He is a big man wielding a big piece of lumber for which he is paid a big salary! Last month Ryan Howard, the first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, signed a five-year, $125 million contract. Let’s put that into perspective: Howard will earn about $35,700 every time he steps up to the plate – hit, walk, or strike out. Can someone say, “Cha-ching”? Ryan may have money to burn, but most of us do not! In fact, judging from the astronomical amount of debt in our country, it appears that what most of us have in common is the challenge of hanging on to what we make. Money comes and money goes! Are there termites in my checkbook?
The secret to spending less is MORE . . . but not more money! Read what God says:
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV)
Termites in the checkbook is usually not a money problem, it is a contentment problem. When we are satisfied with what we have, we don’t need more so we don’t have to borrow to get more. We can begin to exterminate the checkbook termites when we settle on what we really need: more godliness with contentment. Jesus, food, and clothing!
FOCAL POINT: Write, “Remember what you really need” on a post-it today. Then thank God for Jesus, food, clothing.