Happy Belated Easter everyone!?! Is that even a thing? Anyways….
I think the thing that bothers me MOST about being in debt is the inability to give the way we desire. Thankfully we are able to give to our church, but even that is an amount way below what is in our hearts.
I am sure you all have people around you with various needs, for us it is the same. There is never a shortage of people to help, and in this way our debt really has us as prisoners because extending ourselves the way we really want to, just isn’t an option.
It would be easy to lay aside our debt repayment plan and budget in favor of different causes or needs that come about, but then we would be unfaithful in paying back what we owe (not to mention really stealing from who we are indebted). But it is also short-sighted because we will be digging ourselves deeper in debt, and the behavior could be endless.
Even though it does make me sad, not being able to help every time comes up, I know it is more beneficial in the long run to be able to give what actually belongs to me, without guilt, stress, or negative consequences.
My prayer is that we will be faithful with our “few” so that as it grows, we can use it wisely, and give freely!
Now on to some great posts!
Is it time to leave your job? Brian from Luke1428 gives a list of 10 things that may show it’s time for a change. The list is really comprehensive, and may allow you to really consider if you should stay where you are or move on.
One area where we don’t go “cheap” is with our food. Jason from Live Real, Now shares when going cheap isn’t an option. I totally agree with him here, and the title of his post is the perfect example!
Melissa from Bible Money Matters asks the question, what is more important to you, time or money? I think it’s important to consider what we value more, and also the consequences of choosing one over the other.
My dad used to tell the salesmen “I’ll have to sleep on it” when it came to huge purchases. He taught us to do the same, and I’ve honestly regretted the times I haven’t taken that advice. Travis from Enemy of Debt asks if a waiting period really works to prevent impulse shopping? I know for me, it definitely does.
Since we are down to one vehicle, from time to time I check on the cost of a new (to us) vehicle. No matter what I find, Khaleef compares it to the brand new Cavalier he bought in ’97-’98 for $10,000. Kevin from Out of Your Rut asks if you are feeling priced out of the new car market? If it is up to Khaleef, that answer is a resounding “YES!”
Kevin Roose from New York Magazine shares why he believes that the new Gillette razor is everything that’s wrong with American innovation. I tend to agree with him, take a look and see what you think.
In this post, Randy Alcorn shares about his experience as a Christian going through depression. This is an area that is taboo for many, and I am glad that a well-known author is able to give a voice to this issue for those of us who need to know we’re not alone.
Make this week a great one!
During our debt management plan we were also not able to give to our church what was in our hearts (I love that phrase, BTW). Now that we’re done, that was one of the first changes we’ve made. Being able to do so has brought me so much joy – to show my thankfulness for all the blessings that have been given to us. Thanks for the mention! 🙂
That’s awesome Travis! I am jealous in the BEST way and can’t wait to get there!
Thanks for the mention Sherrian! I think God is more concerned with our heart attitude in giving. He knows our motivations and whether we are giving cheerfully. He also calls us to take care of our own household first (before any giving takes place beyond a typical tithe) so we do have to account for that command.
Thanks Brian, you are absolutely right. I am thankful that God knows my heart, and also my desire to be obedient to His will.