What Does Your Checkbook Say About Your Heart?

Thrifty Thinking

How much money do you have? How much money do you have in savings? Or do you even have savings? How much money does your household bring home each month? What do you do with that money? Are you living within your means? Are you generous toward others? Are you generous toward God? What do the things you put your money toward say about you? What does your checkbook say about your heart? Okay, that was a lot of questions, but we need to be good question-askers, and I wanted to get your wheels turning.

What you choose to spend money on reflects what’s in your heart. Your checkbook and receipts show exactly what is most important to you. So what exactly is most important to you? Right now I can tell you we spend the most on having a roof over our heads, the education of our children, giving to the Lord, and food.

For some of you if you really dig down deep, I mean dig down really deep where there is an open wound that might hurt. What is most important to you may be having the latest electronic gadgets, clothes, or fancy car, or maybe it is some sort of hobby. While these things (which are, after all, just things) might not be inherently wrong when enjoyed with balance, they also may be completely wrong things for you to pursue. You’ve got to look at what’s behind what you are buying, namely, your heart. Are certain things becoming idols? That is, are they taking the place of God in your life? If so, it’s time to reevaluate your life and re-prioritize.

Do you have monthly car payments? College debt read here to see how we paid off $16,000 in 16 months)? Or do you owe money to someone or to many people? Mortgage(s)? How about credit card debt? Many people would claim that college debt and mortgage debt is “good debt,” but I would like to challenge their thinking as to what “good debt” really is. I tend to me more conservative here, and I’d argue that “good” debt would be to love others, as that is the only debt that we should desire to keep owing (Romans 13:8).

Monetarily speaking getting out of debt is freeing to the heart. If you are in bondage to others by money that is owed that you haven’t repaid, consider putting yourself on the fast track to repaying them. It will show others who is most important; may we treat others as more important that ourselves (Phil. 2:3). Being debt-free gives your heart freedom.

So when you pay your bills where is your heart? What does the money you spend at the store reflect about your heart? What does YOUR heart say about you??