Last week my husband and I were talking about our financial situation, which looks radically different than it did several months ago. We felt led to take a leap of faith and are still a bit shaky from the landing. We've had to reassess our budget, needs, and financial goals for the future. There is no doubt in our minds that we are where God wants us to be. Our choices are centered around the things that have eternal value. To those around us though, our decisions seem like foolishness.
We are relying on our Savior more than our savings.
Jesus saves, but we save too. Our temptation is to look at our savings and feel safe, to trust that if it is enough, all will be well later in life. The truth is that only Jesus' saving will offer any security. Money is not eternal.
Jesus had more to say about money when he was among us than any other topic. He knows the hearts of men and how money becomes the central focus for most people in life. My family is making the conscious decision to fight our culture, to run from doing things just because those around us are doing them.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' " (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)
When I meet Jesus face to face, he will not ask me how much money I made or invested. He will ask how I have used my time and talents to glorify him.
Help me to rely on you, my savior, more than on my savings. Guard my heart against greed and the temptation to order my family's priorities the way the world does. Amen.
Eek.
ReplyDeleteJust tonight I was thinking about how much Ryan works (he works 50 - 60 hours per week) and how that overtime $$ goes into savings for us ... and maybe, just maybe, we/he should cut back on hours so that we are together as a family and as a couple more. As it stands now, he leaves at 6:00 a.m. and gets home around 6:00 or later, when he's not traveling (twice a month or so, lately). Figure that the girls go to bed at 8:00 p.m., and they see their daddy 2 hours a day, plus weekends. Is that trade off worth it? Limited time with our children, for a fully-funded retirement? Ehhhh.