Ask someone about their financial problems, and you’ll likely hear a list of issues:

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be debt-free”

“I’m sick of living paycheck to paycheck”

“We are worried we’ll outlive our retirement savings”

“If my husband (or wife) would stop spending money, we wouldn’t be so stressed all the time”

The most common financial issues that Americans face include not being able to pay medical bills, making it to the end of the month, or unable to retire due to a lack of savings. And these concerns stretch across religious, ethnic, and gender demographics. Research has indicated that there’s not much of a difference between the way Christians spend their money, and the way the rest of the world spends their money.  

Then you look at marriage. For many, mixing money and marriage is like oil and water…they just don’t go together. Finances are a leading cause for divorce, the delay of marriage, and not getting married at all. Try to find a couple that hasn’t ever disagreed about money.

My marriage was no different. My wife and I spent 21 years of our marriage in disagreement about money. We had arguments, ongoing stress, and made mistakes because I didn’t agree with her and she didn’t agree with me. I was the spender, she was the saver. We loved each other, but were far from being unified when it came to our finances.

So why is it that when it comes to money in marriage, we have such a hard time getting on the same page?

Well, in a word: Philosophy.

If you had told me during those first 21 years of my marriage that my wife and I need to talk about “philosophy” to get on the same page about our money, I would have rolled my eyes and shrugged it off. “Philosophy” was just something stuffy old professors cared about and it didn’t apply to me, my marriage, or my money.

The turning point in our marriage came when my wife lovingly convinced me to join a Crown Bible study. Talking about my marriage and finances in a group of other people sounded like just about the worst thing I could think of, but I went. And things started to change. One day, my wife gently asked me, “Do you agree with God’s teaching on money?” I said, “Yes. I agree with God.” She then said, “Good! If you agree with God, then I can agree with you!”

We quit competing about our preferences, and started unifying under God’s plan.

See, whether or not we know it, each of us have a philosophy about money. It’s not necessarily some lofty, theological mindset that sounds like it came out of a graduate seminar. It’s a compilation of our thoughts, ideas, plans, dreams, concepts, beliefs, and principles that together dictate our actions.

God designed us to act upon what we believe. So if we believe the wrong things about money, we are bound to behave wrongly as well. But, if we believe the right things about God, His plan, and His purpose for our marriage and finances, it will change everything.

Stated another way, the problem is not how much money you make, what’s in your savings account, or the amount of debt you have. Those are your behaviors which are a  results of your beliefs. The problem is the financial lies you believe. Disunity with your spouse occurs because you’re treating the wrong thing. You’re trying to put a bandaid on a broken leg, and it’s never going to fix the real problem.

Healing happens when you align your philosophy with one another and Scripture. You and your spouse start speaking the same language. You start prioritizing the same things. It’s no longer an attitude of “I’m right, and she’s wrong”. It’s “This is what the Bible says, and we are going to agree to live our lives according to this truth.”

To experience lasting change, we must embrace the truth of a new belief, then to act upon it to change our behaviors.

As it says in Proverbs, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”.

My wife and I are passionate about helping couples find the same unity and peace that we found in our marriage. We recently released a book together, called Money Problems, Marriage Solutions. There’s a whole chapter devoted to developing a Biblical philosophy of money together. Get your copy here.

Everyone wants a career they’re satisfied with. But it’s one of the great mysteries of the working world — what’s the secret to a satisfying career?

In our experience, the answer tends to surprise people.

Author, leadership expert, and co-founder of GiANT Jeremie Kubicek put it best when he said, “You have to know yourself to lead yourself.”

In other words, the key to a satisfying career is self-awareness.

So many people who are struggling in work — whether it’s being stuck in a job they hate or not knowing the next best step to take in their career — are struggling because they lack a true understanding of who they are in the workplace. They don’t truly understand their strengths and weaknesses, so they spend a lot of time doing what they think they’re “supposed” to do, working outside of their zone of genius, or striving to be someone they’re not.

