Walking with God Through Financial Hardships.

A mindset of godly Contentment

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:7-8

The world looks at contentment as satisfaction or fulfillment resulting from a given cause for the most part. While that could be true, Paul the Apostle teaches believers to look at contentment in a different way. Many of us cannot see how blessed we are due to the unnecessarily high and worldly standards we have set for ourselves. So, the question is, what happens when hard times come our way? We spiral and claim that we are suffering while losing balance and peace in the process. Paul’s response to hard times is quite intriguing, however.

While doing a study on Paul’s life, I realized that the standard set by Scripture regarding contentment is rather “low.” So much so that many of us today would reject it as faithlessness. This mindset, however, produced in Paul a steadfastness and heart of thanksgiving that many believers fail to emulate. Let’s explore Paul’s perspective a little deeper. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Paul encourages the believer that if he/she has food and clothing, he/she ought to be content with that. Food and clothing! Can you imagine that? Paul is basically saying that if one has food to eat and clothing to wear, one has enough to be content. 

Paul makes this even better with another extraordinary statement in Philippians 4:11-13,¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul clearly expresses contentment even whilst he is hungry (in times of scarcity or lack). His happiness and satisfaction are not tied to his physical well-being.

I believe that Paul calls this a secret in Christ because this is not something easy to do and it is only done when strengthened by Christ alone. Many believers have never paused to fathom the level of contentment Paul is expressing in these passages. How can one be content with a bowl of beans for dinner? How can one be content with wearing the same set of clothes to work? This is possible and this is how; You can do it through Christ who gives you strength.  Are you content in Christ or do you keep complaining and lusting for more?

Prayer: Gracious Father, forgive me for not being content with what you have already done and given through your son. Forgive me for grumbling and being blinded by an attitude of jealousy and selfishness. Please give me the grace and strength to be content in you and what you have provided for me.

Amen.

What godly Contentment is not.

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’  Matthew 25:24

Many people have a difficult time understanding contentment because the devil is always ready to offer up certain deceptions, disguising them as prudence or self-preservation. Today’s Scripture highlights one servant in the parable of the talents who fell prey to these two counterfeits; defeatism and laziness. It is important to understand the difference so that we too do not fall prey.

Defeatism says “Why even bother, I can never amount to more than this.” It is an expectation to fail that creates hopelessness and laziness to pursue anything in the guise of “this is what I was given” or “this is my portion”. Defeatism is being knocked down and failing to get up again. Defeatism can be born out of fear as is the case here. The servant claimed he knew his master was a hard man and then let fear drive his decision-making. Do we find ourselves reacting the same way when we are faced with tough situations for example being laid off from work or seeing our businesses collapse? Isn’t it tempting to stop trying because you do not want to experience that sense of failure again? Question is, how useful is having that mindset? 

Scripture calls on us to be content and choose not to be defeated. Even when those tough times come,  encourage yourself to be motivated, seek inspiration, and continue looking for ways to be productive. The servant killed his chances for growth and productivity the moment he decided that there was no point making any effort. 

The second counterfeit is laziness. Tim Challies in his book “Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity” says “as you study the sluggard throughout Proverbs you will see that he is a man who refuses to begin new ventures, a man who will not finish what he has begun, a man who will not face reality and, through it all, a man who is restless, helpless, and useless.” Are you looking for every excuse not to work? The servant in this parable found an excuse not to do the necessary work. 

Laziness is not just a bad habit, it goes against God’s created order. God created human beings to work and be productive.  This is a true representation of the image of God manifest in both males and females. We are created to take care of people and of all creation, to plan, to be productive, to protect, and to be creative, whether it is at home, at work, in church, or anywhere else. Being a representative of God on this earth means being involved in purposeful work.

So then, what does contentment actually mean? It means not losing your peace based on what you have or don’t have. It means not losing faith in God or being disappointed in God even in the most difficult times. It means you will not get restless and will not be driven by pressure to lie, steal, cheat, or degrade yourself to better your circumstances.  

