Count the cost.

The day I grabbed the hammer and broke open my two-year-old son’s piggy bank to get the last of his coins for gas was the moment I convinced myself I would never dig from the financial hole I was in. I was a young single mom with two toddlers, a mound of debt, a dead-end job, and no real plan. I was working full-time, but still didn’t make enough to make ends meet, so food stamps, welfare, and government housing were my only options. Countless times I thought, “If only I had more money…” However, perhaps the saddest part of this story was that I remembered my dad breaking into my own piggy bank when I was a little girl and I had now duplicated this behavior! Would it ever end?!

The end of my story is that I did learn how to get out of debt, honor the Lord with my money, establish financial security for my children, and get off the roller coaster of poor money management, but it wasn’t without its cost. There was sacrifice involved. Money management matters in our walk with the Lord for many reasons. Here are just a few:

1. Money stresses us out. To many, money causes countless sleepless nights and tears. It can affect friendships, job performance, and parenting. In fact, many marriages are lost when spouses are not on the same page with money. God does not intend for us to operate from a constant state of stress.
2. Plans matter. We see in Habakkuk 2:2-3 that we are to get vision from the Lord, write it down, and make it plain. We further see in our Scripture of the day, Luke 14:28-30, that planning the cost of a thing is critical to its success. Many of us lack a plan for where we are heading with our money. But if we see the character and nature of our God, we see strategy.
3. Christ paid for our freedom. Money can be a bondage. It can be a tool used for great Kingdom impact, but it can also be something we are enslaved to. Having a plan, understanding how to steward well, and exercising discipline to implement the strategy helps alleviate pressure. Further, it'll propel us into a life of freedom. When there is no plan in place, we worry, fret, control, and sabotage. These are not our portions as daughters of the Most High.
4. We want to teach our children well. Proverbs 13:22 says, “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren.” Notice how it doesn’t say children, but rather grandchildren. What an important word for us! Now, in this passage, we know the inheritance is spiritual legacy, but it can be applied to financial principles, as well. We are to be good stewards of that which the Lord has given us in hopes of leaving a legacy behind for our children and their children. Money management is important for the future of your children and your children’s children.
5. Foolish decisions can be birthed from financial pressure. Moms, one day, you may start looking to marry. Proverbs 31:11 says, “A wife enriches her husband’s life.” In other words, she adds to - she enhances. We want to enter a new relationship healthy in all areas. Be spiritually healthy, but also, let’s commit to being healthy in our finances. When we are actively working towards learning, growing, planning, and organizing our finances, we don’t feel pressure to jump into a relationship too quickly to alleviate financial pressure by having a second income in the home.

Points to Ponder:

• Money management matters, but it will take sacrifice. What are 3 things you are willing to sacrifice in order to gain better control over your finances?
• Consider your current money management practices, would you want your children to duplicate your skills? Why or why not?