On the Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle
#1 Using the Proper Map July 27, 2012
Several years ago, my husband and I found ourselves well over our heads in debt. Some of this was because of the bad business practices of an employer and the neglect of a person we had put our trust in. However, most of our bad debt was because of some wrong priorities we had established, and some bad choices we had made. Our five children were young, and things looked very hopeless.
I had learned to recognize that the women God brought into my life often had something to teach me. Titus 2 has much to say about teaching each other how to live wisely. Verses 3-5 speak directly to women.
3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered.
A few years before our financial crisis came to a head, I had become acquainted with a new friend. The first time I met her she was the president of a women’s organization I had recently begun attending. Later, I sat under her teaching again in a finance workshop at a women’s retreat. When I realized we had serious financial problems, I knew I needed to call her. However, it’s difficult to admit to someone you admire that you are in financial trouble. But I swallowed that pride and made the call. We had a sweet visit that day, the first of many. She and her husband spent every Saturday morning that winter with Weyburn and me. They taught us some basic money management skills. More importantly they taught us what the Bible had to say about our attitude toward money, and living within our means. They taught us Biblical principles for money management that had been lacking in our lives.
It took a few years, but by following their counsel and depending on the Lord for strength and wisdom, we were able to come out of that situation. We are still learning to follow God’s leading in this area, but as we have been obedient we have seen God’s blessing pour into our lives.
God wants us to be willing to learn from others. If you are struggling with the consequences of poor financial decisions and money management, please take heart - help is out there. A possible first step on your journey toward a sound financial lifestyle is a trip to your local Christian bookstore. Its shelves should yield a choice of good, biblically-based financial resources. Many churches also have workshops and staff who are able to guide families through their struggles.
I will be sharing some of the lessons God has taught me about living wisely in the next couple of months. I would also suggest checking out what Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC) has to offer for your financial planning. Discerning Hearts and MFC are partnering to present workshops that will help to navigate the trying time of today’s financial climate.
May you know His blessing and provision as you begin to live consistently and perseveringly according to His financial principles.
# 2 Enjoying the Journey: August 10, 2012
My mom has asked for a special trip for her 90th birthday this year. My mom, sister, brother, sister-in-law, and my youngest daughter and her husband are going on a cruise together in September. Yes, mom loves to cruise. Mom and dad have always loved to travel, and later in life they learned to enjoy cruising. I’ve joined them on several trips and have caught the cruising bug too. Now that dad is gone, I enjoy being mom’s travel partner.
The anticipation of the journey is part of the cruising experience for me. I plan what we will do in port, what I will wear, and I make sure I know where to find the jogging/walking track. Each cruise has its highlights. And, if you have the right attitude, you can even find enjoyable features on those less desirable cruise lines. They all provide me with rest, relaxation, meals I do not prepare or need to clean up after, and a freshly cleaned room each day. No, it was not hard for me to learn to enjoy the journey on these cruises.
Living in the real world, however, brings unplanned events in the journey. Health setbacks, child-raising issues, church splits, marriage struggles and lost income all make for a journey that is not very enjoyable.
Then there are media messages that tempt us to be discontented with the journey we are travelling The messages promise that with their latest gadget our life will be complete. Recently there was an ad by a nationwide retailer. It declared: “Your Family deserves more.” – Home Hardware. They were advertising a new, bigger, better BBQ.
During our own financial counselling that winter long ago we were reminded to discern our needs from our wants (see Using the Proper Map from July 28th). To help us determine which was which, we were given some questions to ask ourselves before we made purchases:
· Do we really need it?
· Can we live without it?
· Will it be a benefit to our family?
· Can we pay cash for it?
Many of us think that the answer to our financial woes is more money. It isn’t, it’s learning how to manage what we have. For those who want to follow the principles in God’s Word, it’s remembering that what we have is not really ours, but it is God’s and we are to manage it for Him.
That being said, sometimes God does provide a second or third income to help with the situation. God provided a way for me to earn an income that allowed me to work from home. I was able to be there for my children as they went off to school and when they arrived home. I could hear about their day when they were ready to talk. My flexible hours were a bonus. I’m a morning person and would often work early in the morning. This schedule allowed me time to be involved in the ministry work I loved at our church. As time went on we soon realized that we needed a home with the proper space and we set out to find a home with room for an office, and a bit of a warehouse. God provided it.
