Our 'Needs, Wants, and Wishes' chart is a helpful tool for prioritizing what to spend your money on. This is especially useful if you've already designed a budget and need help sticking to it!
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The family is under attack everywhere I go. There are enormous pressures on family. And it’s no wonder that finances play a large role in the dissolution of many marriages.
A new trend of “financial infidelity” is sadly to blame for many of the failed marriages in our culture today.
Just like any other form of unfaithfulness, financial infidelity occurs when one (or both) partners hide (or misconstrue) financial information from the other – such as past debts, spending habits, or other bank accounts.
This is a growing problem. A poll from the National Endowment for Financial Education found that 2 in 5 Americans admit to lying about or withholding money information from their partner!
But people who are keeping secrets about their finances usually aren’t trying to hide criminal activity or an affair…they’re just embarrassed.
Financial Family law attorney Steven Mindel says, “More marriages fall apart for financial reasons than for fidelity reasons…marriages are built on trust and anytime you breach the trust of the other party, it damages the relationship. Getting married is like the merging of two enterprises.”
Often times a spouse may lie to avoid conflict or ignore financial problems. Sometimes truth is not told because one spouse had no confidence in the other.
But, the truth will eventually come out and the results can be painful. Someone is hurt, loses respect and trust for the other and wonders what else may be hidden. The entire marriage relationship may be questioned because trust is lost.
Proverbs 3:3-4 says, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.”
Now, there’s no Bible verse that says a couple has to have joint checking or that the bills have to be paid by one or the other, but the Bible IS clear that we’re not to LIE.
Proverbs 10:9, “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.”
It may take a hard conversation, but I’m challenging you today to sit down and be honest with your spouse about your money.
The writer of Proverbs 19:1 said, “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”
Trust is a currency of greater value than any amount of money. And, it’s foundational in marriage.
If you’re not sure how to take the next steps towards unity and honesty with your spouse, start by enrolling in the online MoneyLife Personal Finance Study. It’s 7 lessons on what God’s word has to say about your finances. It’s convenient and can be done at your own pace in your own living room. You can go through the online course together and learn basic biblical principles about your money that will transform your attitudes, finances, and relationship.
It’s that time of year! Some parents rejoice as others reluctantly send their children back to school.
Whatever camp you land in, we are trusting that our students are getting a well-rounded education. As students are hopefully learning the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic, one subject is woefully ignored by most schools – personal finance. This is all the more strange when you consider that one of the purposes of education is to become a self-sufficient adult.
Did you know that only a handful of states today require that students have some financial education as a requirement of graduation?
And even if you have not considered homeschooling per se, when it comes to finances, it’s time for parents to take charge.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
And this is as true for how to handle money as it is in any other area of life.
Having counseled families for years, I’ve found that one of the reasons many parents are reluctant to sit down for a frank discussion about money, especially with their teenagers, is that they are embarrassed by their own financial difficulties or failures in the past.
It’s easy for me to believe a North Carolina State University study that found that parents were willing to discuss general topics like the need to save, earn or spend money on key things – but when it comes to debt and family income, the conversation dried up.
In fact, a T. Rowe Price survey found that 74 percent of parents admitted they were reluctant to talk about finances with their kids. Compare that to a Sallie Mae poll that found 84 percent of high school students would like to have more financial education.
As hard as this sounds, walking your children through a functional budget is a good place to start, and Crown has free tools that can help. Too many young adults don’t count the costs of an entire lifestyle as they make purchasing decisions – such as taking on school loans or signing a car lease.
A budget is the sum total of ALL the financial parts, and while any one price tag sounds reasonable, if rent, utilities and student debt consume most of the money, a 20-something can be floundering quickly.
Educating our children about money can be integrated into family life.
Consider the advice in Deuteronomy 11:19, “Teach (God’s principles) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Have your children join you as you are going through the bills, so they can get a sense of the cost of things – from electricity to insurance. Let them come with you as you shop for a car or make choices at the grocery store. Help them understand the way you balance needs versus wants.
“Financial ignorance is costing us billions of dollars”, according to Heidi Moore, the U.S. Finance and Economics editor for The Guardian. She goes on to say, “If you’re talking about a country of 330 million people, 47 million of whom are on food stamps, you’re really talking about a significant portion of the U.S. population that could do better, and that’s even before you get to the middle class and before you get to the lawyers and doctors who are high earners but easy targets for stock scammers,” she said.
