Money isn’t Everything
December 29th, 2009 | 
Author: For many, 2009 has been a hard year financially. Whether you’re active military or Guard/Reserve, with a steady paycheck or not, things cost more today than they did a year ago, and everyone has felt the pinch and the importance of cutting back.
Before Christmas, I struggled over the gift buying we were doing and found myself getting sucked into the “More, More” attitude, especially for our little boy. But then I ran across this verse, Hebrews 13:5 –
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
No one has ever said “I want to join the military to get rich.” And yet, it can be easy to get caught up in the longings of “More, More” when we see friends blessed with higher ranks or pay rates or just less debt, maybe better circumstances.
My husband, a Navy reservist, has now been without a full-time civilian job for eighteen months. He was laid off from his non-profit position six months after coming back from Iraq and since then, I have sometimes struggled with my calling, questioning whether it’s right to continue on in ministry when our family’s circumstances might be so different if I just went back to a 9 to 5 corporate job like I’ve had before, making good money and climbing the proverbial ladder. I asked my mother-in-law once what she thought, since I respect her opinion and knew she would be straight with me in her answer and her quick reply was “money isn’t everything.”
She was right.
The excitement and joy I have of making a difference for my Lord and Savior on a daily basis is priceless compared to any monetary amount I could bring home anywhere else. I thrive on encouraging other military wives. It’s a passion that hasn’t gone away since I started doing it three years ago. I know this is truly the “sweet spot” God has chosen just for me.
As we’ve learned to be content with what we have, we’ve seen God keep his promise to “never leave” and “never forsake.” The bills have been paid and food is still on the table. I always marvel when freelance opportunities come my way or my husband’s, confident that they’re God-directed (two just happened this past week as I write this!).
Luke 12:24 reminds us to “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”
We are valuable to God. And He wants the best for us. But His version of our best and our version of our best can be two different versions. Guess whose is right?
So if you find yourself growing a “More! More!” attitude for this coming year, ask yourself these questions:
Do you wish for more money to help others or to help yourself?
Are you pressuring your husband to go OCS or get that next promotion for the experience, or for the bigger paycheck?
Are there other areas in your life that you need to desire “More!” in over monetary? Like more time for others, more love for your family, more time with God, more care for those who need it most?
Can you be content with what you have? What needs to be removed from your winter of discontent to achieve just that?
Join us for our Ministry 20/20 calls the week of Jan. 11-15. Find out what we have planned for 2010 and how you can be a part! For more information, click here.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Related posts:
Category: 
I appreciate your transparency in writing on this subject. Our family recently PCSed to a much smaller community. We are looking for MORE activities, MORE options, MORE space. Maybe God wants us to be content with less, although I feel like Lisa on Green Acres. “Goodbye city life!”
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by WivesofFaith, Rich Bohican. Rich Bohican said: Money isn't Everything | Wives of Faith http://tinyurl.com/yggdu7n [...]
There is nothing more valuable than sharing God’s word. If you have been assigned this task on a full-time basis, have confidence that He will take care of you. My sister taught me that as she worked through multiple bouts of unemployment. She never worries for the family needs and always rejoices that she is continually blessed.Our family is quite well off, but the best times my teen boys reflect on are when we experienced a house fire and stayed in many locations with a few changes of clothes. We still felt rich when we were down to the bare necessities. God is good… all the time.