It was a large farm house, with one bathroom and five bedrooms. We had three teenage boys and two pre-teen daughters at the time. Access to two of the bedrooms was through the one bathroom and it took quite the orchestration to direct traffic on busy mornings. Besides the inconvenient access, these two bedrooms were not wired for heat.
I began to grow discontented after a few years. I began to “want” a different place to live. I thought we had put up with these conditions long enough and we were learning our financial lessons well.
Throughout our married life we moved about every four years, and our four years were almost up. I set a goal to be moved from there by December 1999. God didn’t answer that prayer for another five years. We moved on February 1, 2004, just days before our fourth child would be married. Philippines 4:11 became very important to me during this time. “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (NIV 1984)
That large, cold farmhouse with its one bathroom, office and warehouse space served us well. During those 5 years I learned patience and contentedness. I kept in mind that God had provided this home at the time we needed it, and He would give us what we should have in His time. I knew He would answer my prayer. He did. God provided a home that more than met our needs and desires. Three bathrooms!!! What more could a woman want?
Enjoying the Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle has included learning to be content in the circumstances God has put me in. God is able to help you to Enjoy the Journey also.
#3 Navigating the Detours August 24, 2012
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.
The decision that my husband and I made to begin the Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle, was the first in a long line of taking responsibility for the financial mess we were in. I wrote in the first posting (Using the Right Map) that the next decision we made was to find good mentors. They guided us to important Biblical principles. The second posting (Enjoying the Journey) was a look into our lives as we began to work through those principles.
We have been enjoying our journey, but that does not mean that there have not been many bumps and detours. There have been times when we set aside God’s Word, and decided to follow our own desires. This decision brings difficulties that could have been avoided. However, we quickly check our map (God’s Word), to help us to Navigate the Detours.
While on vacation I began to think about what God would want me to write for this posting. I asked Him to remind me of some of those detours we had taken. Well, I did not need to look back, or try to remember. This is what happened within a span of 2 ½ weeks, just after I asked God to bring back those memories.
A few weeks ago, I posted on my Face Book page that I was looking forward to my annual ten day spiritual retreat at Brown City Camp in Michigan. I’ve been attending this camp since I was five years old and all of our children grew up going to BCC. Each of them and their families were planning to attend this year, if only for a day. This was going to be a taste of heaven for ten days.
Then we started to experience the incidents you just read about. At times I felt like: “My flesh and my heart may fail...” The enemy was sending detours to get me off track emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually. He did not want me to focus on Christ. He did not want me to grow closer to the Lord.
“…but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
Years ago I memorized the following verses, and they have become so much a part of my DNA that I am usually able to remember to go to them immediately and follow the simple instructions God gives through them.
Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all, the Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Yes, there were some moments during which I was “anxious”, waiting to know the outcome of tests, costs of damage, and not knowing when I could have a shower in my own trailer. But I chose to find something for which to rejoice and thank the Lord. I asked the Lord to give me the right attitude. I believe He helped me to keep a gentle spirit. We all prayed, and kept praying (supplication). And God did bring me the peace I needed to keep my heart and mind in and on Christ Jesus. God was able to speak to me about many things through the sermons at camp in-spite of all that happened while we were there. It was one of the most memorable camps that I have ever experienced.
We are all on the journey of life and navigating through financial decisions. If you are on a huge detour right now, God wants to guide you and lead you through that. Ask Him today to bring someone into your life who will help you begin to make the right decisions.
#4 Staying the Course September 9, 2012
Each day brings choices that determine how well I travel my Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle. There are books, seminars, and magazine articles available to help with these choices. They are dedicated to helping people gain control of their finances, and set workable budgets. I recently searched the internet to see what I would find if I asked the question: “how to stay on a budget.” There are dozen’s of articles, and websites giving ideas and strategies. One listing claimed it had the “Top 8 ways to stick to your budget” I followed the link to the website and read the article by Anne Mueller. I was pleased to realize that Weyburn and I have implemented most of these ideas. You may find them helpful also.
http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1011/How-To-Make-Yourself-Stick-To-Your-Budget.aspx#ixzz24YKIRyyH
Here are the eight points we have used over the years so that we would not over spend.
