Over the last few months, my family has been discussing personal and global finances ad nauseum.
From the failing economy, and the rise in consumer debt, to the high rate of unemployment (which we personally dealt with last year), there’s understandably cause for concern. Yet even though these specific issues have sparked our family’s desire to solidify tangeable financial goals for the year, we turn to the scripture as our authority for financial decisions.
With over 800 scriptures about money, God’s wisdom regarding these topics remain increasingly relevant and opens our eyes to his view on finances.
For many of you, the first credit card statement since Christmas has just come through the mail. Emotions may have dictated impulse purchasing decision, and you realize that new goals and commitments need to be examined for 2011.
Digging into scriptures about money may be daunting, but here are a few verses that I considered while I was setting financial goals for the year. Knowing the Lord has entrusted us to be wise financial stewards of what we have been given, is a monumental task, but as I dig in and further understand what it means, He kindly walks us through it with His word.
Contentment – Viewing all aspects in terms of where I stand in God’s economy is my desire. Ultimately, God is the owner of everything and we are just his stewards, so being content in anything he brings our way or doesn’t bring our way must be filtered through that sphere.
Philippians 4:11-13: For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry of facing either plenty of poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.
Generosity – Whether with my time, resources, or creativity, I am convinced we can never out give God. HE always provides and returns it in ways I could never imagine.
Needs vs. Wants – I spent a lot of time during our unemployment pondering what our true needs consisted of in terms of God’s economy. Realizing that needs are often confused with wants, it’s amazing how simple life can be when we peel back the layers and enjoy simplicity.
Please continue reading my post about Walking in God’s Economy over at (in)courage today…..
Thank you so much for this post. I am going to send this to my daughter and son-in-law right away. Like you, they have experienced some times of unemployment and financial uncertainty. But this is a great reminder that God is ultimately always in control!
This is a fabulous post! My husband has been a stay at home dad for the last 3 years and since losing my job 2 weeks ago, he is back in the job search with plans for me to stay at home with the kids now. We laid in bed last night discussing this very topic and the excitement that we have in Gods yet unknown plans for us.
Thank you for sharing!!
Love this post and like you we are living in NC and were hit by layoffs and corporate downsizing two years ago. We took control of an “uncontrollable” situation by cutting our lifestyle to meet our income and relocated to our “Love Shack” here in Raleigh after living in Charlotte for over 15 years and count our blessings everyday that we had the ability to see our way through a rough time.
Roberta – thanks so much for sharing. It seems like you showed that uncontrollable situation who was the boss. How wonderful that you saw your way through it and can see the fruit from that time.
thanks Jen…you are such a sweetheart 😉
Bounced over from (in)courage.
We just did our taxes last night, and let’s just say the timing of this post was perfect!
Thanks Amy…tax season always makes us re-think these things, doesn’t it?
Thank you for encouraging post! My husband and I have hit some hard financial times, but we know the Lord has His Hand and His Plan for our family. Thank you for including the scripture.
I love this post! We have been blessed with work. So many people are struggling through loss of work. My husbands company chose instead to give paycuts to all the management. We took a hefty paycut but are thankful that we had employment and health benefits. Nevertheless after a couple years of this we have been really tight financially. Just when it seems we have turned a corner something comes up. Often it is not a necessity; microwave and dishwasher, other times it is; washing machine and broken bones! Just this past Monday while cleaning I was pondering why it was that we continue to struggle. What is it that we are doing wrong? Or more importantly what should we be doing to avoid this continued struggle. The answer came quietly to my heart. We needed to value and appreciate what we had been blessed with before the Lord could trust us with more. I stopped and thought “is that really the answer I am seeking”? I immediatly knelt in pray and felt a strong reassurance that yes this was the answer. I started looking around at the items we have that we are careless with. I began to think of all the ways I/we could be more careful with our income. This revelation has been like a weight lifted off me. I now know clearly what I/we need to be doing. I feel like we are finally headed down the right path!
This post was exactly what I needed today. Thank you so much for sharing. Thank you for following promptings from Above to share this. What a blessing you are to me today.
I am so grateful to know that God loves me enough to answer my simple little prayers. So grateful that there are people out there who allow Him to work through them.
Trisha – this made my morning. If I in any way helped encourage you during this time…it was all Him because its His scripture that helps us navigate this tricky area of finances. Thanks for sharing with me. 🙂