#281. Using God as a financial plan.
Jun 8th by JonThe first car I ever bought was a lemon. I’m not sure if they use that word the same way across the world, but a lemon is a car that doesn’t work well. For a number of reasons, you don’t see all its many, many imperfections before you buy it but after you buy it, you immediately discover them. That is what happened to me.
It was a Mazda 626 or as I would come to know it, a “Mazda 666,” the sign of the devil. When I would drive 70mph, it would just turn itself off. Right there in the middle of the highway it would quit working. I would pull off as quickly as I could, steering the now dead vehicle into the grass angrily. Good times.
That was perhaps the dumbest thing I ever did financially. Or maybe the mountain bike I took out a loan on in college. Or the church business I started where the other dude stole all the money. I am not good with money.
But one of the things I never did was assume that God would bail me out of my financial mistakes like his last name was Visa. (If you’re playing along at home, that would make his full name “God Visa.”)
I know people that do this. They make crazy financial decisions and the entirety of their financial plan is “God.” For instance, some friends of friends had their daughter’s 16th birthday on the MTV show “My super sweet 16.” (The thing I like about that show is that it plays a key role into raising a well balanced, not at all entitled, humble young teenager.)
At the end of the show, the producers asked the parents if they were going to do the same, crazy party, buy a car, invite hundreds of people kind of spectacle for their other daughter. Their response was something like, “Well if God provides.”
I think God throws up a little on Moses’ crocs when we say stuff like that. (Moses wore sandals for 40 years in the desert, I think he’s wearing crocs now.) When we buy cars we can’t afford and homes that are too big and throw massive resort vacations on credit cards and then say “God will provide.”
Here’s the thing, I think we serve an experiential God, not a consequential God. He wants to be present and involved with all of our experiences. With our financial options, our budgets our salaries etc. He doesn’t just want to lay dormant until there are consequences. He’s not like the Wolf character in the movie Pulp Fiction, a professional cleaner that comes in to fix our mistakes. He wants to be there beginning, middle and end of story.
A few years ago, my wife and I read a book by God’s favorite financial planner, Dave Ramsey. We cut up our credit cards and started to make better decisions. I’m still not great at the whole money thing. I own way too many pairs of Puma sneakers to tell anyone how to spend their money. I just think being smart with money is more about making smart decisions than making good apologies to God when the credit card bills arrive.
Should God be part of every aspect of your life? Yes. Is he capable of saving you from credit debt? Without a doubt. Is He cool with you buying an Xbox instead of paying off your credit card bills because you think having it will help you save money because you won’t be going out as much because you’ll be home playing it? Debatable.
p.s. Tomorrow I will be posting the lady version of the Metrosexual worship leader guide.
Comments
I’ve prayed for help in the middle of a financial crisis. The results were not large windfalls – but $20 in a belated birthday card or someone invited me out to dinner on the night before payday (when the cupboard was bare). In other words, He heard my prayers and found a way to make sure I had what I needed – that last meal before I got my paycheck, enough to put gas in the car for a week. Thankfully, even in the midst of the current financial climate, I’m doing better than I was 10 years ago.
God doesn’t provide for me to go on a lavish vacation, or for a new car or a whole new wardrobe. And that’s OK, since I’m pretty darn fortunate. My clothes may not be trendy – but I have clothes. There are things that make me unhappy about my job – but I have a job. I can’t afford to own a car – but I live in a city with good public transit.
God does provide some amazing financial aid when it’s called for. The most common examples I hear of and have experienced are when people finally decide to tithe, even though they can’t afford it.
This reminds me of a friend I had years ago. He told me that a woman in his Sunday School class, when asked for prayer requests, asked for everyone to pray that she and her husband would be able to afford the brand-new Yukon that they had been looking at. “Well, the dealer might be able to come down on the price just a little bit and then we’d be able to afford the monthly note, so please be in prayer about that for us.” My friend said (out loud for all to hear), “I’m not praying for that.”
Jaws dropped. The room got quiet. A cricket chirped. Then he said, “I’m not.”
It’s the only time in my 10 years as a Christian I’ve heard of a prayer request being denied. It was awesome.
God as my financial plan at times has been being grateful for “just enough and just in time.”
I disagree on one point however:
No self-respecting prophet would be caught dead (or forever alive–as the case may be) in crocs. Moses, I’m certain of it, is a Birkenstock kind of guy.
You are a riot. Awesome
One of God’s greatest gifts to us was the gift of free will. People think God is an ATM machine. I know God provides for our family. But… a lot of our financial stability is good choices that we have made. I am SICK of the prosperity gospel that says everyone is entitled to Mercedes and mansions. Try telling that to the underground church in China, or a Christian in Iran!!! The Bible actually says blessed are the POOR!!! Our “former” church took out a loan for 34 million for a new building!!!!! My uncle who is a millionaire says that in the real world that would be considered foolish. But, in the church it is considered “faith.” Anyway, ok, I am off my box. I know God cares about all of our needs, but do we really NEED a $50,000 car?