Contentment means that the fullness of your heart will not fluctuate with the times and that your joy will not deplete with your bank balance. It means you will see the bounty of God whether you are having tea for supper or a five-course meal. It means you will continue to believe and proclaim God’s goodness and serve him wholeheartedly no matter where you stand. When you find yourself in times of scarcity, silence every other voice and choose godly contentment.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to be content, but above all, remind me that you still require me to work wholeheartedly and faithfully. May I grow to be a better steward of what you have given me. Keep me away from the enemy’s deception as I lay my burdens and cares upon you in Christ’s name. May I find rest and stability in you even as I seek to grow and provide for my loved ones, Amen

An un-renewed secular mind.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6 

I am certain we have all gone through terrible seasons that make you wonder how much more you can possibly take. What kind of mindset ought one to possess going through such seasons? Is it a godly mindset or is it a secular mindset? What do both mindsets look like? Today, I thought we could look at the secular mindset and how toxic it can turn out to be. It slowly becomes poisonous and if not checked will end up corrupting you and your relationships. This mindset is manifested in a form of false positivity and or total negativity.

False positivity is a corrupted optimism and mindset that denies reality. This is seen in the way a person chooses not to talk about the situation they are in because they believe the conversation will get them depressed. Such people can also be superstitious and believe that if one says something negative in that given situation, it will happen to them? Such positivity is comforting for a moment but it is very dangerous. “Mentioning or not mentioning it” will not take the issue away but hinders an honest authentic relationship with both the Lord and those close to you. This isn’t the way to deal with difficult times. 

The second manifestation is seen in total negativity. This mindset will very likely snuff out one’s faith and trust in the Lord. This person owns their struggles as a new identity. They are incapable of seeing how anything is ever going to work out, always dwelling on the troubles and predicting more troubles to come. These kinds of people also play the victim and blame everyone else for the situations they find themselves in. This creates a heavy sense of hopelessness and turns away one’s eyes from one true God who is able to help. 

What is the biblical and Godly mindset? 1 Peter 5:7 encourages us, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” A biblical response to trying times does not deny one’s troubles nor is it overwhelmed by them. All things ought to be taken to God in prayer. Philippians 4:6 says,  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

  God has set up our relationship with him in such a way that it is important that we actually bring our concerns to him. I have learnt this lesson well from watching my own children. When children are scared, hurt, or worried their childlike faith drives them straight to their parents. This is a mindset that we all need to emulate.  To the toxic positivity person, I ask,  How can you bring your anxieties to God if you cannot even acknowledge that they exist? And to the pessimist, I ask, how can you say you trust God if you cannot let go and entrust him with your anxieties?

The prophet Isaiah calls Jesus a wonderful comforter. Cultivate a relationship with God where he is your comforter. Casting our anxieties to God is as straightforward as it sounds. It is as simple as confiding in God and telling him, God I am scared, I am angry, I am stressed, I am confused. I am hurt, I am in pain. The scriptures actually have a word for this; Lamentation. The prayers of lamentation in the bible are there to demonstrate to us that God expects us to take our pain to him. 

When we read such prayers, for example in the book of Lamentations or Psalms, they seem rather hard to digest but consider these two things.  First, they are directly addressed to God and secondly,  they conclude by expressing a deep faith in him. Prayers of Lament are a radical expression of trust in our Father and God. This is an example we all desperately need to emulate. Do not avoid and do not despair. Trust in God so deeply that you take everything to him. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you that I can come to you with anything, teach me to have such deep confidence in you that I avoid all toxic mindsets. Amen.

In the past few days, we have focused on our attitude and mindset and how to pray and relate with God during times of financial lack. Now we are going to build on these with actions. How do you become “doers” as the bible puts it? 

