An Example to Follow

A few weeks ago, we were spending time with some of our best friends, talking about all kinds of things. One of the topics we came upon was that of money and how we’ve been re-assessing our spending and budget, wanting to be more intentional with our finances.

We’ve always been so encouraged and challenged by the examples of those who have purposefully lived on less, especially when those same people could have lived on more - even much more.

Our friend began sharing that her parents are exactly those types of people. They have always lived simply, under their means, in order to give more away. We were supposed to have lunch with her parents when they came to town the following weekend and we were so looking forward to spending time with them. However, two mornings after that conversation, we received the news that her dad (who was an incredible pilot), had just taken off that morning when the plane went down and he was now with the Lord. One of the things that kept coming to mind is the “well done” her dad must have received when he first saw Jesus face to face that morning.

We have been so encouraged and so challenged by his life and his example. It’s caused us to think about our own lives, how short they really are, and how no sacrifice made out of love for God and others is too great in light of eternity.

And the truth is, when we live like that, we’re following Christ’s example. He’s the one who told us in Matthew 6 not to “store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our hearts really are wherever our treasure is.

We live in a country that finds prosperity completely normal and even expected. And we so easily follow suit.

But the Bible gives so many warnings about the dangers of prosperity. Of course money itself is not bad. If we’re good stewards, it can be put to incredibly great use. It’s the love of money that is dangerous.

We recently read this article put out by Desiring God which further encouraged and helped us in the ways God had already been teaching and challenging us to be better stewards of our money. We hope you’re encouraged by it as well!