And that, my friend, is the recipe for a dissatisfying career.

If you want to be happy and fulfilled with your career, it’s not about doing what everyone else is doing or what someone told you you had to do in order to be “successful”. It’s about understanding how you can use your unique skills and gifts — the things that only you can bring to the table — to build a career that feels right for you.

Everyone — including you — is a completely unique person with their own unique blend of talents, skills, preferences, and strengths. If you can harness your own innate uniqueness and use it as a guiding force in your career, not only will you be successful — but you’ll be happy, too. Think of it as working in your “business sweet spot”: when your job is aligned with your natural talents, gifts, and preferences, you’ll be in the right zone to get things done — and have a good time while you’re doing them.

Think about it like this: if you put a Clydesdale in the Kentucky Derby, it would fail miserably. Because racing isn’t a good use of a Clydesdale’s unique gifts and talents. But if you put a Clydesdale to work out in the field? It’ll put all those racing horses to shame, because that’s the work it was uniquely created to do.

The key for you to have a successful, satisfying career is to find the work you were uniquely created to do. And the way to find that work is through self-awareness.

How Self-Awareness Can Lead to a More Satisfying Career

Here are 3 ways self-awareness can lead to a more satisfying career:

1. It Will Lead to Both Success and Fulfillment

Having a satisfying career is not just about financial success or moving up the corporate ladder. It’s about waking up every morning and feeling good about what you’re doing.

Fulfillment in your career is just as important as success. And when you gain self-awareness and understand what type of career is the best fit for your unique set of skills and talents, you’ll be able to create a career that offers both success AND fulfillment.

It’s like the one-two punch of career satisfaction.

2. It Helps You Figure Out How You Fit in a Team

No matter what career path you decide to pursue, you’ll have to work within a team. And when you learn how to become more self-aware, you’ll gain invaluable insights into how you can best work with other people and fit into a team — and what kind of team would be the best fit for you.

When you really know and understand yourself, you’ll get a better sense of how you best work with other people. Having a strong sense of self-awareness will also help you communicate better with the people on your team; when a team isn’t working, it’s most often because the different personalities on the team don’t know how to communicate and work together towards a common goal. But when you know yourself, it’s easier to know other people, and you can work to create a more positive, open, communicative working environment that will feel more satisfying to you — not to mention everyone else on your team.

Cultivating self-awareness will also help you choose a team that is the right fit for you; when you know your goals and values, you can seek out a team that aligns with those goals and values.

3. It Helps You Understand What Motivates You

The consensus in the working world is that most people are motivated by money; pay people a lot of money, and they’ll be more satisfied at work.

But not everyone is motivated by money (in fact, according to motivation expert Daniel Pink, money can actually be de-motivating to certain people). People are motivated by all sorts of different things, and understanding what motivates you will help you choose a career path that will keep you excited and engaged every day.

For example, maybe you’re motivated by a sense of community in the workplace. Or maybe you’re motivated by a strong corporate mission or a generous time-off policy that allows you to pursue your passions outside of work… Whatever the case, when you understand what you’re motivated by, it allows you to align yourself with a career or company that offers that type of motivation, which will make you more satisfied and more successful.

Developing Self-Awareness

Here’s the tricky thing about self-awareness: if you were never taught how to develop self-awareness, you might not know you’re missing it. But there are some definite telltale signs to look out for.

The first is finding yourself in a continuous state of frustration at work. If something just feels “off”, or you’re completely disconnected and disengaged, you’re not connected with who you are and what you want at work.

The second is finding yourself dealing with the same conflicts over and over. For example, we used to work with someone who was extremely direct — sometimes to a fault. His directness was continually perceived as aggressive and caused conflict with his team, but he had no idea why. He honestly didn’t realize his directness might be perceived as negative — he just didn’t have the self-awareness, and as a result, he kept facing needless conflict.

But if you worry you’re lacking self-awareness, it’s okay! There are steps you can take to get to know yourself better:

Get The Perspective of a Friend

Sometimes, we’re so close to our own situation that we can’t see the forest for the trees. In those cases, getting an outsider’s perspective can be super helpful.