"poor in spirit". Why do people misquote Bible verses to suit themselves???
And… it's quite possible to be "poor", and yet, not poor in spirit.
Dave Ramsey is awesome. My Husband and I have just started his class. I realize now that God has a better plan for our financial future. He has already provided small things to help us save up for our emergency fund. God is totally awesome for sending Dave to a sinking credit card world.
God is the giver of all good things. He also gives us a brain that He wants us to use. To tie this up w/ your blog on the rapture that’s not really about the rapture, I have heard some people say that we should charge up our VISA’s and MC’s without worrying b/c the rapture could come at any minute and we wouldn’t be here to worry about the debt. Now that’s thinking wisely – NOT!
haha. so great. God Visa in the house.
i had a friend who was low on cash.. like had a morgage to pay etc. and no money till the end of the week for food. God’s way of providing: 3 separate couples called him up and over for dinner on the 3 nights he would have been with out food. amen for gods provision in need as he was (without the stupid financial decisions)… tho whats funny… every night was fried chicken… and hes not the biggest fan of teh Mr. Sanders. LOL
What people don’t realize is that the God they say will provide them with money for lavish lifestyles is the same God whose son told his disciples to sell all of their possessions and donate everything they had to the poor.
I’ve gotta agree with Kate. God is a God who works in our world, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. So if that world includes credit cards, debt, etc., sure he works in & through that in our lives. But across the board I think it’s a good exercise to ask how things apply in other cultures/societies before deciding God works ‘this’ way (like wanting to give us material prosperity), as Kate mentioned. OK, my soapbox just collapsed. I’m done.
One time, someone gave me 200 dollars randomly and said they thought I was struggling financially. I wasn’t, but I saved it because I didn’t know what else to do with the money…but maybe they thought I was going to struggle financially in the future. I did, and that 200 dollars helped me out greatly.
I think it taught me to be more responsible with money. I could have so easily gone out and bought something amazing with that 200 bucks. But, now God is part of the financial aspect of my life. It’s hard, but rewarding.
“He’s not like the Wolf character in the movie Pulp Fiction, a professional cleaner that comes in to fix our mistakes. He wants to be there beginning, middle and end of story.”
I wish every Christian, and everyone else for that matter, would read this article and take it to heart. It could save so many from so much heartache. As Christy says, God gives us a brain that He wants us to use.
Your talent is a fantastic melding of humor and wisdom. Keep it real.
You are right on with this post. Thanks. God did give us the Bible with great financial principles in it. And He gave us Dave Ramsey and a multitude of counselors as well. We live in a society that thinks that we can have every item our parents had and more in 30 less years than it took out parents to buy them. So sad. Anyway, lots more I could say, and have said, but thanks for summing it up.
I totally agree with all of this, and I had to comment to say that my husband and I had the “debatable” argument yesterday. We’re in loads of debt and we’re looking at ways to cut costs. We just downsized to one car and we’ve cut all our entertainment/date/spending money completely. SO. We had the conversation yesterday about how to justify buying a Wii, Wii Fit, an extra controller and an extra game because we weren’t going anywhere anymore and THEN we could buckle down and really put some money to all that debt. HA. After much “debate” we decided that spending $500 on some entertainment just wasn’t a wise decision and that buying a few new board games was a much better idea. So we spent $50 and the rest of all that car cash goes to debt. Sigh. Responsibility and wisdom are not always a lot of fun.
We’re supposed to pay credit card bills? I thought those were just “thank you” notes. Like, thanks for flashing this shiny piece of plastic all over the mall.
Dang.
Birkenstocks? I think not! Moses would totally go with the crocs. With Christian jibbitz: a cross, Jesus Lives, a fish, little “Butts are not Billboards” signs. Awesome heavenly marketing!
Great post. Why do we struggle so much with financial decisions? Thanks for the reminder. I needed that right now.
First off, travelin’ joe, Colonel Sanders Didn’t go through Chicken boot camp just to be called “Mr” so you better show a little respect…
Sorry, I had to.
Secondly, this post is spot-on. There is nothing like “acting your wage” as Dave says. America needs to grow up.
Hey, Dave also always says “giving the same financial advice your grandmother did, only we keep our teeth in.” We could combine that with Todd Bentley and make it “giving you the same financial advice as your grandma, only we kick her in the face while we do it.”
Just a thought.
Wow, I completely agree that we shouldn’t use God as a “hope it works out” for racking up debt.
On the other hand, I sold everything I had and moved here to Brazil as a missionary. I receive $500 a month support from home churches. It’s not enough for my family and I to live on, but God provides.
How much better we’d all be, if we were to realize that God is not our personal pool boy. We are the servants. To use God as a means to prosper is to demean the Cross to little more than a magic spell.
Thanks for reminding us of that truth!
FYI. A lemon IS the international term for a dodgy car!
