5/30/2023 0 Comments Moneywell 3![]() ![]() It would be nice for the gate leading to human flourishing to be wide and the road wider. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” May I pose the gate is narrow and the road is even narrower. Scripture instructs us in Matthew 7:13 to, “Enter through the narrow gate. Our human nature is constantly looking for external factors to be the solution. The perfect spouse (come on, now I’m preaching). The investment strategy that provides for all of our needs and meets our expectations. You know, the job that finally pays enough. This contradicts our human nature to look for a quick fix. Like the man balancing a banana, each season demands a shift in weight from one side to the other. For us to work on having a healthy relationship with money, we need to practice all three. Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 5:19, “Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil – this is a gift of God.” I believe putting this as the last of three priorities puts wealth in perspective, allowing us to recognize we are wealthy regardless of how much money we have. Regardless, it’s important to intentionally set aside money to spend on ourselves. For some of us, this is our strength and for others (like me) this is our weakness. Enjoying our money is a priority, and after giving and saving, this is where it falls. As Proverbs 13:11 says, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” ![]() We place significance on the visions and dreams God has put in our heart, saving little by little. We are learning discipline as we construct a healthy image of consumption. By saving second, we place value on our future. We experience freedom as we partner with Heaven by following the words of Paul in Acts 20:35: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” We are trading a rat race and monotony for significance and meaning. We are losing our life, and in turn finding it. By giving first, we are training our mind to understand we are contributors over consumers. There are three main things we can do with each dollar earned, and I recommend budgeting them in this order: Giving, Saving, and Spending. Balance is important in all areas of our lives, including how we spend our money. In fact, inhaling too much oxygen causes an imbalance in our bodies and leads to increased anxiety levels. Balance is also necessary for our bodies to run properly. It provides safety as we walk up flights of stairs. It allows us to ride bikes and go for walks with loved ones. Managing to balance a banana, by simply using the tip of his nose to hold up this awkwardly shaped fruit, this gentleman had finesse I could only dream of. ![]() There was a man staring straight up to heaven with concentration so thick you could cut it with a knife. On our day off, we ventured to downtown Santa Cruz for breakfast and stumbled across something I’ve never seen before. Our plan? To watch our favorite worship team, Maverick City Music, perform in a nearby city. The Boise Christian Faith Center worship team and I made our trek to Santa Cruz, Calif. “Get me a banana, some Super Glue, and a rod” Andrey persisted. ![]()
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