I remember Craig pointing out the stats several years ago. It was surprising to me then…and still is now. Know how many verses in the New Testament talk about money (or wealth, possessions)? No less than 2300. And 11 out of 39 parables are about money too. The conclusion we have to agree on: What we do with our money is important to God. What we spend it on matters. It’s a stark reflection of where our priorities and our hearts reside. When Craig was an assistant professor at a small Christian college, his salary was…meager. Actually, we qualified for government assistance for food, but we were far too proud to apply for that. Craig and I were committed to my being a stay-at-home mom as long as we had a child too young for school, but I helped out however I could. As the “keeper of the checkbook,” I managed the bills, weekly budget, and therefore, what defined and constituted needs and/or wants. We were barely scraping by, but were generally okay—until an unexpected bill reared its ugly head. Like a car repair. An increase in rent. Or unanticipated medical/dental needs. My first response? Panic. Second? More panic. Sometimes Craig pressed to take control of the checkbook and bills, wanting to release me from my worries. But actually that would’ve just caused more stress: You see, Craig can handle a large organization’s millions very well. But balancing our family’s checkbook? He’s a disaster. I can’t remember what it was that Craig suggested—eating out or a family activity of some sort. We were close to running out of money before the month, so I vetoed Craig’s idea immediately. No brainer—no discussion. It was not a need. That was the point when Craig verbalized a lifestyle philosophy that we adopted and have tried to live by ever since. It goes like this: We attempt to make decisions about spending money based on our priorities—not purely on money alone, by how much money we have…or how much whatever we’re considering costs. Easily done? Of course not. It’s a continual balancing act, much like that poor kitten’s experiencing. Just when we think we’ve got it pretty much figured out, another challenge drops into our life. Turns out, money decisions are never easy—unless you have zero, because there’s no need for a decision then! To bring clarity, here are a few ways that lifestyle philosophy works out: *First of the month, we give back to God. Never a negotiable as it has always belonged to Him. *Buying the cheapest is not necessarily the wisest option. Spending more for something that’s made better and therefore will last longer is sometimes the better decision. Our challenge: Is the more expensive item truly better? *I’m diligent but not obsessed about finding a bargain. Time is money too: I refuse to spend an inordinate amount of time on the hunt while neglecting higher priorities. (I.e.: spending time with Craig). *Except for a home, car, or education, we didn’t/don’t live in debt. Putting on credit more than we can afford to pay back is not within our stated priorities. Credit purchases are paid off every month. *We own possessions; possessions don’t own us. They’re to be used, somehow, to serve our great God. We try to view every new purchase in this manner. *Recreation expenses are evaluated on these priorities: Does this give us a mental, emotional, physical and/or spiritual restoring/rest that we need? Is it within a moderate, budgeted amount? Will this give us quality time together—or with family or friends? Will we be refreshed afterwards, and therefore better equipped to function in our ministry? Is this recreation a true investment in relationship? *We evaluate often: Where are we “investing”? What does that say about our hearts? Are we truly living the priorities that we say we hold? *Struggling over a major purchase is generally a good sign. It means we’re taking this seriously, evaluating our hearts. If we’re not on the same page? Probably means a “no” for now; we re-evaluate the purchase in 6 months. At that point, we sometimes discover we’ve switched roles! Which way are you choosing to live? Do you allow money alone to be the ruling dictator in your home? Or do you have clearly stated priorities that you look to when making financial decisions? Money? Or priorities? Which one’s The Boss? |
| Connecting More Deeply With my God: Our perspective on money and possessions begins with how we view ourselves before God. Did I alone earn all this stuff? Is it all rightfully mine? Or, does everything graciously come from him…and ultimately all belong to him? If I start with the latter premise, that will provide a firm foundation/platform to then make wise and spiritually mature decisions concerning how I spend my money, and how I use my possessions. Spend some time in Psalm 62, making note of verse 10. Do you think there’s significance in the placement of this comment? With my spouse: Is it time for the two of you to sit down together and draw up a list of priorities? Maybe you’ve vaguely identified them before, but writing them down and praying over them takes your commitment to a higher level. Or, have you transitioned into a different stage of life? Soon to become parents? All your children now in school? Empty nest? Retirement? If your life has recently shifted…then you should re-evaluate and decide on new priorities to match how and where you find yourselves now. |
| D, D & D’s (Dinner, Desert & Discussions) Two oft-heard sayings: 1. He who dies with the most toys wins. 2. No one on his/her deathbed wishes he/she had spent more time at the office. What priorities are each of these based upon? Do those differ from your priorities? How? Examine carefully: Are you subtly living out either of these? Does your spouse agree with your assessment? Disclaimer: Craig and I would never want any of you to think that we’ve conquered the angst of finances…spending money…constantly evaluating where and how much. It’s going to be a lifetime exercise of communicating, disagreeing sometimes, praying, and coming to decisions that either feel right – or keep us awake at night. That gets old quickly! As we stated earlier, struggling is probably a good sign, and hopefully shows we’re viewing and handling all that God has given us…very seriously. After 3 years of seeking yet deciding we were hearing a definite “no, not yet” from God, we finally felt the release to buy a new car. We were rather amazed how that came together, but can I just say it was a relief to get past that season of angst?! |