Money Inventory
The Sex Inventory is the only "conduct" inventory in the Big Book's Step 4 directions. It is followed by the creation of a sex ideal.
However, the process can be used for other conduct, e.g. money, work, food etc..
The following text in purple is pages 68-69 of the Big Book revoiced to address money followed by the creation of a financial ideal. Wording that varies from the original text is in italics. You might revoice it very differently!
Now about money. Most of us needed an overhauling there. But above all we tried to be sensible on this question.
It's so easy to get way off the track. Here we find human opinions running to extremes - absurd extremes, perhaps. One set of voices cry that money is a need of our materialistic nature, part of the conflict-ridden drudgery and burdensome responsibility of existence. Then we have the voices who cry for spending and more spending; who bewail the wisdom of saving, paying bills, being responsible; who insist that most of the troubles of human history are traceable to money causes. They think we never can have enough to really enjoy life. They see its significance everywhere. One school would allow person no frivolity or financial risk, and the other would have us all on a regular shopping spree: spend, invest, capitalize, buy, sell, trade today for tomorrow we may die.
We want to stay out of controversy. We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone's financial conduct or decisions. We all have financial problems. We'd hardly be human if we didn't.
What can we do about them?
We reviewed our own financial conduct and attitudes over the years.
Channeling Financial Resources and Energy towards God's Will
In this way, we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future financial life. We subjected each expenditure to this test - was it selfish or not?
We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them.
We remember always that God is either everything or God is nothing, that money belongs to God and is therefore good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly nor to be despised and loathed.
Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we write it down and possibly discuss it with others. We must be willing to grow toward it. We must be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about more harm in so doing. In other words, we treat money as we would any other problem. In meditation, we ask God for knowledge of His will for each specific matter.
The right answer will come, if we want it. That's a promise!
God alone can judge our financial situation. Council with persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge. We realize that some people are as tight with money as others are loose. We avoid hysterical thinking or advice.
Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are going to get drunk or loaded?
Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are sorry for what we have done, conscious of our self-will, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry and our conduct continues to cause harm, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our experience. (As they say in the rooms, "romance and finance...").
To sum up about finances: We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing, if money is very troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others. We think of their needs and work for them. This takes us out of ourselves. It quiets the imperious urge, when to yield would mean financial fear, insecurity, and separation from God as we understand God.
Three Powerful Parables: Debt, Generosity, "To Who Has, More Will be Given."
Yeshua spoke more about money than any other topic, sometimes directly, often in parables. Powerful learning to fathom for a lifetime is in each.
Recommendation: Read one of these out loud with others in a small group after prayer. Take a few minutes of quiet time for each person to find their questions, insights, reactions, application to their own life. Then have each person share without cross talk. Address questions at the end as a group. The key is listening and responding to the written Word of the text and spoken Word from those present. Both are sacred.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
(derived from that of the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-35)
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him a trillion dollars. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred dollars, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
(derived from that of the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16)20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
The Parable of the Talents
(derived from that of the Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30)
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into consequences. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Sex Inventory is the only "conduct" inventory in the Big Book's Step 4 directions. It is followed by the creation of a sex ideal.
However, the process can be used for other conduct, e.g. money, work, food etc..
The following text in purple is pages 68-69 of the Big Book revoiced to address money followed by the creation of a financial ideal. Wording that varies from the original text is in italics. You might revoice it very differently!
Now about money. Most of us needed an overhauling there. But above all we tried to be sensible on this question.
It's so easy to get way off the track. Here we find human opinions running to extremes - absurd extremes, perhaps. One set of voices cry that money is a need of our materialistic nature, part of the conflict-ridden drudgery and burdensome responsibility of existence. Then we have the voices who cry for spending and more spending; who bewail the wisdom of saving, paying bills, being responsible; who insist that most of the troubles of human history are traceable to money causes. They think we never can have enough to really enjoy life. They see its significance everywhere. One school would allow person no frivolity or financial risk, and the other would have us all on a regular shopping spree: spend, invest, capitalize, buy, sell, trade today for tomorrow we may die.
We want to stay out of controversy. We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone's financial conduct or decisions. We all have financial problems. We'd hardly be human if we didn't.
What can we do about them?
We reviewed our own financial conduct and attitudes over the years.
- Where had we been selfish?
- Where had we been self-seeking?
- Where had we been dishonest?
- Where had we been afraid?
- Whom had we hurt (e.g. by stealing, withholding, being cheap, controlling, indulging, etc.)?
- Did we feel or unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion, or bitterness due to finances?
- What might we have done financially instead?
Channeling Financial Resources and Energy towards God's Will
In this way, we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future financial life. We subjected each expenditure to this test - was it selfish or not?
We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them.
We remember always that God is either everything or God is nothing, that money belongs to God and is therefore good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly nor to be despised and loathed.
Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we write it down and possibly discuss it with others. We must be willing to grow toward it. We must be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about more harm in so doing. In other words, we treat money as we would any other problem. In meditation, we ask God for knowledge of His will for each specific matter.
The right answer will come, if we want it. That's a promise!
God alone can judge our financial situation. Council with persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge. We realize that some people are as tight with money as others are loose. We avoid hysterical thinking or advice.
Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are going to get drunk or loaded?
Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are sorry for what we have done, conscious of our self-will, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry and our conduct continues to cause harm, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our experience. (As they say in the rooms, "romance and finance...").
To sum up about finances: We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing, if money is very troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others. We think of their needs and work for them. This takes us out of ourselves. It quiets the imperious urge, when to yield would mean financial fear, insecurity, and separation from God as we understand God.
Three Powerful Parables: Debt, Generosity, "To Who Has, More Will be Given."
Yeshua spoke more about money than any other topic, sometimes directly, often in parables. Powerful learning to fathom for a lifetime is in each.
Recommendation: Read one of these out loud with others in a small group after prayer. Take a few minutes of quiet time for each person to find their questions, insights, reactions, application to their own life. Then have each person share without cross talk. Address questions at the end as a group. The key is listening and responding to the written Word of the text and spoken Word from those present. Both are sacred.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
(derived from that of the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-35)
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him a trillion dollars. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred dollars, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
(derived from that of the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16)20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
The Parable of the Talents
(derived from that of the Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30)
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into consequences. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
