One of the first casualties of the Fall was humankind’s ability to be honest with ourselves. When God questioned Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they immediately denied their responsibility for their sin. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.
Most of us struggle with this too. It feels bad when we disappoint others or ourselves. It’s easier to shift the blame for our mistakes and avoid taking responsibility for whether we are living up to our ideals. One way this can show up is when we deceive ourselves about how spiritually mature we are.
But there is one area of our lives that will always tell us the truth.
The story our bank account tells.
If we care to listen, our bank account will tell us a lot about our spiritual state. Spending time looking through our spending, saving, and investment history will tell us:
1. Where our priorities lie.
The first thing we notice when we look at our finances is where our priorities lie. There is often discrepancy between what we believe we have prioritized and what we really value. Observing our spending, saving, and giving habits will reveal what matters most to us.
2. How generous we are.
Most people want to think of themselves as charitable, but the proof is in the numbers. Looking at how much we spend on helping others—or giving to churches and nonprofits that do—will tell us a lot about our generosity.
3. How we see the future.
Our finances will also tell us a lot about our view of the future. If we are pessimistic about the future and feel like it is our responsibility to make sure we are going to be safe and secure, our bank account will alert us.
True motives and priorities.
All of these areas come together to reveal something about our stewardship. As Christians, we believe that God owns everything and we are to manage (steward) those resources. We certainly like to think of ourselves as good stewards, and our bank accounts will tell us the truth. Jesus often spoke about money and the way it impacts our hearts because how we use the assets in our lives provides a clear reflection of our motives, desires, and priorities.
Spirituality touches every aspect of our lives. It would be false for us to say “I am spiritually mature, but it does not impact my relationships or finances.” Our financial choices also intersect with every area of our lives, so taking time to evaluate the record of our spending, saving, and investing can be viewed like a regular spiritual checkup.
What do your finances tell you?