Find out how the world perceives you. Ask people you know and trust how they would describe you. Ask them what they feel your strengths and weaknesses are.

Understanding how others see you can help you see things about yourself you might have missed.

Pause

One of the trademark qualities of people with a strong self-awareness is their ability to pause and understand how their actions might affect other people. They have a keen ability to put themselves in other people’s shoes and look at things through their eyes.

If you want to cultivate a sense of self-awareness, next time you find yourself in a conflict, pause and put yourself in the other person’s shoes. How are they reacting to you and why? When you understand how you’re received, you can better understand your behaviors, where they’re coming from — and, if necessary, how to change them.

Take a Personality Assessment

Everyone is blind to aspects of their personality. Even the best athletes need coaches to improve. In business/life/career, success means we need the same type of coach to help us see our blind spots but also the areas where we can have the greatest success.

Many people have spent so much time doing what others said they should do they no longer are able to see their gifts and skills. The personality assessment helps us to see ourselves from a “different angle” and thus a new perspective.

Developing self-awareness is crucial to building a career you love. If you’re ready to take the next step and figure out the career that’s right for you, make sure to check out Crown’s Career Direct Guidance System.

You may be surprised by this, but I carry a credit card. Many people ask my why I would endorse using a credit card because so many have been led to believe they’re evil and only lead to destruction.

I see it this way: credit cards, just like any other form of currency, are neither good nor evil. In their essence, they’re just a piece of plastic that allows the user 30 days of free credit. The real issue is two pronged: It’s how we use them that gives them purpose – to be productive or harmful. And, whether or not the user has self-control.   

There are many horror stories of the misuse of credit cards leading to stress, anxiety, financial strain, and bankruptcy. These stories are heartbreaking and I am passionate about keeping people away from the dangers of financial bondage.

But I would suggest that the misuse comes from the one using the credit card, not the plastic itself. When you or I make a mistake with a credit card, it’s easy to blame it, to call it “evil”, and to write it off altogether.

 The truth is, the root problem that motivates us to misuse the card is what’s evil.

The greed, insecurity, impatience or lack of self-control that prompts us to make unwise decisions is what needs to be written off, cut up, and cancelled. But in order to do that, we must align our hearts, not just our budgets, with Scripture.

What The Bible Says

See, our problems with money never stem from having too much or too little. Overspending, accumulating debt, or experiencing stress about money are just symptoms of the real root issues – our attitudes and beliefs. In essence, what you believe about money and how you behave with money needs to match up.

God deeply cares about you, and your finances. There are more verses in the Bible about money than there are about heaven and hell combined. Aligning your heart with Scripture will mean that your finances are likely to be in line with Scripture as well.

Matthew tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

So where do you take the first step? How do you start aligning your beliefs and behaviors about money with Scripture? Crown’s online MoneyLife Personal Finance Study was created with you in mind, to help you accomplish this. It takes a deep dive into what the Bible says about money, and how to take practical steps in all aspects of your finances –  giving, saving, investing, and spending. It will help you understand not only how to use credit cards the right way, but how to have the right attitude towards your money in general.

If you’re already experiencing the stress and strain of overwhelming credit card debt, get in touch with our partners at Christian Credit Counselors.

Using A Credit Card The Right Way

Remember, the responsibility of a credit card lies with the user, not the issuer of the card, or the card itself. For this reason, my wife and I have strict rules about how we use our cards. Here are the guidelines we follow, and my advice for anyone looking to use a card the right way:

1. Never charge more on your card than you’ll be able to pay in full at the end of the month (a budget is the best way to help with this).
2. Pay your balance in full every month.  
3. If you don’t pay the balance in full at the end of a month, don’t use the card again until you have paid your full balance.
4. Only carry 1 card.
5. Chose a card with good benefits (airline miles, cash back rewards, etc.). You can find some helpful lists at Bankrate.com or CreditCards.com
6. Don’t use your credit card for emergencies, or think of it as a fall-back for emergencies. Save so you can pay for surprise expenses in cash (that’s why we recommend having an Emergency Savings Fund).