The last point that I list was not mentioned in Anne Mueller’s web article. The concept of benevolence or charitable giving is actually the most important. This is the one thing that Weyburn and I have done even through the worst of our financial struggles. We always followed the instructions in Scripture regarding giving. This was also an important principle in each the homes we grew up in. I believe that even those who do not claim to be followers of Christ experience the benefits from the giving of their resources to those less fortunate.
When I was five years old, there was a decided change in our home. Up to this time, my mom and dad were living like most post WWII young couples. They were working hard, bought a small home, started a family and enjoyed life. They focused on themselves and having fun.
Mom and dad had both grown up in families that acknowledged that there was a God, and that He should have an important part in their life. But, on a spring evening in 1954 my parents realized that God wanted to be so much more. They realized that God was interested in every aspect of their lives. They came to understand that by accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, they could have God’s daily guidance, a life on earth that would have purpose and an eternal home with God in heaven.
We became a family centered on Christ that evening. I know that many who knew mom and dad at that time did not understand why they changed their lifestyle. They didn’t understand why mom and dad stopped drinking, smoking and partying. What they would not have known is that besides the things mom and dad stopped doing, there were many new things God had added to their life. One of the practices that they started was to faithfully follow the Biblical teaching of tithing. They began to give at least 10% of their earnings to God. They taught their children that before anything else was bought or paid for our family would give our tithe to our local church. We also gave offerings to other needs and organizations. Mom and dad faithfully gave to missionary friends in Bolivia for years. I recently asked mom about the decision to give to the Lord on a regular basis. She admitted that in the beginning it was hard for her to understand why they needed to tithe, and that she thought that it was an awfully large portion of their income. We, as children never saw any indication that she resented this family practice; she had soon learned the benefit of following Christ in obedience.
Money is a necessary part of life, and God knows that. That is why He made sure that there are numerous verses and portions of scripture that address how to earn wages, how to spend our resources, and even the attitude we are to have towards the things we own.
Some of us enjoy having guidelines, expectations, dare I say rules to follow. We like to comply to what is expected. That is why verses such as the following are not disturbing to us.
Deuteronomy 14:22 (NLT) You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.
Nehemiah 10:37 (NLT) We will store the produce in the storerooms of the Temple of our God. We will bring the best of our flour and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and the best of our new wine and olive oil. And we promise to bring to the Levites a tenth of everything our land produces, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
Others of us need to know “why”, what are the benefits of these rules. There are dozens of good Bible studies that delve deeply into all aspects of money, finances, and a sound financial lifestyle. I have not tried to address all of the teaching Christ has on the subject in my articles. However, I pray that as I have given you a small picture of how God has worked in our life, you will see that God has a better lifestyle designed for you, and that you now have the desire to search out what that can mean for you.
We need to keep our eyes on our goals if we want to stay on course and make better financial decisions. The book of Proverbs is filled with practical directions to help us improve our lives in many areas.
Proverbs 4: 25 – 27 (NIV) 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
We must begin to travel the Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle by Using the Proper Map. God’s Word and good mentors will show us where we need to go, and how to arrive. Enjoying the Journey comes when we learn how to be content with what we have. Navigating the Detours is usually a part of every road trip. These can become times of frustration and defeat, or we can use them as times of growth and encouragement. Staying the Course is achieved when we keep our eyes on the goal and faithfully follow our plan.
As always, I enjoy hearing your thoughts on what I say. If you have any questions, I will try to answer them, or direct you to resources that might be of help to you.
Be sure to join me in two weeks as I begin the next series: The New Normal – is it really new?
Until then, may you know the joy and peace of a Discerning Heart that comes through following Jesus Christ.
And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that [comes] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 HCSB 2004
Several years ago, my husband and I found ourselves well over our heads in debt. Some of this was because of the bad business practices of an employer and the neglect of a person we had put our trust in. However, most of our bad debt was because of some wrong priorities we had established, and some bad choices we had made. Our five children were young, and things looked very hopeless.
I had learned to recognize that the women God brought into my life often had something to teach me. Titus 2 has much to say about teaching each other how to live wisely. Verses 3-5 speak directly to women.
3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered.
