Choose This Day
Soon, most of us will choose and elect leaders in
government. It should be valued - as many have given their lives for us
to have this right, and also given importance as believers in Christ should
weigh the attributes of godly leaders written in scripture, seek His face
for wisdom and choose accordingly.
There is a choice we make each day that is written in Joshua 24,
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." This verse
is meant to encompass every area of our lives, now consider how it relates to
the way you manage your finances.
Just like the statistics published of your favorite sport,
test scores received, or even your device monitoring steps taken each day, your
finances are easily measurable and show where your choices are being made and
if you are successful reaching your goals.
Every time you spend money, you are making a choice.
You're choosing what you have "traded" or exchanged for the
hours you have worked to earn that money. You should weigh whether what
you're acquiring is worth the ____ hours you've worked to purchase it. Also
think about when paying interest that you're trading hours worked just for
having something sooner, not for the item itself.
Each day we can make choices that will allow us spend less
than we make (illustrated in Proverbs 21:20), providing the opportunity to
reduce our debt load. We can choose to...
Reduce or cut out the trips to the expensive coffee shop,
even brew some at home
Spend less going out to lunch
by occasionally taking a few minutes to pack a meal
Seek out a less costly phone/internet/cable plan,
capturing the savings every month
Shop for used cars (research for reliable models) instead
of buying new or leasing
Ask God for wisdom when considering any substantial
purchase
Monitor our credit card spending in real time, not just
when the bill arrives
Give tithes and offerings to the Lord, which blesses us
now and in heaven
These are just a few examples, you can think of more
specific one for your household.
Lastly, in Matthew 6 verse 21 Jesus said "For where
your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Christ was illuminating
the difference between placing our affection on this world and on God's
Kingdom. The two preceding verses clarify where our aim should be -
"Do not gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break
through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves
treasures in heaven."
God
Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
