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[How To] Be Content With What You Have

10.05.2011 by Guest Author //

How To Be Content With What You HaveJust like Matt, I’m a personal finance blogger (albeit my blog is solely about credit cards, don’t worry though, it’s about using them responsibly). But whether it’s credit cards, budgeting, or investing, all financial bloggers have one thing in common… sharing information about making (or saving) more money. And there’s nothing wrong with that, the more financially savvy we are, the better!

I also think it’s important to take a breather every once in a while. Meaning, instead of being concerned with what we don’t have we need remind ourselves what we do have; because learning how to be content with what we have is a critical component of being successful with our finances. Given the housing market and other economic woes we’ve had over the last few months, now is a great time to dive into the contentment issue.

The $1.6 million bathtub

Part of human nature is the more we get, the more we want (a never-ending cycle of more, more, more). Yesterday on the radio they were talking about some new billionaire heiresses in LA (by way of the UK) who are apparently trying to outspend each other. I didn’t catch the details (nor do I care to hear them) but it goes something like this…

The 22 year-old daughter, Petra, bought the Spelling’s mansion for $85 million this summer. Her 27 year-old sister Tamara is now trying to outdo her. “The house we are looking at will make Petra’s house look like a guest house.” She also claims to have “dispatched” five minions on an expedition “up the Amazon” to find her the perfect crystal for a more expensive bathtub ($1.6 million for a friggin’ bathtub). There’s more of this outrageousness but you get the point.

Are you and I really any different?

So all of us can laugh our heads off at totally crazy rich people right? After all, we’re level headed and far more mature right? But think about it for a moment… are we really any different?

Yes, we’re different in that we’re probably not rich. We’re not spending billions, or even millions, but I guarantee that all of us have spent money to impress people. Put another way: at one time or another we have all spent money to paint ourselves in a certain light.

Here’s an example the men can relate to. In my childhood school it was all about having the latest and greatest pairs of shoes. I couldn’t compete with the rich kids who had new shoes every month or two, but at least once per year I managed to get my hands on a ridiculously overpriced pair of Nikes. In 8th grade I saved up enough to buy a pair that cost $130! Obviously there was no practical reason for this, it was just for image, just to impress.

Now let’s look at that from a different perspective. Almost half the worlds population lives on less than $2 per day. Around half of those people (about 1/5 of the global population) live on less than $1 per day. That means my $130 shoes were at least 130x their daily wage. How do you think they would feel hearing about my shoes, let alone the designer handbags, fancy cars, and over-sized houses that are the norm in our society? I’m guessing they would have many of the same feelings we do when we hear about those two sisters spending frivolously… don’t you agree?

It’s all about perspective!

Why we’re not content

The devil works in clever ways, distracting us with pretty and shiny things. Why? Because the more we pay attention to them, the less attention we pay to what’s really important in life… Jesus, His message, and our mission.

Of course, not everyone falls for the devil’s tricks to the same degree. There are those who have it bad, the total shopaholics. You know the type. The girl who maxes out a Macy’s credit card account buying the latest fashions. The guy who’s always at Best Buy, upgrading his TV (yet again) and buying other gizmos and gadgets he doesn’t need. Perhaps you can relate.

Not everyone has the same weakness, but you can bet we all have at least some worldly thing – or things – we covet, even if we have enough self control to not actually buy.

If you’re trying to find contentment in worldly things, let me assure you, it will never happen. As soon as you get what you want, you want something else. It’s the oldest trick in the book, but it’s the trick that keeps on getting us.

Contentment is a choice

So what’s the secret to being content with what you have? For the answer, turn to the Bible, not your bank account. A decade ago I would have thought advice like that was stupid and probably would’ve wanted to slap someone for saying it. But after reading the Bible cover to cover, I can honestly say that it is the answer. Pick one up, give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

If you would rather not, that’s your choice. But remember that keeping up with the Joneses is a fight you cannot win. If you think you can reach contentment on your own with $10M, $100M, or $1B perhaps you should consider stories like that of Michael Jackson. He used his wealth to heap possessions as numerous as the sands of the sea, yet was never content with the way he looked or the things he had.

Rather than reaching for more and more only to learn it won’t make you content, consider the billionaire sisters and rethink your position.