But even if you follow all these guidelines, and end up with a perfect credit score, remember that your stewardship score is what really matters. I spent many years of my life striving to have the best finances, but was missing what really mattered. It was a Bible study like Crown’s online MoneyLife Personal Finance Study that changed the way I view and handle money forever. Going through a Crown study with my wife brought so much healing to our marriage, and finances. If you’re ready to take the next step towards finding freedom, enroll today.

I once asked my husband for some creative ideas on how to help us save a little extra cash every month. He gave a little laugh and immediately exclaimed, “Save?! Don’t ask me – I like to SPEND!”

While he identifies more as the “spender” and I more as the “saver”, we both would have to admit we enjoy spending money. It’s exciting to get a new piece of furniture for the house, or a new pair of shoes. Spending can be really fun!

But what’s NOT fun is buyer’s remorse.That knot in your stomach when you see the credit card statement is FAR from enjoyable. Bringing up the “b” word (budget, obviously) at dinner, terrified of how the conversation will turn out, is NOT exciting.  

Maybe you’ve never gone on an out-of-control shopping spree, but you also can’t seem to get all those little expenses under control. As I mentioned before, I tend to be more of a saver, but the grocery store can be a blackhole of sneaky little expenses that cause me to overspend. I somehow convince myself that I will use every pretty looking piece of produce and well-branded snack that I encounter. None of it is on my list, but it seems rational to have extra food, and I have a coupon for it, so into the cart it goes.

But these extra little expenses wreck the budget too. The little expenses need to be tamed just as much as the big ones. Because it’s all about the heart behind spending.

Luke 16:11 says, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” We have to learn how to control our spending with the little things, so we can be trusted with the big things.

These guidelines will help you get your spending under control. Even if you aren’t overspending all the time, these guidelines will help you give your spending purpose.

Practice Discipline.

Obviously, a big part of controlling your spending is learning how to say, “no”. You have to make the switch from letting your spending control you to allowing God to control your spending.

Try to identify why you’re spending – is it because you’re bored, sad, distracted, unorganized? Make a list, stick to the list, and try to limit the amount of time you spend in a store. Never shop when you’re hungry or sad.  

Make a Budget.  

A spending plan is essential to get your spending under control. Every dollar you earn should have a purpose – to be saved, invested, given, or spent. And you need to plan how each dollar is to be spent. No two months will be exactly the same, but, as the saying goes, “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”

Budgeting doesn’t have to be hard or tedious. We created an easy-to-use guide to make it simple for you. It may involve you making sacrifices, so be prepared to make a list of your actual needs versus wants.

Find Accountability.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one,  because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

When you’re accountable to a spouse, a parent, friend, coworker, or church member, you’ll be more inclined to stick to your budget and make progress. Be both wise and cautious when choosing an accountability partner.

Make a Wish List.

Inevitably things will come up during the month that you want to buy but aren’t included in your budget or “needs” list. When this happens, add it to your Wish List. An item has to stay on the Wish List for at least 7 days before you’re allowed to buy it, and you need to do some research during that time to see if you can find a better deal from another store, a coupon, or a rebate.

If, after a week, you still want the item and can’t find a better price, you can buy the item (as long as you still have cash in your budget). Only buy ONE Wish List item at a time, and only if you have the means to do so. If you find two items in one week, you can only purchase one per month.  

Use Cash.

Numerous studies have proven the effectiveness of using cash to limit spending and prevent overspending. You have more of an emotional connection to a $20 bill than you do a credit card, so as you make your budget, cash out the categories you tend to overspend in – for me, that’d be groceries and eating out. It’s a great habit to develop and will help you keep your spending under control!

