October 13, 2009

Financial YeeHaw!


Being from Kansas when I got out of elementary school for our summer vacation, I shouted one big "YeeHaw!" I was free from daily grind of worrying about homework, grades, tests, and pop quizzes. There was still a lot of work to do during the summer, after all this was the farm. But all the stress of fretting and worrying about tests, etc. was gone! 


I believe the God wants his people to live in Financial Yeehaw! The world wants to teach us to live in the elusive chase to "keep up with" or even "beat" the imaginary Jones' family. The world wants us to attach our significance, self-image and satisfaction to our bank account. The world wants to lead us away from the idea of "God being our true source".


Listen to Jesus: "For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." Matthew 6:32. Don't chase stuff or it will steal your YeeHaw! It will robl your contentment. Trust God's provision.


Obviously this doesn't mean sit on your butt all day and wait for the Reader's Digest Sweepstake check to magically appear in your mailbox. But it does mean do what you can, then rest in God's love and then live in Financial YeeHaw!


Randy Alcorn makes a profound observation...


Many people misunderstand the idea of financial freedom. They see it as meaning financial independence, applying it to people who have built up enough  assets or income stream to work when they want, vacation where they want, and buy what they want. I’ve observed, however, that a person can be financially independent without being content. Conversely, a person can be content without being financially independent.

Besides avoiding the potential confusion between financial freedom and financial independence, I prefer focusing on contentment because that is the word the Bible uses. Here are a few notable examples:


But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

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)


God knows how to free us from fear and worry and give us a "Financial YeeHaw!" 

1 comment:

Sklarsh said...

Good words. Speaking for myself and not generalizing my statement to include those who do not feel they needed this blog, I appreciate a friendly reminder that more is not always better. More can be good but only if taken with a humble heart and willingness to give it back if trouble arises. Thanks for the Godly perspective and reminder.