The Flex of Money

Different worlds play different games, but money is always the prize. What happens when the rules are flipped?

The rich play their game—show the newest car, the biggest house, the shiny watch. They act like it’s not a contest, but it always is.

The poor have their version too. One Christmas I heard beggar kids outside a 7-Eleven, laughing as they compared who got the biggest alms in a short time. I was shocked—their take easily outdid what many workers earn in a day.

And the scavengers? Their game is the trash. Who can find the most valuable thing, who can claim the best prize from what others throw away.

Different worlds, same story. Money as medal, money as crown. Rich or poor, everyone shows off—only the props change.

But here’s a better challenge: what if the rich changed their game? Not who owns the flashiest toy, but who gives the most to a cause that helps people—feeding the hungry, teaching the poor, healing the sick, saving lives. A monthly charity challenge, where the score is measured by help, not by wealth.

And about those rich posts on social media—yes, people say it’s wrong to give with a camera on, then post it for the world to see. But I say fine, go ahead. If that’s what it takes to challenge the next rich guy to give, then keep the cameras rolling. Call it “keeping up with the… Jonas Brothers? I mean, Joneses. 😁” Not perfect, but better than keeping up with the ugly comments on social media. 😁

Because if money stays at the center, life becomes poorer. But if giving takes the center, both rich and poor can finally be rich in what truly lasts.

ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

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To love is to give and to be loved. Looking at our neighbor with love reflects the very life of the Trinity.

Look at One’s Neighbor

Look outside of yourself, not in yourself, not at things, not at creatures. Look at God outside of yourself so as to unite yourself to Him. (…) Therefore, look at each neighbor with love—and to love is to give. But a gift calls for a gift and you will be loved in return. Thus loving means to love and to be loved—it is the life of the Trinity.

Chiara Lubich
Word of Life • November 1949

𝚃𝚢𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎 • 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗆.𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗂𝖼.𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗀