MONEY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 295, 4 July 1929, Page 7

MONEY.

UNCLE BEN’S ADVICE. When I was a boy I listened to a sermon on the text: .“But above all things get wisdom,” that is understanding. That sermon made a deep impression on me, leading me to the resolution to get a college education. It has led me to send my children to college. The other day a young man said to me: “I can’t waste my time in college; I want money, for with that I can get anything I want.” For a moment I was shocked, but recovering said: ,

“Money can’t get you everything you want, not even true happiness, the greatest possession one can have. That comes only through wisdom how best to use whatever you have.” The young man listened respectfully and replied: “You may be right, but me for money!” Money is Useful. There is no mistaking the fact that money is useful. It '“gets” (I am using his word) us food, clothes, and shelter. It enables us to obtain recreation and amusement,, indeed edu•eation. It ushers us into social position. Money used as means to desirable, and proper ends is most useful. Furthermore, money enables us to do good in this world—to help the less fortunate to aid worthy ambition, to promote welfare and charitable work. It may support all proper undertakings for the uplift of humanity, and Its freedom from disease. But money best does all these "things when directed by wisdom. Franklin told us it is cne thing to have money, and quite another to know how to use it. It is wise use of money, much or little, that brings true happiness. Money for Money’s Sake. Getting money is one thing and getting it for money’s sake is quite another. With the former there may be

purpose wholly laudable, but with the latter cne can claim no apologies from the miser. The miser’s money does neither himself nor any one else any good. In some art gallery I’ve visited I have seen the picture of a miser seated at a table in a room with doors barred and shutters closed, fondling the gold coins he takes from a sack. On the wall a scroll traced by a mysterious finger in the commandment: “Thou shall have no other gods before me.” As the coins fall from the miser’s hand, his eye rests on this commandment, and his face seems to take on a troubled expression. It’s a wonderful painting proclaiming a wonderful truth.

It’s money for money’s sake, “the ove of money,” as the Good Book calls it, that makes a man a slave ■ ven to himself. And his shackles can never be broken except they are dissolved by wisdom, which is frequently more easily obtainable than gold. / Money»Has its Price. The young man “wanted” money. For everything we want we have to pay. Sometimes the price is greater than the value, but in the case of money it is usually an equivalent of the service rendered. If there is any pro’fit in the transaction the other fellow gets it.

And money gotten still has its price —the responsibility it places upon the professor. If he knows how to get money he must know hew to keep it, and use it. Here again there is need of wisdom far more comprehensive in scope than knowledge how to make money. So I am forced to the conclusion that useful as money is it is best obtained and used when it is subject to wisdom, the prime essential of true happiness and the key to man’s greatest success. Money? Yes, but above all things get wisdom.