Examine Financial Motives

Have you ever examined your financial motives?  

Many people make daily decisions for earning, spending, saving, investing, borrowing, and even giving without ever considering their motives. Proverbs 16:2 says, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” According to Solomon’s writing, we think our actions are justified, but the Lord looks deep into our spirit. In other words, motives matter.

So here are some questions to consider.  What’s my motive for the work I do? Is it to get rich? To store up a retirement fund so that I can take a long vacation? To eat, drink, and be merry?  Or is it to glorify the Lord by taking care of my family and doing work that pleases him? How about your spending? Do you find yourself wanting the latest gadget, the highest quality, the name brands, because of pride? Or are you careful with spending, recognizing that you’re simply a steward of God’s resources? Why do you want to get out of debt? To have financial freedom to increase your lifestyle and live more comfortably than others? To enjoy materialism with less guilt or lower costs. It’s better to be free from the control of any masters to serve God to the fullest.

We should even examine our motive for giving. Is it to gain something in return, to impress others, to make a name for ourselves? Or to please God and seek the rewards that he promises to cheerful givers? You see, motives matter. Seek to please the Lord, not yourself, in all your financial decisions. 

False motives can cause credit card debt. If you’re struggling, get in touch with Christian Credit Counselors. They can create a debt management plan that will work for you. For more information, visit online at crown.org/ccc.