Controlling your spending will help you save, eliminate debt, and develop good financial habits. But it will also help you become a better steward. Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

It can be an awkward conversation. You don’t want to come across the wrong way, but also feel strongly that the ask is important. For many employees, asking for a raise is a confusing and intimidating process. Fear or insecurity can get the best of even the most confident employees.

And is it even biblical? Would it be more “spiritual” for a Christian to accept a lower salary?

Hopefully this will be helpful and informative, providing clarity to what the Bible says, and a few simple tips for having the conversation.

What the Bible Says

Many people are confused on the question of whether riches or poverty are indicators of a person’s spirituality. Let me tell you clearly – not necessarily. Having more or less money doesn’t automatically make you a “better Christian”. There have been some dangerously false theologies created around these ideas, and they are far from accurate.

God created the rich and poor alike. First Samuel 2:7 says,  “The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He exalts”. Regardless of the size of your paycheck, you and I are called to be faithful stewards of what we do have. So don’t forgo asking for a raise because you think less money makes you more spiritual.

The Bible does tell employers to pay their workers fairly. Look at James 5:4, “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.”

So if you’ve been faithful at your job and believe that your work is valuable to your company, you may be eligible to ask for a raise.

Step One: Know Your Market

Romans 4:4 says, “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.” So ask yourself, would your employer be obligated to pay for the kind, and quality of work you do?

Do some research to find out what employers typically pay for your skill set and level of experience. These calculations can vary based on regions, so be aware that if you live in Boise, Idaho, you may not make what someone doing your job in New York City is making. It costs more to live in NYC than it does in Boise. Check out Salary.com. Payscale, or Glassdoor to begin your research.

If you find in your research that you’re underpaid compared to your regional counterparts,  you can make the case that your work is valued at a higher rate than you’re currently being compensated. Be sure to take your experience and expertise into consideration.

If, instead, you find that you’re at the top of your market, that means it’s time to increase your skills.There are numerous ways for you to do this in today’s digital age. I’m a big fan of MOOCS (Massive Open Enrollment Courses) through organizations like Coursera or EdX. Become a voracious reader, and start praying about opportunities to increase your knowledge.

Step Two: Know Your Targets

Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” In any job, an employee is responsible for certain tasks. To ask for an increase in salary, you need to show that you’re doing the job in front of you.

Can you illustrate the impact of your work? If you’re in sales, your numbers should prove your point. It’s crucial for you to enter any salary negotiation with tangible data to support how you meet and excel in the tasks required of your position.

Employers LOVE data, so do them a favor and prepare some to present to them. Keep a daily record of what you do so you can show the scope of your work. Compare your job description to job descriptions similar to yours to point out that you’re doing more than is expected in other organizations.

Step Three: Tell Your Story

Now that you know how you stack up compared to others, are able to illustrate your contribution to the company, tell your unique story.  The Muse recommends that you prepare a one-page “brag sheet” – I prefer to call it a “value sheet”. Essentially, it will help you identify how you are delivering results for the company. A good framework for making your pitch is “Not only this… but that…”

LifeHacker notes: “If you were to write it out as a formula, it might look like this: ‘Not only do I have [all the standard requirements that everyone else has] + but I also possess [the following unique traits that make me a better candidate and thus worth more money].’ Basically, you want to consider (and capture on paper) what makes you different.”

List out traits you bring to the table that are unique, valuable, and complementary. If your supervisor knows these skills will be assets in the future, or will allow them to save time and money, you’re likely to get a good response.

Step Four: Know What You’ll Take

With proper preparation, you can be confident to go into a salary negotiation. This should help take emotion out of what can be a difficult ask for many of us. But you need to know if you’re willing to walk away if the answer is no.

It’s possible that your employer won’t respond to your request or will counter with a lower number. They may offer to take some work off your plate or sweeten the deal with more vacation time or a flexible schedule. It’s worth considering what you value – sometimes vacation time is better than money! With your research in hand, you should know when it’s time to walk away and go to the next level in another company.

Step Five: Know Your Design

Regardless of how your negotiations turn out, it’s imperative to know how you’re designed. God created each of us with unique gifts and talents, and when we can connect our design with our daily work, we are able to find great satisfaction.

