Handling Your Bills: What's Your Heart Motive?

Some days I make a list of things I need to change to fix my failures in handling our money.
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Other days I repent of loving myself, more than God.
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Every day only God can change my heart and he delights in doing so when I humble myself.

This is the last post for this series about finances. If you have stuck with me this far, thank you! My respect for people who write books has gone up significantly since starting this blog.

Before concluding with some heart considerations, I want to share a brief story:

Once there was a young mom whose mother picked up some groceries for her. When an item was incorrect, and as a result more expensive, that young mom got angry. Instead of being grateful for the help, she allowed anger to grow in her heart. As a result, she ended up speaking harshly with her own daughter for making a silly mistake.

If you haven't guessed it already, I'm the young mom in the story. I'm sharing it because it is often with some trepidation that I write these posts. I'm quick to love money and put my hope in it, instead of loving others. While my desire is to live in a way that honors God, I consistently don't, which is why I need a Savior.

I also know that most people reading this blog don't get to see my daily life. The last thing I want is for any of my readers to think I have it all together. I don't. But God does, which is why I try to regularly remind myself of his truths when I write these posts.

Who or What Should I Live For?

One of my favorite Scriptures is 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

Depending on the day, I am tempted to either wallow in guilt over my sin or dismiss it as not being a big deal. I love how this passage addresses each of these sinful tendencies with the same solution: focus on loving Christ. As I focus my gaze on Christ's faithfulness, I lift my eyes from myself to the one who will never fail. It's his perfect love that is to fuel and inform my obedience.

God is uniquely doing a good work in the lives of each of his children so that he will be made much of. The examples and suggestions I've shared throughout this series, are just that - examples and suggestions. While your life is different than mine, God's truth still applies to everyone.

The following questions are ones I've asked to check my heart attitude towards money. My prayer is that they encourage you to evaluate your own heart and life in light of Scripture. And then, when you realize how short we all fall of what God desires, I pray that you will flee to Christ.

Finances Heart Check

• What is my understanding, from Scripture, about finances?
• Have I sought the counsel of other believers who esteem God's Word?
• Am I fearful and anxious about our money? Why, and what does Scripture say about this?
• If you struggle with fear and anxiety (like I do) I highly recommend Ed Welch's book, Running Scared. The first two chapters alone dramatically changed my view of God's faithfulness.
• How do I respond when things, either big or small, don't go the way I want with our money? 
• What do my responses reveal about what I am valuing? What do they reveal I am believing about God?
• In light of eternity, how important is this?
• Am I communicating with my spouse and seeking to be unified about our finances?
• Ask my spouse: 
• "Are there things I spend money on that concern you?" 
• "What are ways I can make it easier for you with regards to our finances?"

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* Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.