Seeking Financial Freedom Part 15

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

"What is your standard of living?" Well that is what we are talking about this week!! I think we all have an idea of what lifestyle we want to live.....sometimes an unhealthy perspective on what you expect your lifestyle to live leads to making bad financial decisions.

Here is what the books shares (p 139): The Bible does not dictate one particular standard of living for everyone. However, Scripture contains a number of challenging principles that we should consider when choosing our lifestyle.
THINK WITH ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE (p140)
Nurture an eternal perspective. Our culture and the media implore us to focus on the immediate. Advertisers persuade consumers to gratify themselves today with no thought of tomorrow. Examine the following to understand how brief life is on earth compared with eternity:
Our momentary time on earth is but a dot on the time line of eternity. Yet, we have the opportunity to influence eternity by how we handle money today. We have not only the privilege to lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven but also the opportunity to spend on to influence people for Jesus Christ. Gaining eternal perspective and eternal values will have a profound effect on your decision making.
YOU ARE A PILGRIM (p141)
Scripture tells us about our identity and role on earth: First of all, we are citizens of heaven, not earth (Philippians 3:20). Second, we are ambassadors representing Christ on this earth (2 Corinthians 5:20). Third, we are aliens, strangers, and pilgrims on this earth (Hebrews 11:13).
MAKE AN EFFORT TO LIVE SIMPLY (p141-142)
Every possession requires time, attention and often money to maintain it. Too many or the wrong types of possessions can demand so much time, energy, or money that they harm our relationship with the Lord and others.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 " Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need."
WE ARE AT WAR (p142)
"Suffer hardship with me, as a good solider of Christ Jesus. No solider in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a solider." 2 Timothy 2:3-4
RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY (p.142)
In a war you are going to use your most effective weapon. The devil's mission is to divert us from serving Christ. He frequently accomplishes this by tempting us to serve money and possession. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:12
SPEND IN A WAY THAT PLEASES THE LORD (p142)
Prayerfully submit spending decisions to the Lord. Everything we possess is owned by the Lord, and we should spend to please Him and not for selfish purpose. Seeking the Lord's direction in spending does not mean that we will never spend for anything other than a basic necessity. Recreation, appropriate leisure activities and rest are important.
DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS (p142)
Some use comparison to justify spending more they should. Someone once said, "You can never keep up with the Joneses. Just about the time you catch them, they refinance their home and go deeper in debt to buy more things!"

SOCIETY SAYS: Acquire as many expensive possessions as possible because they are evidence you are successful, important person.
SCRIPTURE SAYS: The excessive accumulation of possessions will distract you from fulfilling God's purpose for your life.