Scripture to Memorize
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:31
Passage to Read
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:6–10
Guided Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for holding out the truth before me. Sometimes I don’t want to face the fact that I brought nothing into this world and I will take nothing out of it. I confess that I have not been content but instead have chased after riches and fallen into various temptations. I know the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and I ask you, Lord Jesus, to deliver me from it. I don’t want to wander from the faith and pierce myself with grief. I want to live my life pursuing godliness with contentment, for I know that is great gain. Holy Spirit, help me to fix my eyes on what is unseen, not on what is seen. Help me to live within my means, not only for my sake but for the sake of my descendants. I want to leave them more than boxes full of accumulated stuff. I want to leave them an example of a life lived wholly devoted to you. Amen.
Personal
The Proverbs 31 woman joyously received the rewards her wisdom had earned. Some of us are not content with that; we want the reward without the sacrifice. Life doesn’t work that way. Perhaps you’ve read the previous financial assignments in this 90-Day Jumpstart and mumbled: Wait one minute! Where’s the fun in all of this? If I give God 10 percent and save 10 percent and make an extra payment against my mortgage, what will I have left to live on?
Do you want to know what you’ll have left? Your means.
Your lifelong assignment is learning to live within your means. If you are not willing to tithe, save, and prepare for your retirement by doing what you can to pay your mortgage off early (and save a fortune in the process), what you’re really saying is: “I’m not willing to live within my means.”
Today’s passage says godliness with contentment is great gain. The godly person doesn’t try to obtain extra stuff by robbing God or her children. Yes, robbing your children. If you refuse to live within your means, the people who will suffer the most are the people you love the most: your children and grandchildren. They are the ones who will have to sacrifice to provide for you in retirement because you weren’t willing to exercise wisdom and self-control. I don’t mean to be harsh, but sometimes love must be tough.
People in Western cultures are living longer and longer. It’s your responsibility to plan responsibly for your prolonged retirement years rather than expecting your descendants to provide for you.
There are four very simple things you can do to show your family that you truly care:
Put more simply: make the commitment to live within your means. Choose to be content with the funds that remain after you’ve fulfilled your obligations. When you are content with what you have and cease pursuing stuff, you can put all of your efforts into pursuing God. Then you can leave your descendants a godly inheritance rather than boxes full of junk to sort through.
The Proverbs 31 woman spoke with wisdom, and faithful instruction was on her tongue (v. 26). I have no doubt part of the wisdom she imparted to her children was sound financial principles. The Bible, particularly the book of Proverbs, is filled with them. Part of our obligation as godly women and mothers is to study what God’s Word has to say about money, then line up our finances accordingly.
If you are like most people, no one taught you about managing your money, and you are worse off because of it. Some have even been destroyed for their lack of knowledge. Let’s take the initiative to pursue financial wisdom, so we can impart it to our children and spare them some of the foolish financial decisions we made. If you teach your children nothing more than the handful of principles contained in this 90-Day Jumpstart, and they put them into practice, they will enjoy financial peace throughout their lifetime. What an incredible gift to be able to impart! When your children finally realize the value of what you’ve given (it may take a few years), they are sure to arise and call you blessed in gratitude.
Affirmation: I believe godliness with contentment is great gain.
Practical
Get on your knees before God and face your future. Repent of any selfishness you’ve exhibited or disregard for your family’s financial future. Make a firm commitment to live within your means.