The above quote was made centuries ago yet clearly points to what we see everyday in our present world. If we look at the problems around us we can see that the majority of them have some basis in either the lack of or pursuit of money. Often times one person’s lack of resources is the result of another person’s intense love and pursuit of money. We can be sure of this because God tells us this in His Word. I Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
This love of money leads us to pursue more of it. Thoughts of it can consume our minds, steal our time and energy and for what? “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 5:10. More money might mean more things, but more things mean more to take care of and keep up with. More money might mean more power, but more power means more responsibility.
Financial wiliness means we learn to manage our money so it doesn’t manage us. It is a simple mathematical principal. Each of us needs to learn to spend less than we make. Although it is a simple principal it seems to be difficult to apply.
Managing our money first requires us to identify what is important to us, each of us shows what is important to us by what we spend our time and our money on. We also need to avoid impulse spending. Read over and try the following tips the next time you are considering a purchase:
1. Is this a need or simply a want?
2. Do, I have the money to buy this?
3. Will I enjoy this as much when the bill comes in as I am right now?
4. Does the company I am purchasing this from produce or derive profit from anything objectionable to the Bible?
5. Is this purchase going to enhance the quality of life for my family and me?
6. Can this purchase help create loving memories for my family?
7. Will this purchase require large amounts of time for maintenance?
8. Will the maintenance, storing, or cleaning of this purchase take time away from other more important issues?
9. Is this purchase merely for social recognition?
10. Do I need what I am buying, or is there actually a need for something else in my life?
If we will slow down and think through the previous questions, we can make wiser purchases. The process of thinking and asking ourselves these and other questions can help prevent impulsive spending.
Financial wellness is our looking to and obeying God’s commandments in regards to His many provisions. We can trust God for all of our needs, this includes money.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
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