Become the voice of peace and contentment in your home. 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4: 29

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18 -20

We need to be intentional about what we model for our household, in both our words and our actions.  In the scriptures above, Paul is teaching us that communication matters especially in difficult times. Your communication and behaviour can be the difference between peace and strife in your home. Here are four ways you can practically apply these scriptures to your home in tough times.

1. 1. Choose to be one that encourages: Is your spouse writing hundreds of job applications that yield nothing? Be the fuel, keep them going when they want to give up.
   2. Choose to worship through it all: During financially stressful seasons, one of the first things to leave the home is worship. How can I praise on an empty stomach? How can I rejoice with an eviction notice? How can my children be joyful when we can’t afford their favourite things anymore? How can we sing of God’s goodness when it seems hidden? These are sincere questions that could come up, especially from your children. Choose to praise and worship God amidst these questions. This choice ought to encourage your family to celebrate God’s unchanging truth of His presence and provision in those times. Open those hymn books, crank up that music, sing by yourself until they join you. Testify of the Lord’s goodness and His very presence even in those seasons. 

1. 1. Choose to always appreciate: Shower your family with praise.  When your husband comes home with beans on a day when he used to come home with chicken, be quick and extravagant with your heartfelt appreciation. Do not let any efforts go unnoticed. If your children come up with new ideas for having fun, praise their creativity and thank them for their thoughtfulness.  The point in all this is to make your home the oasis in your desert season. Let them feel appreciated for any efforts.

1. 1. Choose to walk in thanksgiving: Paul encourages the believer to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:18). It takes a lot of grace and strength to be thankful especially when there seems to be nothing to be thankful for.   Thanksgiving isn’t dependent on the situation one finds themselves in. It is an encouragement from the Lord. Interestingly, the more we give thanks and look to God, we will see more of what God has done. 

Payer: Our wonderful Father, we are grateful because no season happens to us that you are unaware of. Help us to rest in the knowledge that you are aware of all situations and walk in thanksgiving that your presence will work out all things for our God. Amen

Creativity in the day of crisis.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:21

The wife in Proverbs 31 is inspirational and admirable because of her creativity. She sees possibilities and opportunities everywhere. Beyond seeing them, she pursues them. The kind of Parent that inspires such confidence from their spouse and children is the one who seems to always have an answer for everything. I mean, we know that we do not in fact have an answer for everything but we mustn’t be afraid to stretch that creativity muscle. Are your kids bored? Take time to look for entertainment activities that cost nothing. Has your menu changed? Find out how many different ways you can use the ingredients you have. Is your favorite restaurant no longer an option? Send the kids to the grandparents or to a friend and have a date night at home.  Some of my favourite memories have been created at a street food stand with the madness of Kampala city going on in the background. 

Creativity can also be applied to finding new sources of income. Have you been laid off from your corporate job? Explore your hobbies. They say “necessity is the mother of invention.”  This is true. You can choose to see your moment of need as an opportunity to think in ways you have never done before. 

When God called Moses, Moses simply could not see how he could make it in the face of someone as powerful as Pharaoh the Egyptian king. God asked him one simple question: What is in your hands? Then he went ahead to use his basic shepherding stick to change history forever.  When you look around you and all you see is simple, basic, or ordinary, take it as a challenge, be creative, and see what God can do through you.

The ability to “laugh at the days to come,” is birthed in these continued moments of creativity. In the ability to look at what you have and perceive endless potential and possibility. Thankfully God our creator, is the ultimate source of creativity, ask Him for help and then start manifesting that gift of God. You will thrive in trying times and end up laughing through it as well.

PrayerHeavenly Father, when there existed nothing, your creativity perceived the earth and all its beauty, the universe and all its wonders, and all the ages of time. and you made it a reality. Grant me your spirit of creativity in times when all seems empty and bleak so that my life may continually experience your joy and your bounty. Amen

Is there help out there? 

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32 

The early church is a shining example of communal support. While they often gathered and worshiped together, they also cared for each other to the point that nobody lacked a thing. This is what the church community is supposed to be for all of us; a place where nobody feels like help is beyond their reach.

