Income Issues

Whenever I meet with people wanting counsel for their budget, I often hear them say that they just don't have enough income to be able to sustain them. Let's face it; housing is expensive, you need to be able to have transportation to work, and by the time you pay your essential bills, the money is more than gone. No wonder people look to credit cards to sustain them and find it impossible to save.

Every budget can balance if there is spending that is less than income. In order to balance a budget, you can do two things: 1. Increase income or 2. Decrease spending. In this blog, I hope to give you some food for thought on the spending side of your budget.

If we truly believe that God is the owner of everything, then he also must be the provider for the income we have been given to manage. It doesn't mean that there won't be challenges for a steward, but as we rise to the challenges and face them with godly attitudes and responses, God develops our character and we increase our trust in him.

Consider the following questions as you analyze the level of income you have:

1. Is this the income and work that God has given you?
2. Are you completing your work to the best of your ability?
3. Are there other income opportunities you could pursue?
4. Are you working to increase your income opportunities in the future?
5. Is God calling you to be content with the income you have been given?

Many people believe that more income is the answer to their financial problems. Think of all the people running out to buy lottery tickets in hopes of gaining prosperity. I think that the Bible would say that the greater issue is spiritual. As we look to the Lord to provide for our needs and really trust him rather than trusting ourselves, we find that God begins to move in special ways. He may provide for a need through the church or from an unexpected windfall, but if you are sincerely looking to him to sustain you, he will be faithful.

Giving: Our giving back to God a portion of his increase to us is evidence of our trust in him. We don't give to get back, but because he has already given to us. Giving is an act of worship and is our response to God's goodness in our lives. It is a sacrifice of thanksgiving. We will talk more about giving in another blog, but for now, we can say that we return thanks for God's financial, physical and spiritual provision in our lives.

Contentment: Paul said in Philippians 4:12-13 For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means and I also know how to live in prosperity. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I believe that contentment is not something that comes naturally to us. We are naturally selfish and rebellious. Even Paul said he had learned it. Boy, if Paul had to learn it, how much more do I need to learn it. As we practice contentment in what we have been given and look to God to supply all our needs, He does a marvelous work in our hearts and in our financial affairs.

Work: Some people don't have enough income because they have not worked heartily as unto the Lord. When we are slack in our work, it is right that we should not progress along the income scale. God ordained work and gave it to us. Work gives us a sense of mission and purpose. We can know that we have done our part when we do our best and feel confident in going to God to ask him for our provision.

Selfishness: Some people have less because God has seen their mismanagement of what he has given them. God does bless us with increase and when we exhibit faithlessness, he uses our circumstances to correct us and redirect our dependence to him again. When we spend our money selfishly and when we do not give God the credit for our provision, we are acting wickedly and if we belong to him, we can expect that he will respond in loving correction.

Calling: Finally, some people are selected by God to have less. Think about it. We need to have believers at every income strata if we are to be effective witnesses to the world. The large majority of the population have less rather than more, so it would make sense that God would choose his people to live with fewer means so that we can shine as lights in a dark world around us. Jesus lived out his days on earth without significant means. In fact he said that the son of man has no place to lay his head. He didn't even have a home to go to. If he willingly lived this way being God himself, how much more should we also be willing to live for him in whatever level of provision he allows.

Creativity: If income needs to be increased, there may be some creative ways that you can transform your skills and assets into an income stream even if it is for a short period of time to get debts paid down so that you can live within the income you have. Can you transform some of your time into income? A second job may be a short term fix until you can get your spending adjusted. Perhaps there are ways to transform a hobby into income production. With the internet, you don't even have to leave home in some cases to begin a business. As a family work together and talk to your children about ways that you can solve this issue together. Children learn about money management from you, so don't exclude them.

Two Incomes: Our society has come to view two incomes as a necessity, but it does create a significant cost to the family unit. When both parents are working, there is just less at home. There is insufficient time to care for all the children's needs, manage the home, take care of yourself and still have time to devote to growing in the grace and knowledge of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Something has to give. Newlyweds should practice living on one income even if both are working. The second income can be used to build a savings so that when the wife has children, she can be free to care for them in the way that honors God the most. Many couples have expenses and debt so great that they are trapped into having to work two jobs in order to sustain their lifestyle often to the detriment of the children. The home is where our children develop their value system and they learn the value of work, sharing, integrity, honor, and a love for God from the training you give them.

God loves you and wants you to look to him to supply your every need. He is also transforming us into the likeness of his son, so he must chisel off the selfish attitudes and greed in order to grow contented servants. Is Jesus really all you need or do you look to your income to provide a little more?

May God richly bless you as you seek him and as you serve him.