Olympic athletes train hard. 

We usually don’t see the sacrifices Olympic athletes make. They commit to endless workouts and missed opportunities to master their sport with the goal of making the team and winning a medal. Many have to work second jobs, rely on sponsors, or train with limited resources. They believe the goal is worth the cost.

Now, how badly do you want to get out of debt, buy a house, or stay home with your children? Are you willing to set a goal with a realistic deadline and pay the price to get there? Write it down, post it, and get started. This is step number one, and don’t skip it.

Most people drift into financial hardship, spending money on convenience, impulse, entertainment, or the pressure to keep up. Unlike Olympic training, those costs usually don’t lead to meaningful rewards. One of my grandsons wants to make the high school golf team. So, he’s working with a trainer and sacrificing social time so he can improve. He has a specific goal, and his parents are encouraging his effort.

Another grandson is saving to buy a car. He’s only six years old, but he saves birthday money and other sources of income to be ready to purchase one. Training also requires saying “no” to something, even something good, in order to say “yes” to something better.

Get into financial training like an Olympian. The Apostle Paul said it well in 1 Corinthians 9: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.” So, set your goal and get started!

Now, this September, we’re celebrating all that God has done through Crown over the last 50 years. Come join us September the 10th through the 12th in beautiful Knoxville, Tennessee. Learn more at crown.org/50years.