Dollars are Decisions

A dollar is not an amount. Dollars are decisions.  

In 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Paul gives some solid financial advice about the way we make decisions with our money.

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

1 Tim 6:6-10

If you want to get control of spending and change your financial position, practice these Biblical principles when making decisions for your dollars. 

Money decisions are not based on amount but affection. 

"Now there is great gain in godliness." That statement is not about an amount, it's about affection. Every money decision is a character choice. The truth of the matter is that we will do what we really want to do, no matter how much it costs. Paul's great gain was godliness. That affection drove his financial decisions. What affections drive your financial decisions?

You always have enough.

The passage says that there is "great gain in godliness with contentment." Contentment basically means that you have decided that what you have is enough.

Most people believe that they would do better with money if they had more of it. That's not true. No matter how much or how little money you have, you are making decisions dollar by dollar. If you make bad decisions with $1, you'll make repeat that decision 1000 times with $1000. 

Leadership guru John Maxwell says, "You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily." The same could be said for a dollar. More money doesn't mean you make better decisions. 

So how much is enough for you? Dollars don't make that decision, you do.

You either have money or money has you.

Did you know that money is the top source of stress for people around the world? Stress and anxiety over money can cause health issues, marital strife, loss of sleep, and an overall miserable life. 

No matter how many times we hear something like this, we believe that somehow it won't be true of us. 

But we come by the delusion honestly. In verses 9-10, Paul describes the desire to be rich to be a temptation, a trap, and a twisted-truth. For every person, it ends with a lot of pain. You will not be the first to escape it, just the next one to experience it. 

Make a decision for a dollar, or a dollar will make the decision for you.

Bible Study:

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

• Make a list of any commands to be obeyed.
• Make a list of promises to be believed.
• Make a list of principles to be applied.

Challenge:

Go through your financial records for the past 90 days. Instead of thinking through your ledgers as amounts, think through it as affections. How do your financial records reflect your affections? Do they reflect that godliness is a great gain to you? If not, what adjustments do you need to make?

See all of the daily devotional challenges archived at The Caffeinated Christian.

What's a worldview? Check out The Brainwashed Series on my YouTube Channel.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PLbmrUghY_9NDpyS1xxEYRVeUhJPDfOJ5T&v=hLKBnero7CY[/embedyt]