When I see the likes of this new "moneyed" generation today, I cringe at their influence upon the gullible. From their fleet of fancy cars to their choices of the bling engraved upon their bonded teeth- again, I cringe. Their lifestyles of conspicuous living, which often ends up with them taking that walk of shame down the road to bankruptcy court, is predictable and exhausting to watch! Every young person with a hope and a prayer of securing the bag, or "coming up," have an open invitation via social media to gawk at their spoils and "tsk-tsk" at their fall from financial grace. These faithful, Millennial profligates have taken the roller coaster ride alongside of their idols, and are vicariously feeling the rush of adrenaline with each purchase as well as each setback. The ridiculous part about having to heave-up your opulence on the side of the road is the rubber-neckers.

In examining the financial trends of the rich today I've come to find that "New money" is not the same as "Old Money." It is a beast of a whole different color, texture, and destination. “New Money is fast; Old Money is slow. New Money burns; Old Money grows..." Unlike the Nouveau Riche, Old Money is established, inherited wealth from those whose families have been wealthy for many generations. There is usually a legacy of inherited wealth and a social class of the rich who have been able to maintain their wealth over multiple generations. Whereas much of the randomness of the "new money" floating around today has its Genesis within their own generation, rather than by familial inheritance. It has been amassed as their testimony of chance, good luck, and a learned skill set. I can remember being repeatedly told that "you don't pay bills with found money- you splurge with it!" This deceptive mantra and thought process may lie at the root of much of the behavior being exhibited in the media today from those who have experienced a certain amount of financial success. For Millennials, the lure of new money is most apparent in the flamboyant lifestyles of the over-the-top recording artists and the athletes. Their wealth is attributed to whatever is perceived as giving them value- be it their physical stamina, their sex appeal, or their opulent lifestyle- for the gullible, perception is everything! When recording artist Cardi B. chronicled a video presenting her husband with a birthday gift of $500,000 (right out of the refrigerator) the "oos" and "awes" of that display filled many a comment section. Before the news could go cold, on Christmas Eve, we were treated to a tour of the young couple's sprawling new estate. To the younger generation, this exposition exemplified a dividing line between the haves and the have nots. But to the seasoned accountants among us it was a study in escrow analysis, being found house-poor, and diabolical property taxes! My grandma always told me "not to count other folks money." So, I will heed to her advice and instead, wave my white flag in support of fiscal responsibility. If time and the Great Recession of 2008 have taught us anything then it should have reminded us that money is finite, and that there is power in understanding our relationship with it. Most of our lack of financial discipline, over- indulgences, and our inability to build sustainable wealth for our children can all be traced back to our childhood, or beliefs, and our education. When we allow the empty spaces of our childhood to evolve into the monster of financial and material overconsumption, we sabotage our lives and limit our legacy.

Scripture tells us that "Money answereth all things," but it also teaches us about entrepreneurship, work ethics, and stewardship.

New Money

In the Parable of the Talents, (a measure of money, a talent-weight of gold or silver) the Master asks his three servants for an account of the talents he entrusted to them. The first and the second servants explained that they each put their talents to work, and had doubled the value of the property with which they were entrusted; each servant was rewarded. The third servant, however, had merely hidden his talent, had buried it in the ground, and was punished by his master. "You should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return, I would have received my money back with interest!" In short, we need to be good stewards, and stop chasing after the world's definition of success and wealth. We have to use our talents and make calculated Investments in ourselves, our children, and foremost God's Kingdom work. The Word admonishes us to "owe no man nothing."

The riotous, excessive lifestyle of the rich and famous has infiltrated the consciousness of the Body of Christ. The lure of "money cometh to me now" seems to be the most fluent language being spoken from our pulpits! Instead of classes on Wealth Management and good financial stewardship, our churches are aiding and abetting in the fiscal stagnation of its people. Living within our means and enjoying what God has blessed us with is all about balance and grace. It can be an enjoyable thing to browse through catalogs featuring beautiful homes and gardens; appreciating their splendor however if this browsing has caused you angst, and your soul (the seat of your desires) is continuously reaching out for more, and you find yourself caught up in an insatiable state - then you need a new American dream; One that is Christ-centered, soul appointed and Kingdom-focused! There is nothing ostentatious about the Lord. The fact that he is King makes us his heirs. We have been grafted into the royal family and our father is our provider. As far as the Cardi B.'s of the world are concerned, we'll have to wait to see the proof of longevity in this pudding. How long a high-profile couple living in this very visible glasshouse, stays together is not a good statistic. The lust of the eye in a multitude of instances often leads couples to go their separate ways and they end up in Divorce Court dividing property. Buying a million-dollar house is one thing but maintaining a million-dollar home is a whole different scenario. The weight of the property taxes alone has sent many affluent rappers into foreclosure. Hopefully she, unlike the many that have gone before her, will be able to maneuver her power into a position of perpetual provision and be the exception and not the rule. In the history of "the young and the affluent, " borrowing money against borrowed time always has a short refractory period. As parents and spiritual shepherds to our children, we must check our Arsenals. Our over indulgences of them have left them feeling entitled! We have instilled within our children a materialistic fever at the high price of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem! This malcontent is present in our homes, our schools and in our churches. A deeper insight into our true royalty would balance their playing field and level their trajectory. By applying love, guidance, and financial discipline, to our parenting, even the shiny things of the world will cease to trip them up. Teach them their worth, teach them the power of the coin and teach them to reverence their position as royalty and then and only then will they reign and not succumb. Our royalty dictates that we act accordingly. In the infamous words of coach Vince Lombardi "When You Get into the End Zone, Act Like You've Been There Before."

“Nouveau Riche”: people who have recently acquired wealth, typically those perceived as ostentatious or lacking in good taste."

“In the history of "the young and the affluent, borrowing money against borrowed time always has a short refractory period.”

“The young and the affluent”…

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”

Ecclesiastes 9:11

“It was deceiving to the impressionable but most of it was a lie”...