Personal Money Tips

In the bible, Jesus said in Matthew 7:2 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” I’ve pondered about this verse and how it applies to wealth and money. This verse basically says, whatever yardstick you use to measure someone, it will be used to measure yourself. No 2 ways about it. What you use to measure others, will determine your self worth, and I believe, the higher your self worth, the higher the net worth.

The next verse, Matthew 7:3 reads “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye ad pay not attention the plank in your own eye?” i.e. seeing the imperfection in others and not seeing our own faults. These verse has 2 sides to it. One, I think if you used a certain measure to gauge another, God would use that to measure you! Wow. Therefore before you are so fast to past judgment on another, please do think about this first seriously.

On another level, besides God measuring us, we actually do this to ourselves. Think about this. Let say, you measure the success of a person or peer by the amount of money he has. In you gut, you might think, if he has a million dollars, then he is rich and successful. Since you use this yardstick to “measure” others, if you don’t have the million dollars, by default, you just told yourself that you are not successful. See the point.

Another example, if he drives a Mercedes, then he is successful. Now, if you don’t drive a Mercedes, then you are not successful. Isn’t it interesting? You see, this has nothing to do the other person having a million dollars or driving a Mercedes. He might not place any value on the million that he have. To him, that million might not dictate whether he is successful or not, unless you ask him and he tells you it gives him the feeling of success. But because you use the yardstick to measure success, then consciously or unconsciously, you had just been measured by the same yardstick.

What is wrong with this picture? First, I believe people are individuals, with strengths, weakness and talents. Why did you choose that form of measurement in the first place? Nobody in the world said that, that would be THE rule to use. You could be very good at something but because you have chosen a yardstick you have not reached, subconsciously you tell yourself, you are not rich, not successful or whatever. Don’t you realize what that does to your confidence and self esteem? You are telling yourself all the time without realizing it, you are less than others. Others are better. They could be better than you in some areas of their lives, but since you have this blanket thought about yourself, then I think you just short changed yourself in what you are capable of.

If you have a habit to judge and measure others, then I suggest this. First, think about the rule you use to determine your success, wealth etc. Question to see if it works for you. If it doesn’t really makes sense, adopt a better, empowering rule.

Second, instead off looking in envy at other, notice the good in people and appreciate them. If you have a chance, catch people doing things right and compliment them on it. As you start to notice people for who there are, full of dreams, hope, strengths, weakness, fears and shortfall, then you will appreciate yourself for who you are. Over time, you will develop acceptance for who you are, and at the same time, recognize your own successes. Traits that other admire in you, WITHOUT you knowing. Isn’t it strange to know, others might admire you and want the gifts you have, and at the same we ourselves don’t use what we have and want what we don’t have.

I think as we begin to recognize the abundance God have given us, way beyond what we will ever hope to use and develop in a lifetime, that we will begin to attract riches into our lives, money and much more. Then next time you catch yourself measuring someone, notice what they are good at and compliment them. Not only will it break the habit to judge and measure other, you might just get a compliment about your own strengths and talent.