Money is always on its way somewhere. What you do with it while

“Money is always on its way somewhere. What you do with it while it is in your keeping and the direction you send it in say much about you. Your treatment of and respect for money, how you make it, and how you spend it, reflect your character.” Thus spoke Gary Ryan Blair, in words that ring with the moral weight of ancient wisdom. For though gold glitters and coins may clatter in the hands of men, money is not the master — it is the mirror. It reflects not wealth alone, but the soul of its bearer. Every piece of silver, every earned dollar, carries the scent of intention; and when it leaves your hand, it whispers to the world who you are.

In every age, the wise have warned that money is a current, a restless river that never stays still. It flows from hand to hand, from nation to nation, shaping destinies and testing hearts. What you do with it while it rests in your possession reveals the depth of your values. The greedy dam it up, believing they own the river — but the water turns stagnant, and their hearts grow cold. The foolish spill it recklessly upon the sand. But the just, the mindful, the noble — they channel it toward good, so that others may drink from its passing. Character, not circumstance, determines how wealth is wielded.

In ancient times, there lived a ruler named King Croesus of Lydia, famed for his immense riches. Yet his gold, instead of bringing him wisdom, filled his spirit with pride. He believed himself untouchable, for his vaults overflowed and his enemies envied his treasure. But when fortune shifted — as it always does — his gold could not save him from ruin. The river that once served him turned away, and Croesus was left with ashes where once there was glory. Contrast him with Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor, who ruled not with greed but with discipline and virtue. He understood that wealth is a tool, not a throne, and that its rightful use lies in service to the greater good. One hoarded and fell; the other gave and endured.

Money, in truth, is a test of mastery. It bends itself to the will of those who command it wisely, and it corrupts those who kneel before it. Gary Ryan Blair’s teaching cuts through the ages: how you make money is the measure of your integrity, and how you spend it reveals your soul. The dishonest grow rich in shadow, but their riches rot their sleep. The honorable earn through labor and creation, and even a little in their hands shines like gold refined in fire. For it is not the amount, but the attitude, that defines worth. The miser and the magnate may possess equal sums, yet one lives in poverty of spirit while the other dwells in abundance of heart.

Let us not forget the parable of Andrew Carnegie, who began his life in poverty yet rose to become one of the wealthiest men of his age. But his greatness did not lie in the towers of steel he built, nor in the fortune he amassed, but in what he did after. Carnegie believed that “a man who dies rich dies disgraced.” And so he gave — libraries, universities, hospitals — seeds for the growth of future minds. He sent his wealth forward, directing it like a shepherd guides his flock, not for vanity, but for the nourishment of civilization itself. His gold became not an idol, but a servant of knowledge.

In this truth lies the heart of Blair’s words: money is never still. It flows through your life for a time, like a traveler seeking its next purpose. You are but its steward, its temporary guardian. If you use it to harm, it will curse your name. If you use it with wisdom and care, it will carry your legacy beyond your years. The ancients said, “Tell me how a man spends his coin, and I shall tell you his creed.” For generosity reveals gratitude, prudence reveals wisdom, and corruption reveals emptiness.

So, my children, when money passes through your hands, treat it not as your master but as your messenger. Earn it with honor. Spend it with purpose. Guide it toward light. Let each coin you release into the world bear your name like a blessing, not a stain. Build, heal, teach, and sustain — these are the noble destinations of wealth. For money is not evil, nor divine — it is merely a mirror. And when you gaze upon that reflection, may you see not greed, but greatness.

Remember this above all: your money moves even when you stand still — and the path it takes is the path of your soul. Choose its course wisely, for in the end, the true currency of life is not gold or silver, but the legacy you leave in the hearts of others.