And don’t forget the spiritual side of money.
Setting aside 10 percent of our income to support the local church is a way to honor the God who made all things possible. But that can be a hard lesson to learn, so as parents we should start teaching our children early the need to share what we have and to give back to the Lord what already belongs to Him.
In Malachi 3:20, God tells the people of Israel (and us): “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Consider enrolling your family in Crown’s online MoneyLife Personal Finance Study to learn how God sees money and resources. Perhaps you want to get together with some friends to take the pressure off and open up the conversation. And there are some helpful tools available even for young children.
Research shows that children form their primary money habits by age 7; they learn from the adults in their life how to value and use resources. So start early and don’t be afraid to talk with your children about how God wants us to use our resources – they want to hear from you.
Originally published in LifeWay magazine, September 2016.
Have you ever wondered what the difference between investing and gambling really is? The Bible says that gambling is wrong, but what makes investing okay?
What does the Bible say about investing anyway?
The difference between these two is vast but can be confusing, especially for those who don’t regularly engage in either, because there is risk in both.
At the heart of it, gambling is based upon chance. And all must lose for one to gain. But investing is based upon knowledge and all have the opportunity to win.
Both involve risk, but only investing allows equal opportunity for all to benefit. For instance, if you buy stock in a company that makes a good product, the customers who buy the products win if the product is beneficial to them, the company that sells the products wins as their profitability increases, and you as an owner of the company win as the value of the company increases. The risk you take is based upon the performance of the company and you can use knowledge to decrease your risk.
Investing also provides an opportunity to contribute to a larger good – an enterprise that can benefit many, while games of chance are a pastime that contributes nothing. Gambling does not create a growing enterprise that can provide value; it consumes resources in a moment in time and it too often snares the hearts of men and women in an addiction that robs them of their resources.
Gambling also relies on something I don’t believe in … “luck.” You will never hear me say “Good luck.”
As Christians, we rely on the blessings of God and are instructed to study, to work and to seek wisdom to accomplish the goals we have.
Proverbs 24:3-4 puts it like this, “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”
Random chance is not the source of a life well lived, but rather, wisdom, knowledge and hard work that result from trusting in God and His principles.
Our goal should be to seek understanding of the world around us and make increasingly informed decisions that profit a family, a business and a community. Successful investors learn about the markets they are involved in, making informed choices. Over time, the reward that comes from those efforts becomes a blessing to many.
Frenzied efforts to get money, gambling among them, usually do not pay off; anxiety and stress can be a sign that something is wrong.
“Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens” (Proverbs 23:4-5).
You can check out these guidelines from Crown that investors can consider as they look at markets.
But one of the most important things to keep in mind when investing is never to invest more than you can afford to lose, because there is risk in this world, and you should only use resources after budgeting for all your other needs and expenses.
I Timothy 6:9-10 notes, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
This is a clear warning not to place our trust in money, even money earned through investing, or it will lead to our demise.
It’s not money itself that is the problem. It is the LOVE of money that traps many, distracting them from God’s plans for their lives. We often lose sight of the motives of our own actions, even as Christians, and need to step back and reflect on what is in our hearts. Try this free assessment to shed light on how your beliefs line up with your behavior and help you to evaluate your own motives.
Our 'Needs, Wants, and Wishes' chart is a helpful tool for prioritizing what to spend your money on. This is especially useful if you've already designed a budget and need help sticking to it!
Get the FREE PDF download today!
Download Crown's FREE printable Budget Goals worksheet using the button below!
A record number (107 million) of Americans are buying cars – by taking out loans.
In fact, so many people have car loans now, paying them off is one of the first steps on Crown’s Money Map. Being free from all kinds of debt, but especially credit card and consumer debt, is a crucial step to finding financial freedom.
Sometimes living as a faithful steward means making little decisions that have a big impact.
So how well are we stewarding our indebted modes of transportation?
Here are a few key tips to keep your car in tip-top shape for years to come.
Alan Marcus recommends doing this.
First of all, he says, if there’s ever a disaster in your area, the need to evacuate quickly, a pipeline break, or power outages, you will be able to drive for a while. But he gives some other reasons:
Did you know Americans waste billions of dollars each year thinking they will improve fuel economy with more expensive fuel?
The AAA Premium Fuel Omnibus Survey estimates that $2.1 billion is wasted each year by drivers buying premium gas for cars designed to run on regular.
My own wife bought into the premium myth for years!
