The Thing About Finances

Here's the thing about finances, or more specifically, our own personal finances - they haven't been a steady line going upward. I think most things we hear about personal finance portray it as this line that is supposed to steadily increase. We get a raise or a better job - the line climbs up. We save more money or add extra income streams - the line climbs up. It's this picture of things constantly improving and our financial states always getting better and better until retirement. This is seen as the ultimate goal. This has just not been how things have gone for us.

When we first started on our budgeting journey, it was life changing. We weren't big spenders but neither of us had any prior financial training. We were all in and made huge financial strides and paid off our debt, bought our first home, put my husband through school, and funded our first mission trip as a family. We had rigid lines and goals and stuck to them ruthlessly. But the more life we have lived and the more life has changed, the more we have found the beauty of flexibility and the grace for finances not always being within the "fiscally responsible" realm. Not that you do stupid stuff, but sometimes there are things the Lord leads you to do that goes against conventional wisdom. Spending thousands on a mission trip instead of putting that money towards your mortgage, giving money away instead of adding another month to your emergency fund, or taking a job for less pay because you sense the Lord taking you to that area. We can be slaves to debt, we can be slaves to our lack of financial discipline, but we can also be slaves to what is seen as financial responsibility.

I used to think it was just this steady upward climb. Pay off debt, budget, save money, and build wealth, right? But as we followed the Lord through this journey of life with moves and job changes, financial prosperity and leanness, I have found these things to be true: Financial prosperity is not the ultimate goal. Financial leanness is not the lack of God's provision. Trusting God with our future and finances is better than doing everything financially "right." Financial freedom is no better than debt if it is simply to consume it all for ourselves.

I have found that God's provision is enough no matter how much or how little money we have. Having self control and being generous is universally the same no matter our income. Be faithful with little or much. Give as generously as you can. Look for ways to reach out to others, either financially or practically. Give thanks for every blessing.

If the Lord prospers you financially, use it to bless others. If you are financially lean, be faithful in the little you have been entrusted with.

I believe money is a tool and it should work for you to accomplish your priorities for that season. Those priorities should be set through prayer with your spouse for what God has put in front of you. Some seasons that will be to get out of debt. Some seasons might be living in lean times to start your own business or be a part of a ministry. Maybe it’s a pay cut so you can stay at home with your children and train them up and invest in them. Maybe it’s to live on as little as you can so that you can give more. Maybe it’s to save as much as possible to buy a home in cash. Maybe it’s just a season of maintaining and slowly working towards goals over time while enjoying life right now. Whatever it is, let it be YOUR goal and YOUR priorities, not something dictated to you by what the world says you should do. Let your money work for you, NOT control your life and decisions. Be wise, be diligent, be self controlled, but don’t be a slave to your finances.

Money should be arranged and managed in accordance to your priorities, not your money determining your priorities. Example: me staying home with the children when we lived on minimum wage. It was not an option to go to work as our priority was for me to be home and teaching and investing in our children. We simply made the little finances we had work for our priorities. Whether you have a little or a lot of money, you can make it work for you to accomplish your priorities.

I have found it to be helpful to find things that can be done anywhere and on any income. Whether clothes are bought at a thrift store, Walmart, or Gap, the same principles can be used to guide what you buy and how much. I have found this to be so helpful both in lean times and in prosperous times. When you have just a little bit of money to work with, it helps you to still maintain a decent quality of life and not feel the pinch of finances quite as much even if you have to watch your pennies closer. When you have much more money, it serves as good perimeters to keep you from spending more than is necessary, even when you have it to spend.

Keeping things simple and truly knowing what are necessities and what are extras help you appreciate that all your true NEEDS are met even on the smallest income and very grateful for all the EXTRAS in life when you have more than enough. Living on $18,500 for 13 months from 2017-2018 as a family of 5 helped me tremendously in figuring out what are true needs and what were extras. It enabled us to live within our means while still staying true to our priorities. Now that we have more than enough financially, I enjoy the little extras in life so much!

I know I can live well on a little income or a big income. It does not define who I am or what I do. My priorities stay the same. We give generously, we open our home often to others, we care for our home and children and spend time with them. I make our meals and snacks. We play games and read. We clean and take care of our things whether they are bought at Walmart or are high dollar items.

In closing, I would encourage you that whatever your financial state is currently, that you live in accordance to your priorities. That you not get sidetracked by all the things you are “supposed” to do and have. That you give thanks for every blessing and enjoy the simple luxuries of this wonderful life. That you remember what the truly important things are and focus on them, not how much or how little money you have. That you encourage yourself with the fact that your finances are not going to look like others’ and that is perfectly fine. Honor your husband and show gratitude for his hard work whether he’s paid minimum wage or 6 figures. Strive to have a thankful heart and be resourceful with all that you are given. These are the things that a good life is made of.

Blessings,

Grace

P.S. -

If you are struggling financially or even just figuring out a realistic budget and need some advice or perspective, don’t hesitate to reach out. I love being able to help people with their finances just like we were helped so long ago. I do my financial coaching for free and there is nothing I love better than seeing people get on top of their finances and start thriving regardless of their income.