This is a great guest post from my good friend Brittany of Equipping Godly Women!
From 101 Ways to Save Money on Just About Everything This Year to How I Make Real Money From Home by Writing for Textbroker, the Internet is full of articles on how you can spend less, save more and create a nice nest egg for yourself.
One issue that most financial tips and tricks articles don’t touch on, however, is WHY are you saving money in the first place? And yet, “Why” really should be the first and most important question we ask ourselves, even before we start researching and reading about ways to spend less and make more.
For me, my “why” is to bring glory and honor to God. You see, I don’t want my faith to just be a Sunday morning thing; I want it to be a whole life thing. And that includes making God the #1 priority in my finances. Here are four reasons why you should make God a priority in your finances as well.
1. It’s All His Money Anyways
From Psalm 24:1, which states “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” to Psalm 50:10, which states “for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills,” the Bible makes it pretty clear that our money is not actually our own, but God’s.
Yes, you work hard at your job. You scrimp and save. You cut coupons and go without. But at the end of the day, we are all still dependent on God for our health and our wealth, and we are expected to use the resources He gives us wisely.
2. The Way You Use Your Money Says a Lot About Your Faith
Do you have a budget? If so, how did you decide how much to put towards each category or line item? While some costs (such as your mortgage or car payment) may be relatively fixed, others allow for a lot of wiggle room. The way you use that wiggle room can be very telling.
Do you spend hundreds of dollars a year on new clothes, shoes and make-up, only to claim you’re “too broke” when the offering plate goes by? Do you purchase concert tickets, movie tickets or go out to eat, and then neglect to help out when you hear about various organizations and their fundraisers? The truth is, no matter how broke you are, you probably could give something. Do you?
3. Putting God First in Your Finances Will Strengthen Your Faith
Not only does the way you use your money say a lot about what you value and find important, but choosing to put God first with your finances–even when it’s hard–is a fantastic way to grow your faith.
I know, when I first started tithing, it was very, very difficult for me. Let’s just say, there was no shortage of anxiety and tears! But, the funny thing is, every time I was brave enough to give a little more, the Lord came through in increasingly bigger ways.
At first, I thought it was probably just a coincidence, but it wasn’t long until I was sure it was not. From the free diapers to the thousands back on our tax return I wasn’t expecting, God was very clearly showing me that He already had everything under control and that I just needed to relax and trust.
Want to know for sure that God will take care of all of your needs? Give Him a chance to and see what happens. Spoiler alert: It may just change your faith forever.
4. It Comes with a Great Guarantee
One of my favorite money verses in the Bible is Malachi 3:10. It says, “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”
That’s quite a guarantee!!
Now, I’m not saying you should give so you can get, nor am I preaching the “health and wealth” gospel. God isn’t just a giant ATM in the sky to be manipulated like that, and as Christians, we are also promised that we WILL suffer and we WILL go without.
But what I AM saying is don’t be surprised when you put God first and everything else magically seems to fall into place. In part because you will be taken care of, but also in part because your definition of “taken care of” will change dramatically when you really, truly commit to following God and all that He has in store for you.
Yes, you absolutely should create a budget, save more, spend less, build an emergency fund and all of those other great money things Jessi will teach you how to do. But don’t do it just to build a pile of money that’s going to be worthless once you die. Do it to be a good steward of what God has given you, to strengthen your faith and–ultimately–to bring Him the real honor and glory. THAT’S where true financial success lies.
Have you ever thought about WHY you want to spend less or save more? What drives your money decisions?
Would you like to make God more of a priority, not just in your finances, but in every area of your life? If so, you’ll definitely want to check out Brittany’s new ebook, “Putting God First: How to Make God the #1 Priority in Every Area of Your Life”* when it launches on Amazon next Monday. I’ve read it already, and I loved it! And I know you will too.
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A devoted Christian, wife and mother, Brittany loves helping other women grow in these roles as well. When she isn’t busy taking care of her growing family, you can find her at Equipping Godly Women, where she regularly shares tips, tricks and encouragement to help you be the amazing woman God created you to be. Brittany also has a thriving online community on Facebook as well.
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