Stewardship: Money is a Tool
Dear Friends,
The holidays are upon us. Judy and I are looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving together and then to a not-so-quiet Christmas with our kids and their families. The holidays always squeeze our pocketbooks and our calendars until they seem almost dry. This year is sure to be no different.
Time and money are two of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. Both are finite resources that He offers us as a blessing and as a challenge in our lives. Both are tools that we use to accomplish our objectives as well as tools that God uses to shape us.
This holiday season, I encourage you to open your “toolbox” and examine the tools God has given you. What financial resources do you have? What will your time be used for over the coming weeks? God has given you time and money to shape the landscape of your life in a way that will honor Him.
As I mentioned in the video, money has no intrinsic value other than what you exchange it for when you spend or use it. I’m not encouraging you to spend all of (or more than) what you have, but I would encourage you to examine your priorities for your family this Christmas and use the resources you have in joyfully meeting some of those priorities for your family.
Perhaps your resources are more limited than ever. In that case, see if you can think in terms of less expensive ways to meet the same objectives for your family. Work on augmenting your cash with your creativity to create special memories for your family. You may even try making a list of each family member and then, rather than immediately deciding what to buy for them, write down what your objective is in giving them your gift. You might find that this helps your creative juices flow and you come up with cash savings and very special gifts! When my kids were young, one of their favorite Christmas gifts was an envelope I gave them that listed five ways we could spend time together – they got to choose one option on the list so that we could have guaranteed one-on-one time. They loved it, and it was not expensive, but it allowed me to offer time to them as an alternative to the money I might have spent.
In the same way, time is a tool. The holidays require an overwhelming amount of time in preparation and execution. Again, I encourage you to consider your objectives for this holiday season and plan proactively how you might use your time to meet those objectives and still leave space for a few “silent nights” here and there.
God’s Word speaks to finding balance in our financial life as we depend on Him and seek to be wise stewards. Proverbs 30:7-9 says, “Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.’” (NKJV)
May God’s peace encourage you as you pursue financial wisdom and depend on His Truth.
Blessings,
Ron
Click here for the video transcript
The holidays are upon us. Judy and I are looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving together and then to a not-so-quiet Christmas with our kids and their families. The holidays always squeeze our pocketbooks and our calendars until they seem almost dry. This year is sure to be no different.
Time and money are two of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. Both are finite resources that He offers us as a blessing and as a challenge in our lives. Both are tools that we use to accomplish our objectives as well as tools that God uses to shape us.
This holiday season, I encourage you to open your “toolbox” and examine the tools God has given you. What financial resources do you have? What will your time be used for over the coming weeks? God has given you time and money to shape the landscape of your life in a way that will honor Him.
As I mentioned in the video, money has no intrinsic value other than what you exchange it for when you spend or use it. I’m not encouraging you to spend all of (or more than) what you have, but I would encourage you to examine your priorities for your family this Christmas and use the resources you have in joyfully meeting some of those priorities for your family.
Perhaps your resources are more limited than ever. In that case, see if you can think in terms of less expensive ways to meet the same objectives for your family. Work on augmenting your cash with your creativity to create special memories for your family. You may even try making a list of each family member and then, rather than immediately deciding what to buy for them, write down what your objective is in giving them your gift. You might find that this helps your creative juices flow and you come up with cash savings and very special gifts! When my kids were young, one of their favorite Christmas gifts was an envelope I gave them that listed five ways we could spend time together – they got to choose one option on the list so that we could have guaranteed one-on-one time. They loved it, and it was not expensive, but it allowed me to offer time to them as an alternative to the money I might have spent.
In the same way, time is a tool. The holidays require an overwhelming amount of time in preparation and execution. Again, I encourage you to consider your objectives for this holiday season and plan proactively how you might use your time to meet those objectives and still leave space for a few “silent nights” here and there.
God’s Word speaks to finding balance in our financial life as we depend on Him and seek to be wise stewards. Proverbs 30:7-9 says, “Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.’” (NKJV)
May God’s peace encourage you as you pursue financial wisdom and depend on His Truth.
Blessings,
Ron
Click here for the video transcript
This was a great message. It really spoke to my heart and where God has me at this present moment. The video confirmed some things that God has been doing in my life. To be honest I haven't been obedient or a good steward of His money. This message said a lot to me. Thank you.
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This message was great. It really got my attention. It let me see where I am and what God is trying to teach me. Thanks
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This is a terrific perspective - seeing money as a tool and not as an end in itself. Great job, Ron!
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