I'm an investment advisor. I get paid well for managing people's investments. In other words, my professional life revolves around money. So let me share a truth that is very clear to me: Without purpose, money has no worth.

Figuring out your money's purpose starts with your own purpose. Where does your purpose come from? Your faith is the first place to look. While the majority of my clients believe in God, several of my clients do not, and a few are undecided. Does that matter? Absolutely.

Professed atheist Bertrand Russell stated a very important truth: "Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless." That is not to mean an unbeliever has no purpose. Instead of seeking God's purpose for their life they are left to make one up for themselves. Either way, that purpose is the basis for your life, including the financial parts of it.

Looking further, I believe that there is a generality when it comes to integrating money with your purpose in life. This point is brought home through a passage from 1st Timothy, chapter six. I think you'll find the sentiment is mirrored in the texts of most religions and the writings of both God-fearing and God-doubting philosophers.

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Riches will not buy you happiness or true friends. Many have died before you with lots of money and not much else. You are not going to have your net worth chiseled into your tombstone. As I said earlier: Money in and of itself serves no purpose. It will not result in gain unless you are also content. The warning is clear: if you seek contentment by seeking riches you will fail.

The passage continues into one of the better known verses, saying:

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

Money is not the problem. It can aid you in doing many things. But it is important to realize that it is not the prize you should seek. To some it is a gift, and to all it is a tool. Your job, whether you believe you are doing so for God or self or others, is to be the best overseer of the money that you have--not for its own sake, but for the sake of your purpose in this life.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.