Thursday, October 15, 2009

What are your guidlines?

I woke up this morning, with having this on my mind all night.
We are doing a financial study at my church right now, and last night this question was asked...
What are your guidlines? I had a hard time finding the words at that moment to express what was on my mind.
See, we are talking about giving, which God always challenges me with.

I currently have this elaborate system that I've created where I give a set percentage of tythes, offerings, mission, benevolents, etc... it comes out first of all my monies, its routine and set. Anything I have after that is MINE and I realized that I am somewhat putting God in a box with the access to HIS money that I am managing for him.

I've heard stories of how some people flip this idea by choosing to live with a certain about of money and ALL the rest going to God. I love this idea. Some people are millionaires and choose to live on minimum wage, while some might choose to live on $50,000 a year and the rest to God. This amount would greatly vary from one person to the next.

How could you decide?

What would be your guidelines?

How big of a house would you have to maintain, how big of car, how many cars, how many vacations , etc...

Now, currently Im honestly living over my budget...but I hope to be able to change that soon. I am going to be praying about having a budget that i am easily capable of reaching. Also, setting guidlines and if God blesses me with more , it will be all his, really.

My guidlines will be something like this:
having a house in a decent school zone
having a newer car (mini van actually)
having a/c in home and car
dishwasher
interent
laptop
washer/dryer in home
have a reasonable amount in savings and retirement plan
health insurance
weekly supply of healthy food

Now, I find my guidlines quite simple......when I compare them to others. I dont need a $500 purse, $100 shoes, $300 sunglasses, expensive vacations, expenisive jewelry, pets treated better than humans , or many other pet peeves that I see in others. : ) ! Yeah, I'm pretty good at judging people.

I also find it simple to live with less when I dont have much. I dont have to make these choices of having a $500 purse or going on an expensive vacation.......... I wonder if I need have these choices if I would be the same way or would be guidlines have to change??

But.........I ask myself this......
Would my sisters in Africa like my guidlines. You know, the ones that dont eat every day. I would be really embarrassing if i had to say..."Sister, these are my guidelines of needs/wants that i have to meet , but everything I have in excess of that I will give you a small percentage so you can feed your children some rice this week"

Come on.....really?

I pray for God to search me, really search me, keep me with a clear head and with a focus on treasures in heaven. I dont want my rewards here on earth. I want to set my self apart fand be different. I want to in what will last. I dont want to be a slave to money. Please help me to not want earthly treasures and to desire my treasures in heaven

4 comments:

James 1:27 Family said...

Very inspiring and thought-provoking. We doing the same soul-searching as we prepare to adopt a child from Africa.

Thanks for the post!

Blessings!
Amy

Brandi said...

You make me weep sweet friend. I adore you more than you could EVER know! I love your heart.

Bran

Anonymous said...

:o) This is a great post. Thanks for sharing.

Praying will certainly transform you from the inside out about guidelines. I'm a hoarder and collector and keeper of sentimental things and have lived a life placing value in things. I used to be afraid of losing my house or my truck or anything that I find is a necessity, but in the past year or two, He has slowly changed my heart. I still have a lot of stuff to work through, but my heart is in a place that if it was all taken away tomorrow, I'd be okay with living in a hut. Here in the states I feel like I need to have newer clothes and such to not feel frumpy...but I only feel frumpy when standing next to those who have more. If I was standing next to someone who has two shirts or dresses and lives in one while washing the other, I'd feel differently. We live in a culture of abundance and it clouds our vision so heavily. Jesus was a simple man. He was never without a home or clothes or food because His Father provided the things He needed. The same is true for us. The things we REALLY need...will always be provided for us. That being said, He also provides fun stuff, too. If we choose to live a life of discipleship, it doesn't mean losing everything we've ever known. It means allowing more room for amazing blessings that we would never expect. Gifts to me are so much sweeter than obtaining things for myself. I was blessed with a vacation this year and I've been unemployed for almost a year. Everything was taken care of for me to go to Kauai for a week. Everything taken care of with no effort of my own. Totally God. Totally awesome. :o) I'll post a blog about it soon.

Anonymous said...

Hey Amy,
Thanks for the dose of fresh perspective. You inspire me!

Allison Fullerton