One of the main reasons we open a business of our own is to make a good living helping others. Another is to employ people so they can make money to support their family.

Coaching seminars and popular books teach that if I just think about money the right way — focus really hard on it — then it will just show up in my lap tomorrow! (Try this and tell me if it worked for you.)

In chiropractic school, I was often told to “do the right thing and the money will come.” The idea here was that if you pursue money, you could be doing the wrong thing (instead of the right thing.)

I did the right thing (helping sick people get well) for a couple of years when I started out, yet that didn’t seem to be enough pay the bills. Was there something more? (Yes, see full story here.)

Some people say that “money is the root of all evil, after all the Bible says so.” Actually the Bible says “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).

You see it’s loving money more than anything else that makes money an idol. People who love money will treat others badly. They will become immoral and unethical because the ends (more money) justify the means.

But money is just paper and coins. It doesn’t have a mind of it’s own. Even the value it holds is what a government or a person gives it.

True, money is necessary in our world. And can be used for good. Financial guru Dave Ramsey, in Total Money Makeover, says:

It is the duty of the good people to get wealth to keep it from the bad people, because the good people will do good with it. If we all abandon money because some misguided souls view it as evil, then the only ones with the money will be the pornographer, the drug dealer, or the pimp. Simply enough?

So money is just a tool. A tool that can be used for good or evil. Accumulation of it can be seen as the end goal of a person’s life, where he or she is essentially worshiping it as a god. Or it can be a tool to bless others, feed and clothe your family, help your neighbor, educate your children, etc.

Maybe that is what J. Paul Getty meant when he said, “Money is like manure. You have to spread it around or it smells.” If we just pile it up like Scrooge, are we actually using it for it’s intended purpose?

This leaves us with the big question about money. The question most coaches, consultants, and secret books don’t want to talk about.

Where does the money really come from? Your patients? The tooth fairy? God? Your bank? The universe? The government? A money tree?

Tell me what you think below in the comments?