Triple A (AAA) reports that premium gas is used in high-performance engines that are designed to operate on 93 octane fuel. Vehicles engineered to run on regular gas of 87 octane cannot take advantage of the higher octane rating to produce more horsepower.
So, unless your vehicle has a high–performance engine you are wasting money. Check your owner’s manual to know if premium is required or just recommended.
Now, cheap gas is another issue. TopTierGas.com lists retailers who sell high standard gasoline that produces a cleaner, greener fuel. About 1/3 of the gas stations in America meet the standards. A few extra cents may ensure you are filling your vehicle with gasoline that gives optimum performance and fuel economy.
I doubt you enjoy filling up the tank. But, if you put it off to avoid spending the money, you may simply be costing yourself more money in the long run! Don’t wait for the warning light! Save maintenance costs and never get stranded on the side of the road.
And, some final tips to get the best mileage:
Are you one of the millions of Americans working to pay off their car loans?
At Crown, we recommend starting your debt-free journey by paying off all your credit cards first. If you have credit card debt, we also recommend getting in touch with our friends at Christian Credit Counselors. We love their team of professional and friendly counselors who can help you get out of debt the right way. And you can start with a free debt analysis right now!
Many people have a misunderstanding of what it means to be a steward. It’s not just getting out of debt, and sticking to a budget. It’s much more than just writing a tithe check every month.
Living as a steward means surrendering your finances to God and recognizing yourself as a manager, not owner, of all you have.
But sometimes finding that freedom feels like some far-off, fairytale that’s not actually attainable in this life. Here are practical steps you can take to seek financial freedom in your life.
This means your money, time, family, material possessions, education, even your future earning potential all belong to God, not you.
It’s essential to experience the Spirit-filled life in the area of finances.
Consider Psalm 8:4-6:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels, and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.”
We have to realize that there is absolutely no substitute for this step. If you believe that you are the owner of even a single possession, then the events affecting that possession are going to affect your attitude. God is a gentle Master. He does not force His perfect will into our lives, but commands us to first surrender our will to Him.
Though financial freedom isn’t just about getting out of debt, it is an important step to finding freedom. When you’re debt-free, you have more margin and freedom to be used by God in many more ways.
Again, writing a tithe check doesn’t just mean that you have financial freedom. But, every Christian should give the first 10% of their gross income as a tithe
(Malachi 3:8-10; 2 Corinthians 9:7). This is a physical act to show that we have given total ownership of our finances to God.
No matter how much money you have, recognize and accept that God’s provision is enough. God’s will can be accomplished no matter how much money you have. Not every Christian will experience worldly wealth. But living in poverty doesn’t make you closer to God.
I recall a friend who had wronged an individual financially before he became a Christian. God convicted him about this and the need to make restitution.
He contacted this individual, confessed what had been done, and offered to make it right. The person refused to forgive and refused to take any money. For a while it hurt my friend’s ego and pride—until he realized that it was not for the offended person that he had confessed but for himself.
It was not for the loss that restitution was offered but for his relationship with God. God had forgiven him, and he had done exactly what God had asked. Nothing further was required.
A Christian seeking financial freedom must always be willing to put other people first. This does not imply that a Christian has to be a floor mat for others; it simply means that he doesn’t profit at the disadvantage of someone else. The key lies in attitude.
A Christian must also limit time devoted to business affairs when family involvement suffers.
Proverbs 23:4-5 says,
“Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.”
Turn off the television, have your kids do their homework early, and study the Bible together. It is important for the whole family to understand God’s Word and to pray together.
Pray for those in need too. Help your children become aware that Christians, as intercessors, can pray for others and expect God to answer.
In Luke 9:23, Christ said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Similarly, in John 6:27, He said “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
How does your lifestyle align with Jesus’ teaching? Are you willing to trust God and deny yourself some indulgences? Look to the Lord to satisfy your needs. Most of us can reduce our expenditures substantially without a real reduction in living standard.
Sometimes all we need is a guide to help us navigate what the Bible says about our finances. Crown’s online study is a wonderful guide for understanding what it means to live as a steward, and how to make practical changes to align your finances with Scripture.
It is important to seek good counseling from mature believers, and perhaps Christian financial planners.
Proverbs 15:22 says,
“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”
Many Christians become frustrated in financial planning because they lack the necessary knowledge and then give up. God has supplied others with the ability to help in the area of finances. In fact, Crown has a trusted partnership with Christian Credit Counselors. If you’re struggling with credit card debt, get in touch with them today.
