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One of my more discipleship and character issues is whether I live within my means. Although I value budgeting and living well within my income level, this is an area that always gets pressed for me. When my income fluctuates upwards, I find that my expenses can fluctuate upwards as well (usually at a faster rate). And this is not something that is usually done intentionally.
With the rise of the credit industry, living within our means has become more and more difficult. I don’t necessarily think that North Americans are more prone to live on stretched budgets, but our access to easy credit (albeit expensive), makes it easier to live in the red.
Living outside of our means will inevitably challenge our stewardship convictions. Living on credit will mean that money is more expensive, and we are spending money toward interest rather than toward Kingdom (or other important) work.
The value of living within our means will force us to live simpler, and to make sure that we are being faithful with the things that God gives us. If we are not faithful with this, how will we be faithful with more (Luke 16)?
I find that there are several challenges that contribute to living beyond our means:
- We compare ourselves with others. Rather than operate within our budget, we want to operate within other people’s budgets. Many of my peers have more disposable income than I do, and it is often tempting for me to want to have the same material success that others have.
- We don’t have accountability. There are very few teachers and prophetic voices that will challenge the notion that living beyond our means may be sinful and perhaps a red-flag of deeper money management and character issues.
- We don’t have models. How many people do I know that live well within their means? Not many! There are many companies and governments (including ours) that are operating in the red. And unfortunately, there are too many churches that operate in the red.
Rather than address the practicals for change, I find that I often need to address my heart. Why am I living beyond my means? In what ways am I being unfaithful with the money that God entrusts to me? How do I view having and spending money?
Second, we need accountability. Without accountability, it will be difficult to get out of the cycle of spending more than we have.
When we learn to live within our means, our character will grow in self-control, accountability, self-image, and trust in God for our provisions. My struggles in this area have pressed me to go to God and receive from God a vision of being faithful with what God entrusts to me.
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