, “Wealth? What wealth?” or “Yikes! She sounds like a communist!” Well, wealth is all relative, and let me remind you—I do live on a commune of sorts. :-) Actually, these thoughts didn’t stem from that at all, but from God bringing certain people and needs to my attention, then pointing at my excess and putting it on my heart to share with them. If I’m still in doubt, there’s plenty of Scripture to drive home the point: God will provide for me, and I am to give generously to those in need. I’ve been a little surprised by how close “those” people are to me. They’re in my own family, my circle of friends, among the people I live with, the people I go out to dinner and study groups with, even passengers on the bus I ride. It’s convenient, really.

And they’re the people noticing what kind of person I am and wondering what kind of God I serve. I’m no expert in economics; I just know I have more than what I need while others whom I’m close to have less. I want to share. I want to help bring about the Kingdom of justice.