Crown’s Career Direct assessment helps you accomplish this. It looks at four key areas of your life – personality, skills, interests, and values – to give you recommendations of career paths that are best-suited for you. The entire assessment is grounded in Scripture and has transformed the lives of many.

Remember that it’s not man you’re working for, but the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24). I hope your negotiations go well and you find satisfaction in your work!

I believe that as Christians, we should have motivation, peace, and confidence in everything we do.

We have the unique advantage of knowing a certain future in Christ; which means we also have the responsibility to orient our lives accordingly. Our vocation is simply an expression of our primary ministry: to serve God.

Yet few believers would be able to say they experience this motivation, peace, and confidence in their day-to-day jobs. Many are dissatisfied in their jobs, and one in three Americans see their job as only a means to an end (paying the bills), not as a career.

I would cite misfitting careers as the cause of this dissatisfaction and lack of motivation. It’s like trying to put a square peg in a round hole – it doesn’t fit, so there’s bound to be frustration.

God creates and equips each of us for a specific purpose, and we find motivation, peace, and confidence when we are working within that purpose.  

Motivation

God created us to work. He gave Adam charge to take care of the earth and the animals before sin ever entered the world. We are innately designed to accomplish tasks and make progress.

But we are also designed with unique characteristics, talents, personalities, and values. The problem is that too often we don’t align our unique design with our vocation. So we get frustrated, and stuck in a cycle of unmotivating, unsatisfying work, and aren’t quite sure how to get out of it.

Crown’s Career Direct Assessment was created to solve problems just like this. It analyzes your personality, values, interests, and skills to help you understand how God uniquely created you. It will also help you know what career suits your design best. I recommend it to any parent looking to help their child understand their college and career path, and any professional looking to make a change, or curious about if their job is a good fit.

When you understand how your passion and purpose lines up, you’re more motivated to accomplish the tasks at hand.

Peace

Most people today strive for more money – they think it will make them happier, more important, or content. But Solomon, the wisest man of the Bible, said, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income.”

Regardless of how much money you make, how famous you are, or how much job security you have, unless you’re truly in God’s will, you’ll never find peace. Looking to those things instead of the God who created you will only satisfy temporarily.  

Be at peace with the amount of money you make, and strive to make progress for the Kingdom, not for your own gain.

Confidence

Ecclesiastes 2:24 – “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God…”

When you know how God created you to work, and are able to match your design with your vocation, you also find confidence in what you’re doing. Instead of working to hear praise from others, you work for the cause of Christ. This kind of confidence is deeper than wearing a nice suit or running an efficient meeting. It comes from knowing your work can have eternal implications, and that your purpose goes beyond 9am-5pm.

To start your journey to working with Motivation, Peace, and Confidence, take the Career Direct assessment.

Do you remember “layaway”?  

If you’re unfamiliar with the process I’m referring to, “layaway” was an option many stores offered if you couldn’t afford to pay the full price of an item. The store would hold the item for you as you make payments towards it, usually for about 3-6 months. When you had paid the full amount, the item was yours to take home!  

Oh, the excitement! The anticipation! It was so motivating to make those monthly payments, eagerly counting down the days until you could take it home!

But gone are the days of layaway, and here are the days of financing.

No longer do you have to countdown the days until you can purchase an item you can’t afford.

Now, you can buy just about whatever you want, regardless of how much money you actually have, and simply make monthly payments on the item at skyhigh interest rates. Clearly, a much better system (please note my sarcasm).   

Along with layaway, we’ve progressed past the disciplined days of eating off card tables and folding chairs, sleeping on mom and dad’s hand-me-down mattresses, and driving Grandma’s Buick.  

Instead, we are purchasing music festival tickets, exercise equipment, luxury sheets, and exotic travel regardless of how much it costs. No wonder why so many American workers are living paycheck to paycheck, drowning in debt.

