Suggested spending
guidelines
There may be some of us in the congregation who have amassed sufficient financial resources such that they can and do purchase whatever their heart desires without regard to price or season. They are blessed.
There are others of us, however, who need to be more discriminating in what and how we purchase. We too are blessed. But for those of us in the latter category, I would like to suggest some spending guidelines that might enable us to someday enter the ranks of the former category.
When considering buying something, anything, first consider (1) Do I need it?
Why do I need a big screen TV in a one bedroom apartment? Why do I need a Land Rover when I have a landlord?
(2) What are the alternatives? Do I really need to buy one? Can I rent it, borrow it or trade for or it or, here is a novel thought …can I do without it?
(3) Is the price right? When we get it in our heads that we want something so bad, all rationale goes out the door and price becomes no object. Does it make sense to pay hundreds of dollars for sneakers to play in the mud in and that will be outgrown in 6 months? In business they do a thing called cost benefit ratio.
(4) Have I asked the Lord? How many times have we prayed for something and decided that the Lord is not working fast enough for us and we take matters into our own hands. If He has not provided the money, we borrow it, charge it or participate in exotic interest only agreements that only prolong the inevitable not remedy it.
(5) Why do I want it? In a discussion this seems like a no brainer, but how many of us have made purchases of items and never worn it , used it or even removed the price tag.. It is the I will purchase the suit or dress and the occasion to wear it will com?
(6) Talk it over. Get an accountability partner. Your spouse/ relative/ mentor/ trusted friend. Get a second opinion to your responses to these questions. Do they make sense to an unbiased party?
(7) Wait until the right time. If all your responses are yes, then wait until the right time;
a. Until you have saved up enough money to purchase or make a down payment
b. Wait for a sale or the off season
c. Wait until the hype has died down.
d. Wait on God’s reply
God always hears us and will always answer us. And the amazing thing about His reply is that: If we could see it the way He sees it from beginning to end, we would’nt have it any other way.
But most important of all is that God loves you and there is not a thing you can do about it.