There is a great need in Christianity to get back to the basics of God’s Word. This is true whether we’re talking about salvation, sanctification, service, or finances.
The financial principles given throughout God’s Word are not there to see if we’re strong enough to live by them; they’re given because God knows that they are the best for us. God’s financial principles are not an arbitrary set of rules to govern us; they are a loving Father’s wisdom to those who will listen and trust Him.
I hope that you join me on this journey to finding financial freedom. It’s a daily journey, and to help guide you along the way, I would strongly encourage you to join the online MoneyLife Personal Finance Study.
It’s changing the lives of so many and people are drawing closer to Christ and becoming faithful stewards because of it.
Purchasing a home is typically the largest financial investment any of us will ever make. Throughout Scripture, God talks about land as a possession and an investment worthy of our efforts. Jeremiah 29:5 says, “Build houses and live in them plant gardens and eat their produce.” But deciding what land to invest in, and getting the best deal on it, is a process!
The home-purchasing process can be intimidating and confusing, especially for first-time homebuyers.
The excitement of meeting with a real estate agent and going to look at the actual houses can make you put the cart before the horse, so slow down. The first step is to determine if you’re financially prepared to buy a home.
On Crown’s Money Map, buying an affordable house is one of the last steps because it’s an investment. And just like any other investment, there will always be risk involved, so it’s crucial that you make an informed, financially-sound, God-led decision.
Here are some questions to ask yourself as you pray about this financial investment:
For most mortgages, you’ll be charged private mortgage insurance (or PMI) if you cannot put down 20% of the purchase price in cash upon closing. This is to protect the lender in case you default on your loan and cannot pay your mortgage back. Banks or mortgage lenders charge an annual interest rate between 0.3% and 1.5% as PMI when a 20% down payment cannot be made.
Putting 20% down is wise to avoid PMI, but it’s also wise because it decreases the remaining principal you have left to pay on your house, which will save you every month in interest charges. You may also qualify for a lower interest rate by putting 20% or more down.
Closing costs are usually 2-5% of the overall price of the home and are made up of several different kinds of fees. Most Sellers require a deposit called Earnest Money when you sign a contract. Sometimes Sellers will negotiate over who pays the closing costs. Several days before you close, your lender will provide a closing disclosure with all the costs listed, down to the penny. Study it carefully, checking for errors – you’re the one writing the check!
You need to have a very specific idea of what your monthly mortgage payment will be once you have closed on the home.
This should be one of the first things you factor into your budget, and we recommend that it is not more than 30% of your net spendable income (your income after you take tithe and taxes out).
Your monthly payment will vary based on what type of loan you have, so calculate what you can afford first and let that determine what kind of loan you get.
Remember that with a house comes a myriad of other expenses – many of which will not be planned or expected.
Crown recommends having at least 3 months’ living expenses saved after you have closed.
Here are just a few expenses that are easily overlooked but add up quickly:
You’ll be able to calculate your living expenses based on your estimated monthly mortgage payment, utilities, etc.
It’s important to err on the side of caution here – one bad incident with the hot water heater could drive you into years of debt. Not the way you want to start your homeownership journey.
Every time you sell or buy a house, you’re putting cash on the table in the form of closing costs, fees, and taxes. Add in any costs that are required for home repairs, improving curb appeal, and other expenses towards getting the house ready to sell and your out-of-pocket expenses are high.
Furthermore, the first few years that you own a home, you pay the most in interest than you will for the rest of the duration of the loan.
Because of these reasons, it makes the most financial sense to stay in a house at least 3 years, but 5-7 is preferable. It gives you time to recapture your investment if the home appreciates in value, and it’s much more likely that you’ll make money if you’re in the house for a number of years before selling it. This will make the cash you paid in closing costs and fees worth it, and give you more time to pay down the principal balance on your mortgage instead of just interest.
For obvious reasons, you shouldn’t buy a house if you have an inconsistent income or feel uneasy about the future of your job. You may have to show a two-year earnings history to get a loan if you’re self-employed or on straight commission.
Establishing steady income and preparing prior to home ownership gives you the freedom to focus time and attention to those occupying your house instead of sweating how to pay your mortgage. This is what makes it a home.
If you can afford the home, it’s time to start pre-qualifying for low-cost financing. Shop for the best mortgage rates. Use bankrate.com to educate yourself on all the options and mortgage rates.
