Some folks work hard, but they do not succeed. If you really take the time to talk with them, you may find they are making bad choices. Those choices prevent them from succeeding.
In some cases it is as simple as they want what they want, and they want to have it now. They simply cannot wait until they can afford it. To get what they want right now, they spend instead of investing in themselves, in their business, or in others.
Some folks temporarily succeed, but they never seem to have enough. They always want that bigger car or bigger house. Then may even borrow to get the less expensive things they want. As long as their job holds out, they can support that debt.
Greed sabotages success.
When folks have the money to buy, but they just do not spend it wisely, bad decisions hold them back. When folks live beyond their means, a job loss can cost them everything. They lose it all!
People make bad decisions for a lot of reasons. Greed could be part of it. Greed is often a huge part of the problem when a person lives beyond their means. We typically call it keeping up with the Jones’, and we relate it to covetousness.
No one likes to think of themselves as greedy, but when we find ourselves not succeeding or in over our heads with debt, we need to pray about what we are doing and how we got there. Maybe it was not greed. Whatever it is, we need to identify it and deal with it.
We also need to beware of those who have problems with greediness. Full-blown greed left unresolved, like all sin, can lead to horrible things.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Proverbs 1:10-19
Both in business and personally, it is important to understand what drives your spending decisions in order to be able to make better choices.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:24-25
Today’s challenge is to pray about your choices. Ask God to reveal to you your spending habits. What drives your spending? Are you trying to fill a void? Are you greedy? Do you make good choices, or do you find yourself constantly spending more than you have? If you are over budget, ask God to show you ways you can cut back.