And, more than any other generation, Millennials are falling prey to this “financing scheme”. Their need for Insta-perfect, instant gratification can be met – for a price. MarketWatch.com says interest rates for this frivolous spending can reach up to 30%. To put that in perspective, the average credit card has an interest rate of about 17%.  

We need to take a serious look at our finances, build a budget, and establish habits of giving, saving, and, of course, waiting.

Proverbs tells us to avoid what we can’t afford when it says, “It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury…”

And Paul said, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Let me encourage you – having all of these nice, expensive things are just not worth it. Nothing that we have here on earth will go with us to heaven. So instead of stretching yourself thin, and enslaving yourself to a mountain of debt and monthly payments, invest in something that will have eternal impact. Develop habits of saving, giving, and investing. Start thinking of your money as a tool to be used by God to further His kingdom.  

And if you are struggling with credit card debt, get in touch with Christian Credit Counselors. They’ve been our trusted partners for years and can help you lift the burden of debt. We love their friendly and professional team of counselors! You can get started today with a free debt analysis.

“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”

You’ve probably heard this at some point in your life. I believe it to be true, and have seen it play out in my own life and personal experiences.

But today’s “friendships” are more complicated than mine were growing up. Many friendships are formed online, and out of shared social habits, not the same English class. Physical interaction is no longer required to form a friendship.

Influence doesn’t stop when they get off the bus or drive home from soccer practice. This means that our children’s friendships have a much greater influence on their lives and future because they’re constantly being influenced by them. So perhaps a better way to say it today would be “show me your Instagram feed, and I’ll show you your future”.

Therefore, our parental responsibility to prepare our children to live on their own, and to make wise financial decisions is all the more necessary. They must know who they are in Christ and why we desire to be faithful stewards.

The good news is no one knows your child like you do.

There is no one better equipped to speak into their lives and influence their decisions with biblical wisdom. In an age where culture will tell our children to take the path most traveled, we as parents have an even greater opportunity to point them down the narrow one.

Know Your Child’s Friends

So, encourage your children to find good friendships and then get to know their families.

Proverbs says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

And Paul told the Corinthians, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.”

You have several decades of wisdom and experience to offer your children when it comes to choosing friends. That may look differently today than it did 40 years ago, but its importance has not diminished.

Teach them what valuable, godly friendship look like – online and offline. Ask questions about their friends, not to interrogate them, but to show interest and practice discernment. Model what godly friendships look like by exposing them to your own. Talk about what a blessing your church community, life group, or mentors are in your life.

Know Your Child’s Design

You know whether your child is mechanically inclined, outgoing, loves to serve, is skilled in leadership, and so on. Notice and affirm these skills in them as they develop. They are God-given, and designed to fulfill the plan He has for their lives.

I like this rhyme from Dr Seuss:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”

It’s a motivating reminder to choose the right path for our lives.

Crown’s Career Direct assessment can help you and your child discover their talents and speak the same language about their skillset. It’s more than a personality profile because it examines their personality, skills, interests, and values to explain how God uniquely designed them. It may give you the right words to explain things you’ve seen in them all along, and help your child connect their interests with an actual career path. I couldn’t encourage you strongly enough to have your child take the assessment.

Know Your Child’s Opportunities

Once you understand their unique design, encourage them to refine their skills, and give them opportunities to do so. Talk to friends that may have opportunities in related fields that offer an internship or apprenticeship. There are a plethora of online resources that can add immense value and experience prior to entering the workforce.

I’m not suggesting you force your child into one career path or another. But you can help them eliminate options that aren’t the right fit, and find excitement in the ones that are.

Know Your Child’s Communication Style

Communication is critical. Affirm your child’s design and celebrate the unique qualities God has given them. Their results may not be what they think is “cool” or what they expected to find.

Children crave your approval and guidance in a world that offers more choices than ever.

Remind them that Jesus was a carpenter, Matthew was a tax collector, Peter was a fisherman, and Luke was a doctor. The heroes of the bible came from all different kinds of professional backgrounds and socioeconomic standings. But God used them all for His Kingdom.