Once you find the home you are interested in, before making an offer, do some serious investigation of the neighborhood. Remember to shop with resale in mind!
Some of the things you’ll need to know about are:
If everything checks out, make a written offer on a contract in which you clearly understand all the terms and requirements. Everything should be spelled out in writing. Always make your offer contingent upon an inspection.
Pay for a highly reputable inspector to check the property for termites, structural damage, potential high-cost repair on appliances, the foundation, plumbing, and the roof. This usually costs several hundred dollars but could save you thousands of dollars in repairs or prevent you from buying a house with more problems than it’s worth.
If all goes well, around a month after you signed your contract, you should be able to close and get the keys to your new house!
Thank God for His faithfulness in the process and commit your home to Him. Pray that it will be used as a blessing to others, and remember Proverbs 24:3-4 – “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
Buying a home is a big financial commitment and can be a great step towards finding financial freedom. It’s one of the steps on Crown’s Money Map – a simple guide to navigating what God says about your money and meeting your financial goals. Do you know where you are on the Money Map? Download yours for free to find out!
Social media. We love it? We hate it? We hate that we love it?
Whether or not you’re following, tweeting, pinning, gramming, or sharing, our world has drastically changed because of these social platforms, and they greatly impact your life, and finances.
All these social platforms are businesses and are motivated by making money. So they favor businesses that use their social platforms to sell products or services. That means every time you check Facebook or pin your favorite recipes, those platforms are learning what you’re interested in so they can help other businesses sell to you better.
And those other businesses are spending upwards of $31 billion to advertise their products and services to you on social media. The time you spend checking your social media is like gold to marketers and businesses around the world.
There are of course many benefits to social media, and it’s opened incredible doors that would have otherwise remained closed. But we need to guard our hearts, and budgets, from the dangers of it all.
One of the greatest dangers of social media is the effect it can have on our attitudes and beliefs about money. It’s easy to get stuck in the comparison trap when you are constantly checking Facebook and scrolling through your Instagram feed.
We compare our normal day-to-day to the rest of the world’s best-of-the-best – our blooper reel to everyone else’s Academy Award-nominated film. Keeping up with the Joneses is no longer a casual neighbor rivalry – it’s a constant, day-to-day war that we are waging against ourselves.
Every time that pang of jealousy wells up in you when “The Joneses” outdo you again, it can quickly turn to bitterness and a poor financial decision.
What makes it even more difficult is that “The Joneses” are no longer just “that family down the street”; they’re a global conglomerate of individuals, filters, celebrities, and a culture promoting shallow relationships and financial irresponsibility.
It doesn’t take much to guess how devastating this can be to your budget. It’s hard to see the financial strain and overdrawn bank accounts through the happy Snapchat filters. The heated fights between spouses are easily hidden beneath quintessential Instagram tags and perfectly decorated homes.
When you allow yourself to fall into the comparison trap, you not only forfeit the right perspective of your own life, circumstances, and resources, but you taint your perspective of those you’re comparing yourself to.
It’s harder to invite the Joneses to church if you’re constantly thinking (and talking) negatively about them.
There’s a saying that “bitterness is like drinking poison, expecting the other person to die”.
Guard your heart and finances from the sin of bitterness and remember that as Christians, we are called to be different than the rest of the world.
Proverbs 30:7-9 says,
“Two things I ask of you, Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Did you catch that? “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” David knew the value of having to rely on God’s provision when he penned this Psalm.
If you’re consumed with thankfulness towards God for His daily provision of your needs, then there’s no room in your thought-life to compare yourself to the Joneses. There’s also no room in your budget to try and out-spend them!
As my mom always says, “Get out of your head….it’s a bad neighborhood.”
You know how sometimes your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness?
Social media’s ability to connect us to the rest of the world is both great, and awful. On the one hand, Pinterest gives us an endless supply of ideas on how to save money, cut costs, and make healthy budgets. But on the other, how can you ever be content while you’re looking at an unending stream of ways to improve your cooking, clothing, workouts, homes, gardens, parties, weddings, vacations, and relationships?
Spending in excess has become the norm. It’s what we see everyday and we’ve lost the ability to recognize it as frivolousness…and sin.
But once again, this is a great opportunity for believers to look, act, and spend differently than the rest of the world. It’s an opportunity to practice contentment.
Paul explains in Philippians 4, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
If you want to live a content life, you’re going to have to depend on God’s strength.
