I’ve tried to spend most of my life being a good steward of the gifts God has given me.
So last spring I was surprised to be confronted with the realization that I have not been a good steward of my family’s finances. And I knew I desperately needed to change.
As I moved load after load of boxes and belongings to our new house, I knew my family had a lot of possessions. I tried to reason that it was because four people tend to own a lot of things. But once I hauled filled boxes to our basement for storage, I knew we simply had too many things.
And I had spent – and wasted – too much money on those things.
All of a sudden God revealed to me how the money used to buy all of those possessions – now stored in my basement – could have been used for His kingdom and for people who were truly in need.
Image courtesy of worradmu/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
It didn’t matter that I had bought most of the items on sale. I had spent hard-earned money on garbage that moth and rust can and will destroy.
From that day on I started viewing my purchases differently. Before buying something, I began asking myself if we truly needed it. I tried to discern between wants and needs. When I had my lapses in judgment, I knew that I would try harder – especially in 2013.
A few New Year’s resolutions
Now that we’re a week into the New Year, my resolutions are in full swing. As an attempt to help my family’s finances, I’m curbing unnecessary spending. By cutting out purchases we don’t need, we can become better stewards.
Additionally, I’m cleaning everything in our home and ruthlessly sorting through what we need and use – I’ll donate the rest.
Over the past couple weeks I’ve been reading Jen Hatmaker’s 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
Both books have encouraged me to downsize – and Jen Hatmaker’s experiences have particularly spurred me on to scale back on my possessions and give them to people in need.
In what ways can improve stewardship in your life? What are some of your financial goals for this year? How can you loosen your grip on possessions?
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I’ve come to this same conclusion myself recently. Unfortunately, I am a bit older than you. Wish I had realized this years ago and done something about it. Live and learn.
I read 7 last fall and had the same convictions, so much so that God has put it on my heart not to buy ANY clothes this year – new or used. Each year, we donate at least 10 bags of clothes to Goodwill or loved ones, yet we still have too many. (not to mention all of the other things that fill our house)
I don’t think God ever intended for us to live the way we do… with so much excess.
Just wait until tomorrow’s post, Kristy! ;)