Matt’s note: Smart people learn from their mistakes. Really smart people learn from others mistakes.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:11-13

At 18 a catastrophic auto accident left Mike with a mountain of medical bills that ended up on credit cards. He started Credit Card Forum in 2008 to help himself and others use credit cards more wisely. Thankfully, he is now debt free and only uses cards for benefits and rewards. Mike strongly advises against using cards if they will lead to overspending.

Categories // Money Management, Spirituality Tags // contentment, credit cards, jesus christ

The Bible Mission Reading Schedule

12.01.2010 by Matt Jabs //

Prelude info to The Bible Mission

Tomorrow I will publish a post describing The Bible Mission in greater detail, but wanted to get the reading schedule out to you today so those who wish to join can get started today and stay on schedule.

Beginning today – December 1st, 2010 – I will begin reading through the bible 7 times each year.  To accomplish this, approximately 23 chapters will need to be read each day.  To mix it up I have decided to split the reading into 3 daily chunks – Old Testament in the morning, Psalms in the afternoon, and New Testament in the evening.

Psalm 1:1-3 reads, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

I think it’s high time I took the Lord seriously, took Him at His Word, and turned my desire toward Him by spending a good portion of my days reading His Word.  If we do so, the Lord promises to prosper us… and that is the relation to personal finance, although the prospering should not be your desire, a pure desire is a hunger for God’s Word alone.

The Bible Mission reading schedule

Download the reading plan.

Following this reading schedule will allow you to read through the bible seven times per year.  God bless.

Old Testament daily reading (morning)

Dec 01: Genesis 1-16
Dec 02: Genesis 17-28
Dec 03: Genesis 29-40
Dec 04: Genesis 41-Exodus 2
Dec 05: Exodus 3-16
Dec 06: Exodus 17-29
Dec 07: Exodus 30-Leviticus 2
Dec 08: Leviticus 3-14
Dec 09: Leviticus 15-26
Dec 10: Leviticus 27-Numbers 8
Dec 11: Numbers 9-21
Dec 12: Numbers 22-32
Dec 13: Numbers 33-Deuteronomy 8
Dec 14: Deuteronomy 9-24
Dec 15: Deuteronomy 25-Joshua 5
Dec 16: Joshua 6-18
Dec 17: Joshua 19-Judges 8
Dec 18: Judges 9-21
Dec 19: Ruth 1-1 Samuel 13
Dec 20: 1 Samuel 14-26
Dec 21: 1 Samuel 27-2 Samuel 12
Dec 22: 2 Samuel 13-24
Dec 23: 1 Kings 1-10
Dec 24: 1 Kings 11-22
Dec 25: 2 Kings 1-13
Dec 26: 2 Kings 14-1 Chronicles 1
Dec 27: 1 Chronicles 2-11
Dec 28: 1 Chronicles 12-26
Dec 29: 1 Chronicles 27-2 Chronicles 14
Dec 30: 2 Chronicles 15-31
Dec 31: 2 Chronicles 32-Ezra 10
Jan 01: Nehemiah 1-12
Jan 02: Nehemiah 13-Job 10
Jan 03: Job 11-27
Jan 04: Job 28-41
Jan 05: Job 42-Proverbs 13
Jan 06: Proverbs 14-26
Jan 07: Proverbs 27-Song of Solomon 1
Jan 08: Song of Solomon 2-Isaiah 14
Jan 09: Isaiah 15-36
Jan 10: Isaiah 37-55
Jan 11: Isaiah 56-Jeremiah 7
Jan 12: Jeremiah 8-24
Jan 13: Jeremiah 25-39
Jan 14: Jeremiah 40-Lamentations 1
Jan 15: Lamentations 2-Ezekiel 13
Jan 16: Ezekiel 14-26
Jan 17: Ezekiel 27-40
Jan 18: Ezekiel 41-Daniel 6
Jan 19: Daniel 7-Joel 2
Jan 20: Joel 3-Nahum 3
Jan 21: Habakkuk 1-Malachi 4

Psalms daily reading (afternoon)

