Why most churches start off a service asking us for our money - often for a whole spectrum of events e.g. tithes, offerings, missionary work, special projects, soup kitchen, the homeless, evangelical outreach etc. And then gives us a sermon on the evils of money as if it is something that should be avoided?

Is money really good? Or is it evil?

Is it good or even godly to become and aspire to be financially rich? Or is it better to settle for whatever you get in life?

Why do Christians seem to be the poorest segment of our culture?

Why is it that Christians in particular will spend time daily improving every other sphere of their lives but cut themselves short in the area of finance? Everyday they will exercise to improve their physical condition. Everyday they will spend time with their significant other to improve their relationship. Everyday they will read their bible and pray to better their spiritual life. But when it comes to the area of money, they want to pretend as if it's not important. Will your spouse, partner or friends stick around if you told them they are not important?

Growing up I remember hearing:

"Money is the root of all evil"

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God"

"Don't lay up treasures on this earth, lay'em up in heaven"

"You can't be rich and spiritual"

"You must have just enough to get by, anything more is excess. Be satisfied with what you have"

"Money is not everything"

"Money can't buy you love"

"The richer you become the less time you have for God and spiritual matters and the easier it gets to fall into temptation"

"Rich people are greedy, proud, and snobbish, and poor people are humble"

Do some of these 'sayings' sound familiar?

The problem is these 'sayings' are a lot more powerful then we realize. Through repetition these -negativity towards getting rich thoughts - are like seeds sown in your mind, the more repetition and the more emotion that is attached to these thoughts, the deeper they take root in your mind and they will and must bring forth their fruit, called results in your life.

Every time the same thought or idea is 'seeded' in your mind an actual physical neuro-pathway is traced in your mind, and through constant repetition these neuro-pathways or strands become what eventually looks like a chord or cable in your brain which we call a belief.

Many well meaning Christians today are suffering from 'financial paralyses' - totally paralyzed in this important area of their life. They are trapped not by their conditions, but by their beliefs! Your beliefs shape your outlook or paradigm of life and thus your attitude and behavior towards everything, including your money.

Let us briefly analyze the two most common limiting beliefs most people have regarding money, wealth, riches and the bible.

Belief #1: Money is the root of all evil.

This passage has been misstated so many times people just accept it as truth. The bible actually says in 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil..." If you read the passage in context, you'll see that Paul was writing these words to Timothy and talks about a specific type of people. He then describes these people in detail as "...proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness" 1 Timothy 6:4,5. And that they want to use their money to purchase 'foolish and hurtful lusts' in the same context.

And then in that context, addressing those specific people Paul says the 'love of money is the root of all evil'. Well that makes perfect sense for people that are proud, disputing, envious, of corrupt mind, destitute of the truth and wants to purchase foolish and hurtful lusts. That makes sense! But how can you apply that to a godly man or woman, living an upright life that wants to do God's will, and lives by bible principles? You can't apply that at all. Keep it in context.

Belief #2: "...It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

The eye of a needle in this text is not a sowing needle. The eye of the needle is a narrow gate with a low ceiling in Jerusalem, commonly known by the name "the needle's eye" for its straitness, through which a camel could not go, unless he were unloaded, and made to kneel.

Once again if you look at this passage in context the real issue of what Jesus was dealing with here becomes very clear. He was addressing a young man that was very wealthy. The bible says he had great possessions.

The young man approached Jesus and asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered "...keep the commandments...Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." The young man then answers Jesus and says: "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" Then Jesus goes on to tell the young man that there is one thing he lacks. He should sell whatever he has, give it to the poor, and follow Him.

What was the one thing? Jesus was trying to establish whether he loved God more than he loved his wealth. And the bible says he wouldn't do it, and went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. He loved his wealth more than he loved God. To him his wealth was more important then total surrender to Jesus Christ. So again to go and apply that to people who love God, putting God first in their lives, and wants to do God's will, would be totally out of context.

Many people and Christians in particular are in 'financial bondage' because of beliefs that are based on a misinterpretation of bible texts like the above regarding money, riches, wealth, and the bible. These beliefs are disempowering and are often formed at a young impressionable age and we very seldom realize that we still 'hold on' to these beliefs that are shaping our behavior toward money, wealth, and riches every single day.

Did you know that God's Word (the Bible) contains the principles for creating a life of lasting wealth and abundance, not only financially, but in each and every other area of your life as well? I encourage you to discover it today.

As a special gift, I'm going to give you four simple, but none the less powerful steps you can begin immediately to replace old limiting beliefs with new beliefs, that will consistently support, empower, and guide you towards your goals, dreams, and desires, rather than your frustrations and fears. Here they are.

Step #1 Write down all your beliefs you hold in the area of money, financial success, wealth and rich people.

Examples might be: Rich people are greedy; money is the root of all evil; if I have too much money people will judge me.

Step #2 Identify negative, limiting beliefs and question their validity.

Identify the disempowering beliefs that carry a negative connotation to money, wealth, and rich people. Analyze them. Write down how have they affected your life?

Step #3 Replace old negative beliefs by interrupting them with new positive empowering beliefs.

For example: Old belief: Money can't buy you love. New belief: Neither can poverty! Money can buy me the freedom and means to develop and enjoy fabulous love relationships.

Step #4 Imprint these new beliefs by regular repetition until on 'autopilot'.

We are often inspired, excited and full of enthusiasm about new found knowledge and ideas we learned through a new book, tape, seminar program etc. But how long does the inspiration and excitement last? If you really want to reap the benefits from what you learned in this brief article you need to be diligent in reinforcing your new beliefs, by repeating them to yourself and thinking on them often, particularly in the beginning stages. They are new beliefs and thought patterns that still need to be established, and if you're not careful they will get crowded out by your old way of thinking.

Lastly to get some leverage on yourself to help you take action now, write down all the things you are missing out on, because of a lack of financial resources. What frustrations and fears are you experiencing? What pain is in your life because of financial problems?

Then write down all the benefits and blessings that abundant finances would provide for you. How much good could you do? How much could you contribute to your church and other needy causes? Freedom to travel? Education? Write down everything. If you have enough reasons to do something - you'll do it!