In God We Trust

I put my trust in God for many things. I pray for guidance, and trust in the way God leads me. I pray for my family—my children in particular—and trust that God has great plans for them that include getting them (and me) through their teenage years. But I have a hard time trusting in God for my financial security. How else can I explain the insecurity I feel, despite the comfortable balance in our bank account?

It’s ironic, given that “In God We Trust” is still on our money, even after the recent redesigns (I checked).

But I have a real fear of … I’m not sure what, exactly.

I’m not stingy with my money. I support my church and the school my children attend, and donate annually to several local and national charitable organizations. But I do have a hard time spending money, and I can’t set up a budget or list our fixed expenses without inducing a panic attack.

Maybe God is providing for me by installing this cautious approach to spending, but I feel like it’s a weak spot in my own faith—like that nagging tightness in my ITB that won’t quite go away.

Most people have heard this passage from 1 Timothy 6:10:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

But 1 Timothy 6: 17, 18 is more meaningful to me:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

It gives me words to live by–or at least to aspire to.

Are you a spender or a saver?