A few years before our financial crisis came to a head, I had become acquainted with a new friend. The first time I met her she was the president of a women’s organization I had recently begun attending. Later, I sat under her teaching again in a finance workshop at a women’s retreat. When I realized we had serious financial problems, I knew I needed to call her. However, it’s difficult to admit to someone you admire that you are in financial trouble. But I swallowed that pride and made the call. We had a sweet visit that day, the first of many. She and her husband spent every Saturday morning that winter with Weyburn and me. They taught us some basic money management skills. More importantly they taught us what the Bible had to say about our attitude toward money, and living within our means. They taught us Biblical principles for money management that had been lacking in our lives.
It took a few years, but by following their counsel and depending on the Lord for strength and wisdom, we were able to come out of that situation. We are still learning to follow God’s leading in this area, but as we have been obedient we have seen God’s blessing pour into our lives.
God wants us to be willing to learn from others. If you are struggling with the consequences of poor financial decisions and money management, please take heart - help is out there. A possible first step on your journey toward a sound financial lifestyle is a trip to your local Christian bookstore. Its shelves should yield a choice of good, biblically-based financial resources. Many churches also have workshops and staff who are able to guide families through their struggles.
I will be sharing some of the lessons God has taught me about living wisely in the next couple of months. I would also suggest checking out what Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC) has to offer for your financial planning. Discerning Hearts and MFC are partnering to present workshops that will help to navigate the trying time of today’s financial climate.
May you know His blessing and provision as you begin to live consistently and perseveringly according to His financial principles.
# 2 Enjoying the Journey: August 10, 2012
My mom has asked for a special trip for her 90th birthday this year. My mom, sister, brother, sister-in-law, and my youngest daughter and her husband are going on a cruise together in September. Yes, mom loves to cruise. Mom and dad have always loved to travel, and later in life they learned to enjoy cruising. I’ve joined them on several trips and have caught the cruising bug too. Now that dad is gone, I enjoy being mom’s travel partner.
The anticipation of the journey is part of the cruising experience for me. I plan what we will do in port, what I will wear, and I make sure I know where to find the jogging/walking track. Each cruise has its highlights. And, if you have the right attitude, you can even find enjoyable features on those less desirable cruise lines. They all provide me with rest, relaxation, meals I do not prepare or need to clean up after, and a freshly cleaned room each day. No, it was not hard for me to learn to enjoy the journey on these cruises.
Living in the real world, however, brings unplanned events in the journey. Health setbacks, child-raising issues, church splits, marriage struggles and lost income all make for a journey that is not very enjoyable.
Then there are media messages that tempt us to be discontented with the journey we are travelling The messages promise that with their latest gadget our life will be complete. Recently there was an ad by a nationwide retailer. It declared: “Your Family deserves more.” – Home Hardware. They were advertising a new, bigger, better BBQ.
During our own financial counselling that winter long ago we were reminded to discern our needs from our wants (see Using the Proper Map from July 28th). To help us determine which was which, we were given some questions to ask ourselves before we made purchases:
· Do we really need it?
· Can we live without it?
· Will it be a benefit to our family?
· Can we pay cash for it?
Many of us think that the answer to our financial woes is more money. It isn’t, it’s learning how to manage what we have. For those who want to follow the principles in God’s Word, it’s remembering that what we have is not really ours, but it is God’s and we are to manage it for Him.
That being said, sometimes God does provide a second or third income to help with the situation. God provided a way for me to earn an income that allowed me to work from home. I was able to be there for my children as they went off to school and when they arrived home. I could hear about their day when they were ready to talk. My flexible hours were a bonus. I’m a morning person and would often work early in the morning. This schedule allowed me time to be involved in the ministry work I loved at our church. As time went on we soon realized that we needed a home with the proper space and we set out to find a home with room for an office, and a bit of a warehouse. God provided it.
It was a large farm house, with one bathroom and five bedrooms. We had three teenage boys and two pre-teen daughters at the time. Access to two of the bedrooms was through the one bathroom and it took quite the orchestration to direct traffic on busy mornings. Besides the inconvenient access, these two bedrooms were not wired for heat.
I began to grow discontented after a few years. I began to “want” a different place to live. I thought we had put up with these conditions long enough and we were learning our financial lessons well.
