To Save More Money Make Life About More than Money
If you want to save more money, your life has to be about more than money.
My wife and I pulled up to our favorite donut spot. It was a Saturday night, and it was just the two of us. I wanted two chocolate-covered creme-filled cholesterol bombs, and she wanted two "Hot Now" glazed donuts.
A female voice replied through the speaker. "Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all."
The voice spoke again, "If you buy a dozen, it's cheaper."
I got excited thinking that I could somehow get so much more sugared cholesterol at a bargain price.
"Really!"
"Yes sir. If you buy a dozen, they are only 75 cents apiece."
"Wait a minute. So how much is a dozen?"
"$9.15 with tax."
I replied, "So how much is 4?"
"$4.50"
At this point, sarcasm got the best of me. "So how many dozen do I have to buy to get the price under $4.50?"
After a moment of silence, she said, "Please pull forward to the window."
Sure, per donut 12 is cheaper, but according to my bank account, $4.50 beats $9.00 every day. That's especially true when there are only two of you and 4 donuts will more than do it!
Something may be on sale at the store, but you'll save the most money if you will only buy what you need and use what you have. They may offer the latest iPhone at a $99 discount, but what the store won't put in the ad is that you'll save $399 if you keep using the one you have.
Jesus gives us a great filter to think through when it comes to buying stuff.
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:25
You'll save more if your life is about more.
If your life is about having more, then you see major differences between your truck and that new truck. But if your life is about more than trucks, then you see that the common factor in "new truck" and "my truck" is "truck." Another truck is cheaper than a "new truck," and your truck is even cheaper than that!
Spending is not about cost but character. Our lust for stuff and overspending is an indication that something's gone wrong with our soul. We've been hijacked by the idolatry that we can be satisfied with stuff. Jesus' question is not just about saving money, it's about saving souls. "Is not life more than . . ." food, phones, and trucks?
The atoning death and victorious resurrection of Christ serves notice that you are worth more to Him than your stuff will ever be worth to you.
If you want to save more your life must be about more. Turn to Jesus.
Bible Study & Challenge
Read Philippians 4:10-13.
- According to this passage, how would you define contentment?
- How does this passage communicate trust in God?
- In context of the passage, what does Philippians 4:13 mean?
Go back through your spending records for the past 30, 60, or 90 days. Apply the principle of contentment to every purchase you made of something you already had. How much money would you have saved?
Use this exercise to inform your prayers today. Ask God to help you make wise money decisions. Ask Him to reveal to you ways to make life about more than money.
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