She has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. She’s the author of six contemporary novels and maintains a devotional blog found at. Jennifer Slattery is a writer, editor, and speaker who’s addressed women’s groups, church groups, Bible studies, and other writers across the nation. But then Jesus reminds me of my ultimate and most fulfilling purpose-to play a part in His redemptive mission-and suddenly all those items that once captivated me, suddenly fade as eternity shifts into focus.īecause when I’m standing in front of my Savior, and He asks me, “What did you do with the gifts I gave you,” I’d like to be able to say more than simply, “I drank a lot of really great coffee.” I’ve never been great at self-denial, and honestly, there are times when saving that dollar today so I can enjoy 10 tomorrow doesn’t feel like reason enough-especially when my favorite coffee drink is on the line! Though my heart longs for things of enduring value, I’m easily pulled in by whatever screams the loudest or flashes the brightest. God, center my thoughts and heart on the things of eternity. Granted, sometimes life hits hard, and financial difficulties hit despite our most diligent efforts, but focusing on where we want to be tomorrow, not simply what would make us happy today, makes economic stability more probable.ġ0. Scripture puts it this way, “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty” ( Proverbs 28:19, NLT). In life and finances the old adage, “pay now or pay later,” holds true. As will the money we invest in retirement or paying off our home. And that new car we felt certain would give us such pleasure depreciated by $4,000 or more the moment we drove it off the lot.īut every dollar we scrimp and save and put into savings will continue to work for us year after year. That outfit we absolutely had to have today might land in our local thrift store by the year’s end. That expensive steak dinner that tasted so great in the moment will likely be forgotten by tomorrow. Jesus, help me develop a long-term focus for my finances. That might seem harsh, perhaps even unrealistic, but it’s interesting to note, Paul is also the man who wrote Philippians, the book on joy.Ĭould it be that contentment paves the way for joy, and in the process, financial freedom?ĩ. For Paul, the apostle who wrote the oft-quoted passage on learning the secret of being content when in plenty or in want, that meant cultivating joy while imprisoned and gratitude for whatever sliver of bread God provided. For us, this meant buying a used car instead of a newer one, and driving it well past its glamorous stage. Praise God, by His grace, we chose the latter, and our journey began with learning to be content. One Christmas, with maxed out credit cards and a nearly depleted bank account, we were forced to make a choice: apply for more credit or drastically change our habits. Initially, we mirrored the practices of our friends and buried ourselves in debt. When our daughter was young, we lived in the Los Angeles suburbs, and I was surrounded by peers with much more money than we had (or at least, who routinely spent more than we did). I’ve found I need to repeat this prayer often-every time a covetous, discontent thought arises. If we want increased intimacy with God and the peace and clarity He offers, we need to ask Him to replace our idolatrous desires with a heart that beats only for Him. But if we’re allowing our economic status to define or fulfill us, we’ve slipped into idolatry and therefore outside of God’s will that’s a dangerous place to be, financially or otherwise. There’s nothing wrong with traveling or enjoying nice things-if our finances permit and our hearts are in tune with Christ. We work hard why shouldn’t we have that new car, larger home, or luxurious seven-day vacation? Entitlement, and the undercurrent of discontentment that usually follows, can be difficult to fight. As a result, we’ve grown accustomed to purchasing whatever we want when we want it. We live in a consumerism culture that celebrates instant gratification. Sometimes financial struggles come from unexpected crises, but many times greed, selfishness, and impulsivity are to blame. Lord, change my heart toward money and spending.
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