Throughout our married life we moved about every four years, and our four years were almost up. I set a goal to be moved from there by December 1999. God didn’t answer that prayer for another five years. We moved on February 1, 2004, just days before our fourth child would be married. Philippines 4:11 became very important to me during this time. “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (NIV 1984)
That large, cold farmhouse with its one bathroom, office and warehouse space served us well. During those 5 years I learned patience and contentedness. I kept in mind that God had provided this home at the time we needed it, and He would give us what we should have in His time. I knew He would answer my prayer. He did. God provided a home that more than met our needs and desires. Three bathrooms!!! What more could a woman want?
Enjoying the Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle has included learning to be content in the circumstances God has put me in. God is able to help you to Enjoy the Journey also.
#3 Navigating the Detours August 24, 2012
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.
The decision that my husband and I made to begin the Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle, was the first in a long line of taking responsibility for the financial mess we were in. I wrote in the first posting (Using the Right Map) that the next decision we made was to find good mentors. They guided us to important Biblical principles. The second posting (Enjoying the Journey) was a look into our lives as we began to work through those principles.
We have been enjoying our journey, but that does not mean that there have not been many bumps and detours. There have been times when we set aside God’s Word, and decided to follow our own desires. This decision brings difficulties that could have been avoided. However, we quickly check our map (God’s Word), to help us to Navigate the Detours.
While on vacation I began to think about what God would want me to write for this posting. I asked Him to remind me of some of those detours we had taken. Well, I did not need to look back, or try to remember. This is what happened within a span of 2 ½ weeks, just after I asked God to bring back those memories.
- Jon-Marc, our grandson who has been in treatment for leukaemia and is doing very well, was taken to the hospital with vomiting and in extreme pain.
- I began to experience vertigo which lasted several days.
- When we arrived at camp, we found that we still did not have hot water, and would not have it for several days.
- The trailer we purchased for our children to use at camp also had water heater problems.
- One of our sons and his family experienced several mishaps with their pop-up trailer (lost spare tire bouncing down the highway, extension bed collapsing, wiring problems).
- A grandchild sprained his ankle badly, and his sister had a unpleasant reaction to medication for swimmer’s ear
- The golf cart we rented for one of our daughters who would be with us for the ten days was totalled (no one was hurt).
- Two grandchildren ran out in front of cars, but were not hit.
- Another grandchild ran away through the crowds after an evening service and was missing for about 15 min. (The mom feels it was more like a half an hour.)
- I discovered a water-leak in our trailer, after Weyburn went home, so I had no hot water for another two days.
A few weeks ago, I posted on my Face Book page that I was looking forward to my annual ten day spiritual retreat at Brown City Camp in Michigan. I’ve been attending this camp since I was five years old and all of our children grew up going to BCC. Each of them and their families were planning to attend this year, if only for a day. This was going to be a taste of heaven for ten days.
Then we started to experience the incidents you just read about. At times I felt like: “My flesh and my heart may fail...” The enemy was sending detours to get me off track emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually. He did not want me to focus on Christ. He did not want me to grow closer to the Lord.
“…but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
Years ago I memorized the following verses, and they have become so much a part of my DNA that I am usually able to remember to go to them immediately and follow the simple instructions God gives through them.
Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all, the Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Yes, there were some moments during which I was “anxious”, waiting to know the outcome of tests, costs of damage, and not knowing when I could have a shower in my own trailer. But I chose to find something for which to rejoice and thank the Lord. I asked the Lord to give me the right attitude. I believe He helped me to keep a gentle spirit. We all prayed, and kept praying (supplication). And God did bring me the peace I needed to keep my heart and mind in and on Christ Jesus. God was able to speak to me about many things through the sermons at camp in-spite of all that happened while we were there. It was one of the most memorable camps that I have ever experienced.
We are all on the journey of life and navigating through financial decisions. If you are on a huge detour right now, God wants to guide you and lead you through that. Ask Him today to bring someone into your life who will help you begin to make the right decisions.
#4 Staying the Course September 9, 2012
Each day brings choices that determine how well I travel my Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle. There are books, seminars, and magazine articles available to help with these choices. They are dedicated to helping people gain control of their finances, and set workable budgets. I recently searched the internet to see what I would find if I asked the question: “how to stay on a budget.” There are dozen’s of articles, and websites giving ideas and strategies. One listing claimed it had the “Top 8 ways to stick to your budget” I followed the link to the website and read the article by Anne Mueller. I was pleased to realize that Weyburn and I have implemented most of these ideas. You may find them helpful also.
http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1011/How-To-Make-Yourself-Stick-To-Your-Budget.aspx#ixzz24YKIRyyH
Here are the eight points we have used over the years so that we would not over spend.
