“Money’s Our God, it makes our decisions
If Money’s Our God, I want a new religion”

-A song by the Berea duo Zoe Speaks

Not all songs and musicians have a message. Disco is a prime example of message-less music that got a lot of airplay. Some people, like myself, were big fans.

The duo that makes up Zoe Speaks does have a message and the song “Money’s Our God,” epitomizes their beliefs.

I am apparently the last person living in Berea to have caught on to their music but when I finally heard them, their music touched me deeply.

To set the record straight, I am not opposed to money. In fact, I like it a lot. I’ve spent most of my life helping people with their money and am well compensated for it.

Money can do good things for people.

Money can provide safety and security and protect families. Money can give you a nice place to live, help you to educate your children and allow you to enjoy life.

The Zoe Speaks song touches on a darker side of money. It can become an obsession and all-consuming focus. Just like an addiction to drugs or alcohol, love of money can take over your life.

Bill Hybels, who heads the Willow Street Church in Chicago, wrote in “Christians in the Marketplace” that if you spent all of your time and effort focused on paying for a car, house, or other material possession, the material possession became your God.

Zoe Speaks summed up, in a three-minute song, the same point that Hybels wrote 100 pages about.

I see how money brings out the best and the worst in people. I see families devote their lives and sacrifice everything to assist an injured love one and I see family and “friends” whose only goal in life is to get their hands on the victim’s money.

Money may be some people’s God, but a God that does not always have a heaven and may often have a hell.

There is a rapidly growing field called Psycho-Economics, which is a study of psychology and economics. More and more people are trying to figure out why some people meet their financial goals and others with the same resources and opportunities do not.

It is easy to see from watching people who come into sudden money, like lottery winners or people who inherit a large sum, that money does not always make their lives happier.

Somewhere along the way, people have to figure out what will really make them happy. Material possessions and financial security are important but they may not be everything.

From my observation of the couple, it seems like the pair from Zoe Speaks is practicing what they are preaching.

If making money were their goal, it would be easy for a duo as talented as Zoe Speaks to change their style and cash in big.

Bob Dylan abandoned folk music, went electric and became richer and more famous than ever. Zoe Speaks could follow the same lead and dive into pop music.

I could see them making music videos and hosting the MTV awards. Instead of playing at the Berea Fourth of July festival, they could be doing an opening number on MTV with Madonna and Britney Spears, with everyone kissing everyone else.

The four could start with a dance version of “Money’s Our God” and then segue right into “Material Girl.” They could roll around on the stage like Madonna used to do.

Outside their concerts in football stadiums and large arenas, vendors would be selling Zoe Speaks DVD’s, gold chains and bobble head dolls.

Somehow I don’t see it happening. I suspect they will stay with the style of music which has made them successful and most importantly, happy.

I have never met the members of Zoe Speaks, but if I ever do, I will tell them that we are lucky they have chosen to live in Madison County and touch us with their music.

Don McNay is President of McNay Settlement Group in Richmond Kentucky where Money is not God but awfully important.