American lives are centered around stuff.
The latest technology, the fastest car, the newest house. A closet full of clothes, a bookcase full of DVDs, a kitchen full of dishes. We are surrounded by all of these things we think we can’t live without.
Have you ever stopped to evaluate how much of those things you really NEED? Do you have to upgrade your iPhone just because the newest version was just released? Do you have to get a loan for a new gas-guzzling SUV just because your car is 5 years old? Is it necessary to move to a brand new house you can’t afford just because you had a baby and want more room?
None of these things are evil. They all sound like a lot of fun. But the questions you need to ask yourself before you rush out to buy the latest and the greatest are this: Can I afford it? If the answer is no, don’t move any further. If you go ahead and buy something you cannot afford, you will only move further and further from financial freedom. If you can afford it, ask yourself if it’s crucial in your life, or if you’d be better off using that money for something else and freeing up a little space in your life.
Too often we get so bogged down with clutter that we can’t see straight. Take some time and reflect on the starving people in third world countries when you find yourself with stuffitis. After that, curb your desire to buy something by sorting through the things you already own. Pitch the useless things, sell or donate the ones you no longer need or want, and enjoy your extra space – in your house and in your mind.
Spending money is not wrong in itself. It’s what’s in the heart that matters. If you are buying things to fill a void in your heart, you’d be better off investing in Jesus Christ. He’ll fill that void like nothing else ever could. If you shop to bring happiness into your life, we challenge you to spend that money bringing happiness into someone else’s life. Buy a bouquet of flowers for an elderly neighbor. Treat a couple kids to ice cream cones. Help a single mom buy groceries. We promise those things will bring more happiness into your life than any number of shoes ever could.
Start asking yourself today what you need and what you can do without.
We wrote an eBook called 3 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom. As our gift to you, we’re offering it for free, hoping the 3 steps will enrich your life the way they have ours. Join our email list for your free download.
16:10 Consulting 