Pray that your children choose to not conform to this world, but are transformed by the renewal of their minds. Be confident in your role as a parent to speak truth and love into their lives and decisions.

Prepare them well for the challenges of the world, love them, and talk with them frequently.

Psalm 127:4 says, “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.” You are the bow, not the quiver, so prepare them to go great distances for the Kingdom.  

In the wake of devastating natural disasters across the United States, we are reminded of the importance equipping individuals with accurate and timely information. From Hurricane Harvey, to the fires in the Northwest, to Hurricane Irma, we have experienced an avalanche of destruction across the nation.

Power outages, destroyed homes, lost belongings, displaced families, and interrupted or heightened work schedules are just some of the side effects from these massive catastrophes.

According to Dr. Jim Dennison, a commentator reporting from Florida made the perceptive statement, “The worst in Mother Nature often brings out the best in human nature.”  I believe we are seeing this happen. For we Christians,  in the midst of chaos, we have a hope that outlasts any storm or disaster. We know that we are equipped with a sound mind, not a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). And we know that as the hands of feet of Christ, we have the responsibility to help others (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). In times of darkness, we have the greatest opportunity to share the light of Christ.

It’s important to know what to do in the midst-of and after these crises, regardless of your circumstance, so we have created a checklist of steps to follow.

Follow these 7 steps in the wake of a natural disaster or crisis:

1. Contact Your Family, Friends, and Church

Give them a quick update on your location, condition, well-being, and needs. Try to plan for a way they can get in touch with you over the next few days (social media can be helpful if you have access).

Seek their prayers and be honest about your needs. This is no time to be shy, so be honest and willing to accept help. Try to learn the needs of others who are affected as well so you can serve as you are being served. Work together to use your gifts and talents to support, serve, and comfort one another.

If you are missing a family member after a disaster, this website can be helpful.

2. Contact FEMA and Your Insurance Agency

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is a government agency that supports citizens and first responders during emergencies. You can find up-to-date resources and information on their website. If you’ll be in need of financial assistance outside private insurance coverage, you’ll likely need to file a claim.

Notify your primary insurer(s) and ask to learn more about your coverage. Find out what assistance is available, and inform them of your circumstance. DON’T FORGET to take pictures of any damage you or your property sustains during the disaster.

3. Make a Crisis Budget

If you are directly impacted by these storms and their repercussions, now may be time to follow a Crisis Budget for the short-term and focus on the essentials while you regroup.

Many times in crisis, people make poor decisions based on fear or panic. Pray, stay calm, and focus on the basic necessities. Remember Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…”

4. Talk to Your Employer

Employers will often work on plans to offer assistance or make provisions for their employees affected by the disaster. Make your needs known and ask your employer to work with you as you’re getting your life back to normal. Be in constant contact as you are able.

If you are self-employed or run your own business, communicate with your key customers and staff. Let them know you’re making plans to take care of accounts and return things back to normal.

5. Seek Wise Counsel/Make a Plan

Once you have information from relief organizations and your insurance company, you need to make a plan for your future.

Crown’s online MoneyLife Personal Finance Study can help you, your family, or your church get on the right track after a crisis. The study is self-paced and made up of 7 lessons that cover all areas of your finances from a biblical perspective. It can be your first step towards rebuilding your life and finances.

6. Work to Make Extra Income

If your income is interrupted, you may want to consider a part-time job to help you through the crisis. You could consider companies like Uber, Lyft, or Upwork. It’s likely there will be many job opportunities to clean up and rebuild in the areas affected by the disaster, so you may consider hiring out your services as a contractor with TaskRabbit or Handy.

7. Trust God

Disasters and crises can be frightening and emotional. Remember that Job lost his business, servants, assets, children, and health all at the same time.

Cast your cares upon the Lord. He cares for you. No matter how much sorrow or grief you may be experiencing, remember our God is the God of all Hope. He will be with you in the storms ahead. Don’t lose faith.