- Plan meals for a month
- Shop from a grocery list
- Say “no” to impulse purchases
- Make a wish list for the future
- Research major purchases
- Pay cash
- Realize my finances are not mine, they are God’s. He has entrusted them to me to use wisely.
- Tithe/Giving to our church and other charitable organizations
The last point that I list was not mentioned in Anne Mueller’s web article. The concept of benevolence or charitable giving is actually the most important. This is the one thing that Weyburn and I have done even through the worst of our financial struggles. We always followed the instructions in Scripture regarding giving. This was also an important principle in each the homes we grew up in. I believe that even those who do not claim to be followers of Christ experience the benefits from the giving of their resources to those less fortunate.
When I was five years old, there was a decided change in our home. Up to this time, my mom and dad were living like most post WWII young couples. They were working hard, bought a small home, started a family and enjoyed life. They focused on themselves and having fun.
Mom and dad had both grown up in families that acknowledged that there was a God, and that He should have an important part in their life. But, on a spring evening in 1954 my parents realized that God wanted to be so much more. They realized that God was interested in every aspect of their lives. They came to understand that by accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, they could have God’s daily guidance, a life on earth that would have purpose and an eternal home with God in heaven.
We became a family centered on Christ that evening. I know that many who knew mom and dad at that time did not understand why they changed their lifestyle. They didn’t understand why mom and dad stopped drinking, smoking and partying. What they would not have known is that besides the things mom and dad stopped doing, there were many new things God had added to their life. One of the practices that they started was to faithfully follow the Biblical teaching of tithing. They began to give at least 10% of their earnings to God. They taught their children that before anything else was bought or paid for our family would give our tithe to our local church. We also gave offerings to other needs and organizations. Mom and dad faithfully gave to missionary friends in Bolivia for years. I recently asked mom about the decision to give to the Lord on a regular basis. She admitted that in the beginning it was hard for her to understand why they needed to tithe, and that she thought that it was an awfully large portion of their income. We, as children never saw any indication that she resented this family practice; she had soon learned the benefit of following Christ in obedience.
Money is a necessary part of life, and God knows that. That is why He made sure that there are numerous verses and portions of scripture that address how to earn wages, how to spend our resources, and even the attitude we are to have towards the things we own.
Some of us enjoy having guidelines, expectations, dare I say rules to follow. We like to comply to what is expected. That is why verses such as the following are not disturbing to us.
Deuteronomy 14:22 (NLT) You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.
Nehemiah 10:37 (NLT) We will store the produce in the storerooms of the Temple of our God. We will bring the best of our flour and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and the best of our new wine and olive oil. And we promise to bring to the Levites a tenth of everything our land produces, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
Others of us need to know “why”, what are the benefits of these rules. There are dozens of good Bible studies that delve deeply into all aspects of money, finances, and a sound financial lifestyle. I have not tried to address all of the teaching Christ has on the subject in my articles. However, I pray that as I have given you a small picture of how God has worked in our life, you will see that God has a better lifestyle designed for you, and that you now have the desire to search out what that can mean for you.
We need to keep our eyes on our goals if we want to stay on course and make better financial decisions. The book of Proverbs is filled with practical directions to help us improve our lives in many areas.
Proverbs 4: 25 – 27 (NIV) 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
We must begin to travel the Journey to a Sound Financial Lifestyle by Using the Proper Map. God’s Word and good mentors will show us where we need to go, and how to arrive. Enjoying the Journey comes when we learn how to be content with what we have. Navigating the Detours is usually a part of every road trip. These can become times of frustration and defeat, or we can use them as times of growth and encouragement. Staying the Course is achieved when we keep our eyes on the goal and faithfully follow our plan.
As always, I enjoy hearing your thoughts on what I say. If you have any questions, I will try to answer them, or direct you to resources that might be of help to you.
Be sure to join me in two weeks as I begin the next series: The New Normal – is it really new?
Until then, may you know the joy and peace of a Discerning Heart that comes through following Jesus Christ.
And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that [comes] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 HCSB 2004