First of all a refresher on what contentment is: “happiness with one’s situation in life”. Do you know anyone who is content with money? It is not that they have everything or too much money that they are content, but that they have enough.
“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” – Jonathan Swift
This is a very good statement that was shot across my tweetdeck this week. As I ponder it’s meaning, I find it very true and fitting. For one to be wise with money is not to be consumed by money. To be consumed would be discontentment, because you would not be happy in your current situation.
Lets look at some signs that you might have “money in the heart.”
- Dept – being a slave to your dept might consume your thoughts.
- Wanting more – Always thinking that you will be happier on the other side of the money fence.
- Greed – Care more about money that people.
- Selfish hording – The mine attitude.
- Jealous thoughts – Different than greed, because you would not hurt anyone, except in your heart.
Seems we have many laws in the world to protect us from people trying to take our money. Many brothers and sisters fighting about money left behind by their parents. Marriages broken up because of money and that means children left as pawns to money fights.
What is the solution? I think it has many layers. Examine my heart to make sure there is not green in it. Daily review my activities to make sure greed was not controlling my actions. Consider myself a manager of money that God has entrusted me with. Eliminate dept and make money work for you instead of working for money. If you need help, maybe follow Dave Ramsey’s, “Financial Peace University.“
This does not mean that we should not plan. You need to have control of money and not let it control you. More is not better, but learn to say that you have enough. Save little by little to get what you want instead of get now pay later attitude our society has now.
What have you done in your life that you can share about finding contentment in your finances?
Leave a Comment Here's Your Chance to Be Heard!