Remember that we can’t take the things on this earth to heaven with us. But the way you live is going to determine whether or not you hear, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
Obviously social media has influenced Millennials the most – they are 3 times more likely to refer to social media for purchasing decisions. But other generations are far from immune. According to Social Media Today,
“…the average person will spend nearly two hours (approximately 116 minutes) on social media everyday, which translates to a total of 5 years and 4 months spent over a lifetime.”
Imagine the earning potential you are wasting with those 5 years! You could earn a PhD instead of checking Facebook. You could gain invaluable experience in your field by skipping Snapchat. You could make, work towards, and reach your own 5 year goals in the same amount of time you spent on YouTube.
Think about how God would be pleased about you spending your time. Work to refine and cultivate the talents He has given you to further His kingdom.
Social media may be a way you can find a connection to do that, but be careful to guard against idly wasting time.
Proverbs 14:23 says,
“All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Work hard to save, keep a budget, and live as a faithful steward to honor God. If you use social media, be careful to safeguard your heart and mind against it. Pray for wisdom on how to use it to further God’s Kingdom.
Crown’s Money Map can help you stay focused on your financial goals. It’s a simple, step-by-step guide to keep you on the right track and in line with biblical principles.
Although we are all aware of stress caused by finances and relationships, you’d be amazed at how many people are really stressed and discouraged over issues related to their jobs. Career counseling agencies are finding that job anxiety is one of the major causes of stress in our society.
“80% of workers feel stress on the job, nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress and 42% say their coworkers need such help.” – Attitudes in the American Workplace VII report
Every indication is that stress at work, and in our lives in general, is increasing.
The truth is that much of this job-related stress is caused by mismatched jobs – people being in jobs that don’t match their natural talents and interests – some is caused by the rapid change in technology and how those changes affect responsibilities and duties in the workplace. (If you feel like you’re in a mismatched job, Career Direct can help you understand what job does fit your interests, personality, skills, and values.)
So how do we deal with this stress?
One of the primary reasons we suffer from job-related stress is that our lives are out of balance. Even with smart cars, smart appliances, smart phones, and digital helpers, like Siri and Alexa, we actually seem to have less free time than our grandparents did.
Why with all of these time-saving improvements do we still not have time to relax and reflect?
It’s because our priorities are out of balance.
Many families feel like their lives are not balanced. In an ideal world, we would take 8 hours every to work, 8-10 to sleep, exercise, and eat, and 6 to spend with friends and family or for relaxation. But few are ever able to achieve this balance.
Some are so indebted that they feel they must work overtime just to make ends meet. Others cannot say no, so they commit time that should be spent with family to others instead.
But once balance is brought back into an individual’s life, and work is put in its proper place, stress will be greatly reduced on the job, even though the circumstances relating to the job might not have changed.
Ideally, you’d be able to have a job you enjoy, that allows you to use your God-given talents, at a comfortable pace, and in a work environment you enjoy. But this is not always the case. It’s a fact that many people will be forced to perform duties for which they are not qualified or which they do not like, in an unpleasant work environment, because they need the money and can’t afford to quit or don’t have the time to look for another job.
To these people, job-related stress could be devastating to their health if their lives away from work are out of balance. Crown’s Career Direct Assessment would be of immense value. It’s a simple assessment that measures your personality, interests, beliefs, and behaviors through a biblical lens to help you understand how God has uniquely created you. It may be exactly what you need to make a career change.
But if changing the work situation is not a viable option, the following steps can be followed to help bring balance, which will result in reduced stress at work:
Before you leave for work, begin your day with a time of study in God’s Word.Although statistics show that job-related stress is one of the major causes of health problems, it is probably not going to go away in the near future.
Some people will be able to change jobs or change job duties and relieve some of the stress. Yet others will have to face the fact that their job situations may not ever change. Those caught in stressful situations, though, do not have to struggle through life dreading their work; they can change their perspective. Even though their work situations may never change, they can relieve their stress by bringing balance to their lives—balance that is founded on the study of God’s Word and on prayer.
Career Direct should be the next step for anyone struggling in their career, looking for a change, or wondering what the best fit for them is. And if you feel like you’re in the right job, but not quite satisfied with it, find encouragement in the Achiever’s Guide to Job Satisfaction. It has helpful, practical advice on how to make the most of everyday at your job.
Originally published in LifeWay’s HomeLife magazine, April 2013.