Never brought one, but loved your story.
lots of laughs from Australia!
i get so ticked off when i hear people in serious financial trouble being asked to give a lot to a ministry that already has enough so god will bless them. The church should be encouraging them to put all the money they can into getting out of debt, not making it worse.
/end rant
It's actually Biblical… see malachi 3:6-12, and Philippians 4…
ahahah! ben,
would it be sad if i typed “mr. Sanders” because i couldnt remember how to spell colonel and didnt want to take the time to look it up or get caught spelling it coronel
Thanks for the shout-out to Dave. He is so great. Also, I’m pretty sure Crocs aren’t allowed in heaven.
Halle-freakin-lujah. God told us to have faith, but God did NOT tell us to be stupid.
I don’t think Crocs are allowed in Heaven.
Agreed. Crocs are like the snuggie of footwear. Wearing them says either "I'm a chef; I can wear these." or "I give up."
Love Dave Ramsey. The Financial Peace University my husband and I attended 2 years ago probably saved our marriage, in the long run. Simple stuff, really just common sense, but there’s no common sense in our credit-happy culture any more.
Great post.
i agree with this post.
God made us stewards of his creation. that includes money. we need to steward it well.
on the flip side when you are being blessed you can bless others. not just slip back into your old ways of doing things.
“I think God throws up a little on Moses’ crocs when we say stuff like that.”
first post I’ve read tonight…..and I’m laughing out loud again with tears in my eyes! You are insane! (but in a “hit you with the truth when you least expect it” sort of way!)
btw….I had 2 Mazda 626′s…..loved them….so rest assured they are not all evil.
I “heart” SCL
Oh yes – the “God wants me to have the best” style of Financial Planning. We had best friends who totally subscribed to that style of “planning”. Then, we lent them money “just till payday” and they turned up to have borrowed money from just about everybody, and lots from the CC companies. They went bankrupt. Them, and their Christian-named company. Always gives Jesus a good name to have that Christian company refuse to pay the other companies.
Christians and bankruptcy. I’d love to see if you could find something there that could make me LOL.
Anyhoo, still working on some forgiveness there. But I do recall saying gently (at the time) “God doesn’t need to use Mastercard and Visa to bless people”.
Dave Ramsey you say? I’ll be looking him up.
It’s nice to hear of someone else with a Puma Addiction. Maybe we could start a support group. I’m contemplating buying another pair as I type this. I need help.
yes. wonderful. as per usual. this one goes on the calendar… jan. 1.h
having on two occasions only 2 bags of possessions has made me realise just how little we need all the crap we accumulate. It took me less then a year to rebuild all of the crap i had both times. But I realise I don’t need it.
I just came out of a long period of sickness where I was unable to work, and worse unable to take care of myself financially. I am very very very fortunate that I’ve come out of it with as little debt as I have, and that God has provided me with all of my needs for most of the last year.
I’m going to tell you all a secret here, and it might shock some of you. All of the stuff you have right now is meaningless. When you die do you think God will say “Oh I’m sorry you don’t have enough clothes or possesions to enter into my kingdom, we have a strict 1000 items or more policy here.”
no he won’t you want to know what God thinks about possesions, lets take a look at new Jerusalem. Gold one of the most valued substances on earth will be paving stones!!! Gems will adorn the walls. the gates will be giant pearls!
Why do we get so focused on what the world wants us focused on?
God promises to provide for us, we will never want with Him at the helm. But he never promises that we will have everything. In fact he promises the opposite, he would not give us everything we want because we want things that are not good for us.
Ben said: “giving you the same financial advice as your grandma, only we kick her in the face while we do it.”
This had me laughing so hard, envisioning Dave Ramsey kicking some old lady in the face (which I don’t think he would do).
I love when people spend all their money and then say God will provide for their future, or they say things like… the early church helped each other out, so the church should help us out when we’re old. (Sounds too much like social security to me…)
I like to respond with the “guy drowning story” that Christians like. You know, the one where the guy has been ship wrecked and prays to God to rescue him while he’s treading water…. along comes a person in a boat that asks him if he needs help. The guy responds, “no thanks, I’m waiting for God to save me”. Then in some versions he drowns… the moral being that God provided the boat to save the guy and he didn’t realize it.
Is your money like the boat? God has provided it to you already, what are you doing with it?
the only people the bible specifically says we’re supposed to look after is widows and orphans.
Ah!
My first car was a Mazda 626…it had a transmission problem. Accelerate too fast it would roar loudly at you until you took your foot off the gas and calmed it down.
Poor car.
I accidentally smashed her face in by rear-ending someone. It was the end of her…
RIP.
I’m just going through some of your past posts & my wife and I happened to just start a Crown Financial Bible Study…one of the first things we learned was that the Bible has 2035 verses in it regarding finances…amazing. God knew that finances would be our biggest challenge to truly following him and allowing Him complete control of our lives.
Moses, switch to Tevas!
"buying an Xbox instead of paying off your credit card bills because you think having it will help you save money because you won’t be going out as much because you’ll be home playing it"
yikes, I have done this one in my 20s