Why do we talk about money every year? Two reasons come to mind:
First, because our spiritual maturity is most obvious in the way we spend money. I’m sure there are people in your life who you really admired until you saw their attitude towards money. Some, you admire all the more. Others, well, you just shake your head and wish you hadn’t seen them acting that way.
Second, you will know who you love the most by just looking at the receipts of your purchases. I forgot who told me this but about nine years ago, this was revolutionary to my ears. Back then, I greedily stockpiled all the [pirated] DVDs I could find in Quiapo and St. Francis Square. Having been deprived of TV shows and movies in my childhood years, the sight of all the affordable DVDs thrilled me. I bought everything I wanted: Smallville, Lost, Koreanovelas, Terminator Series, Back to the Future, and James Bond, to name a few. Then someone told me that receipts are paper trails of love. The person or thing you spend most of your money on is the true love of your life.
I will never forget the sinking feeling that hit me in the pit of my stomach when I realized that a large portion of my income went to entertainment. I could not believe it but the evidence was there. Numbers don’t lie. I knew I had to throw the DVDs away.
Sayang.
But did I have another choice? Luke 6:46 was too strong to ignore: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
Jojo Agot 