Earlier in the week Ben wrote about what to do now that you have money. To be honest, that article probably should have won some kind of BS award.
Since leaving missions, money has been one of our biggest ongoing struggles. The unfortunate reality is that not everyone who leaves missions is automatically set for life financially. A number of you have told us that you struggle with money. We do too. But there are a few principles that we’ve discovered (mostly the hard way) that have been helpful for us. Here’s an outline of some of the more important ones.
Pray and ask for wisdom (Matthew 7:7-11, James 1:5-11)
It should come as no surprise that the first thing we should do when faced with any kind of adversity is to pray and seek God for His guidance and wisdom. Dealing with financial shortcomings is absolutely no different.
The Bible mentions money quite a lot, which means that how we use it it must be rather significant to God. It is important to Him, so it should be important to us. This is not an area that we should feel like we need to take on by ourselves; rather, we need to invite God to be at the very center of our financial situations. Not only do we need to ask Him how to navigate these waters, but we also must be ready to obey what He has to say.
Tithe Consistently. (Malachi 3:10)
There are a lot of good reasons to tithe, but I’ve come to realize one of the biggest factors is trusting God. True, giving 10% of your income when you are living paycheck to paycheck can seem daunting.
Every single time I’ve reviewed our budget in the last few months, we have come up short. Some people might say that the easy answer is to not tithe: God doesn’t actually need our money and understands our current situation. To that, I would say: God doesn’t actually need our money, and understands our current situation.
I see tithing as more of a statement saying, “God, we trust You to provide for our needs. You know our situation better than we do. We need You more than we need the money.” Tithing is just as important to our family as paying our rent check; it is a non-negotiable.
And guess what? We have never been at a point where we have missed that money. Every single time we’ve been in need, we have been taken care of. I honestly believe that a big part of this has been because our family has been faithful in tithing.
Practice Generosity. (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
The previous principle is also true when it comes to giving to another person. I have often found that in times of my biggest financial needs, I am met by someone whose needs are greater than mine. Just because I myself am in a place of need, it doesn’t mean that I’m exempt from noticing or helping others in need.
If we deny someone’s need based on the fact that we ourselves are in need, we miss out on the opportunity to be Jesus to others. We can’t wait until we are in a better place, because often the time for helping will have already passed. Plus, it helps put things into perspective—our needs are usually not as severe as we think they are.
Know what you actually NEED. (Luke 12:29-31)
Even for those of us who have lived as missionaries, we in the West tend to believe we’re entitled to a lot of things (especially the USA, but that’s for another article). Most of these ‘must have’s” really aren’t necessities at all. We all know how to live a more minimalistic lifestyle, and I honestly think it is best to keep that in mind as you transition to a non-missions environment.
As a side bonus, minimalism usually helps the planet a bit too!
Let your needs be known. (Hebrews 13:16)
When I left missions, I naïvely thought that my days of asking people for money were behind me. While the approach has definitely been different (I typically don’t just say “I need money” or send newsletters), we haven’t been silent about our financial needs of the last few months.
People generally assume that everything is going well unless you tell them otherwise. Our family, and our church, know that things have been tight for us financially. Asking for help is not begging; it is an act of humility when you let others know that you need assistance. Plus, it allows others in the Church to follow the Spirit in obedience and portray the Kingdom of God to others.
No one really likes to be the one in need, but I would rather ask for help than deny someone else the blessing of getting the opportunity to be Jesus. It’s very true that God will take care of what we need day to day, but He invites us all to have a part in that for each other.
Make a budget—and stick to it. (Luke 14:28-30)
This is one of the best ways of ensuring that we’re doing our part financially. I am the one in charge of the budget in our household, and let me tell you, it’s a stressful job. I have to consistently be reminded of Matthew 6, where Jesus tells us not to worry. But as I sort out our budget, sometimes with tears, I realize that we’ve been entrusted with a certain amount of money and it is our responsibility to use it as wisely as possible.
In addition to completing our due diligence, budgeting helps with saving money and avoiding debt. We know exactly when we’re able to go out to eat and when we can’t; this keeps us from having to scramble when the bills are due. It also enables us to save what we can for future goals and dreams (and vacations).
As a side note, if you find yourself in debt, be diligent to pay it off as quickly as possible. This again is a whole article unto itself, so we won’t cover it too much here.
Avoid comparing your situation to others. (Philipians 4:11-12)
Ah, comparison… aka covetousness. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. I hate that I do it, but it is often very difficult to escape.
While we definitely don’t feel like our time overseas was wasted, sometimes it feels like we have to constantly play catch-up with our friends and family who chose a more “traditional” path. Especially recently, I’ve fallen prey to thinking that everyone around me has a house, and I deserve one too! It can be difficult to push aside the temptation of comparison, choosing only to look at what God is doing in our own lives. But when I take my eyes off of what everyone else has and focus on what God has done for me and my family, I can’t be disappointed.
If I am to be content in every circumstance, including in the place of need, then there’s absolutely no reason for me to compare my situation to others.
Don’t feel bad to celebrate or indulge every now and then. (2 Chronicles 30:23)
Make it a priority to celebrate even in little ways. You are still human. You are not a bank account. You’re allowed to have a little fun and celebrate—and sometimes, you need to. Sure, going out for ice cream might be a bit more expensive than buying some from the store, but it’s not as fun, nor as memorable (especially if you have kids).
It is important to remember, keeping your budget in mind, that you may need to cut some money out from another place. This shouldn’t be a reason not to celebrate, though. Just make sure you don’t go overboard. There is a difference between going out for a celebratory meal and impulsively going on a celebratory cruise.
Ensure that your life does not become centered around money. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
Whenever there are money problems, make sure that your life and thoughts are not consumed by these issues. No man can serve two masters, and this is true whether we have a lot of money or none at all. Intentionally avoid making all of your attitudes, thoughts, and decisions about money.
Jesus tells us not to worry; that tomorrow will take care of itself. This wasn’t just a platitude; it’s the truth. God is able to take care of us. We are to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (our needs and occasionally even some of our wants) will be added to us.
Play with your kids—or even take them to a park (it’s free). Spend time with your friends and family. Enjoy a day trip out in nature. Take up hobbies. None of these things require money, and they’re really good for your mental and spiritual health.
We know that many of you are struggling with this. As we’ve said before, we’re in the same boat. I can’t promise that if you follow all of these guidelines, God will magically make it rain silver dollars on you (ouch). But I can assure you that these are solid principles that are true whether you have much or little, but they are especially helpful when you have less, and can help to bring peace both to your heart and to your pocketbook.
Life After Missions 