Sadly, we find ourselves in church communities that make it extremely difficult for a person in need to ask for help. There should be no shame in asking for help. God never shames those in need; He loves them, He protects them, He defends them, He advocates for them, and He identifies with them. He calls them to himself and opens his arms to receive them.  This is what the early church exemplified and manifested as the body of Christ. 

So why does society, and especially the church continue to shame, ignore, and even condemn those in need? It is because we have developed a “superiority” mindset as we give to those in need. This is manifested in what we give; we give what is disposable, old, worn-out, and no longer worthy of our homes. When we receive requests for help, we are irritated, judgemental, and give based on feeling a sense of pity rather than compassion. I used to be one of those people and if your life has been comfortable to this point, you are probably like that as well. 

When my husband and I joined full-time graduate school at the same time, God made it very clear to us that in order to succeed in our studies, we were going to depend on others for our survival. At first, I was ashamed to ask for help because I recalled the mindset that I had when I was in the position to give. However, God encouraged me with these words, “You are still a member of the body of Christ, despite this present season where you are on the receiving end.” Immediately, I repented of my attitude and started receiving with joy, and asking for help when I needed it. 

We often misinterpret Paul’s observation that it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) by concluding that receiving is ungodly. This is not true. The comparative word there, “better” indicates that receiving is good. The same God who instructs Christians to give ordains that there should be people to receive what is given. So if you find yourself in a season where you are on the receiving end, have no shame, ask for all the help you need. Psalm 24:1 reminds us that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Christ has chosen, among many ways, to provide for His body,  through its very members, the brothers, and sisters in Christ. So have no shame in receiving from the hand of God through the church community,

Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father you own all things and for this, we are eternally grateful. You have however allowed us to be your hands and feet to each other and the dying world. Help us to give gracefully and wholeheartedly but let us also ask for help and receive joyfully when we are in need. Amen

Let no trial go to waste

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

If you ask, “why is this happening,” no light may come but if you ask, “How am I to glorify God now,” there will always be an answer. JI Packer.  

Often, we find ourselves in situations that do not make sense. For instance, doing everything right as an entrepreneur then, a global pandemic hits that bankrupts your business. It can be confusing, but God has all the answers. He has answers to questions we have not even asked.  We do need to understand that the answers will not always be made clear to us. Sometimes, God will reveal the answers but other times, His silence that is undesirable will speak louder. In such confusing and uncertain seasons, one truth stands consistent; every trial presents a learning opportunity. 

Every trial presents an opportunity to learn, unlearn, grow, teach, and take on new directions as one gains the strength to reinvent one’s self. Most importantly to glorify God.  

Allow me to share with you two clear learning or growth opportunities Scripture reveals to us. First, trials are an opportunity to be disciplined and have a character built in us by our heavenly Father. The epistle of Hebrews 12:7-8, 11 tells us, “Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?  If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children…. 11 Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” 

As a child, I recall being disciplined by my parents and I occasionally wondered why they were making me suffer.  Our parents knew that this discipline was for our good and was therefore a necessity because they loved us. I am always amazed by people who say, “God loves me and so I cannot suffer”.  This Scripture reveals that a life devoid of painful and unpleasant situations signifies illegitimacy as a true child. So take this opportunity and seek God to find out how He would want you to grow during this difficult time. 

Secondly, trials lead to growth. Trials are the crucibles in which we mature as Christians.  James 1 clearly shows that trials are a testing of our faith that eventually lead to perseverance and then maturity. Romans 5 says suffering produces perseverance and character and hope.  When you find yourself in the midst of a difficult time, take extra care to make sure you do not squander an opportunity for maturity as a Christian. Even while we understand little about the questions you have, pray for the ability to discern your opportunity to mature and glorify God at the end of it all.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to discern the opportunities being presented to me in the midst of tough times so that I will be disciplined and become mature in the way you would require. Amen!