Dec 01: Psalm 1-5
Dec 02: Psalm 6-8
Dec 03: Psalm 9-13
Dec 04: Psalm 14-17
Dec 05: Psalm 18
Dec 06: Psalm 19-21
Dec 07: Psalm 22-25
Dec 08: Psalm 26-29
Dec 09: Psalm 30-32
Dec 10: Psalm 33-34
Dec 11: Psalm 35-36
Dec 12: Psalm 37-38
Dec 13: Psalm 39-41
Dec 14: Psalm 42-44
Dec 15: Psalm 45-48
Dec 16: Psalm 49-50
Dec 17: Psalm 51-54
Dec 18: Psalm 55-57
Dec 19: Psalm 58-60
Dec 20: Psalm 61-64
Dec 21: Psalm 65-67
Dec 22: Psalm 68-69
Dec 23: Psalm 70-71
Dec 24: Psalm 72-73
Dec 25: Psalm 74-76
Dec 26: Psalm 77-78
Dec 27: Psalm 79
Dec 28: Psalm 80-82
Dec 29: Psalm 83-85
Dec 30: Psalm 86-88
Dec 31: Psalm 89
Jan 01: Psalm 90-93
Jan 02: Psalm 94-96
Jan 03: Psalm 97-101
Jan 04: Psalm 102-103
Jan 05: Psalm 104
Jan 06: Psalm 105-106
Jan 07: Psalm 107
Jan 08: Psalm 108-109
Jan 09: Psalm 110-113
Jan 10: Psalm 114-117
Jan 11: Psalm 118
Jan 12: Psalm 119
Jan 13: Psalm 120
Jan 14: Psalm 121
Jan 15: Psalm 122-124
Jan 16: Psalm 125-132
Jan 17: Psalm 133-135
Jan 18: Psalm 136-139
Jan 19: Psalm 140-143
Jan 20: Psalm 144-146
Jan 21: Psalm 147-150

New Testament daily reading (evening)

Dec 01: Matthew 1-5
Dec 02: Matthew 6-10
Dec 03: Matthew 11-13
Dec 04: Matthew 14-18
Dec 05: Matthew 19-22
Dec 06: Matthew 23-25
Dec 07: Matthew 26-28
Dec 08: Mark 1-4
Dec 09: Mark 5-8
Dec 10: Mark 9-11
Dec 11: Mark 12-14
Dec 12: Mark 15-Luke 1
Dec 13: Luke 2-5
Dec 14: Luke 6-8
Dec 15: Luke 9-11
Dec 16: Luke 12-14
Dec 17: Luke 15-18
Dec 18: Luke 19-21
Dec 19: Luke 22-24
Dec 20: John 1-4
Dec 21: John 5-7
Dec 22: John 8-10
Dec 23: John 11-13
Dec 24: John 14-18
Dec 25: John 19-Acts 1
Dec 26: Acts 2-6
Dec 27: Acts 7-9
Dec 28: Acts 10-14
Dec 29: Acts 15-18
Dec 30: Acts 19-22
Dec 31: Acts 23-27
Jan 01: Acts 28-Romans 4
Jan 02: Romans 5-9
Jan 03: Romans 10-15
Jan 04: Romans 16-1 Corinthians 6
Jan 05: 1 Corinthians 7-12
Jan 06: 1 Corinthians 13-16
Jan 07: 2 Corinthians 1-8
Jan 08: 2 Corinthians 9-Galatians 2
Jan 09: Galatians 3-Ephesians 3
Jan 10: Ephesians 4-Philippians 2
Jan 11: Philippians 3-1 Thessalonians 1
Jan 12: 1 Thessalonians 2-1 Timothy 2
Jan 13: 1 Timothy 3-2 Timothy 3
Jan 14: 2 Timothy 4-Hebrews 4
Jan 15: Hebrews 5-10
Jan 16: Hebrews 11-James 3
Jan 17: James 4-2 Peter 1
Jan 18: 2 Peter 2-1 John 5
Jan 19: 2 John 1-Revelation 5
Jan 20: Revelation 6-14
Jan 21: Revelation 15-22

Download the reading plan.

Customize your reading

Feel free to read the OT, Psalms, and NT readings all in one sitting if you prefer – or – read the daily chapters in whatever order and/or time of day you wish… the most important thing – and the underlying point – is simply to immerse yourself in the Word of God every day.  Let us bring the meaning of Psalm 1:1-3 to life!

Psalm 1:1-3 reads, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Again, the Lord promises to prosper us in this endeavor… and that is the relation to personal finance, although the prospering should not be your desire, a pure desire is a hunger for God’s Word alone.  God bless.

Categories // Life Missions, Spirituality Tags // jesus christ, mission, Spirituality

Good Thoughts for Bad Times

11.11.2010 by Matt Jabs //

What follows is Psalm 12.  While reading it today the Lord revealed how pertinent it is to our world today.  Evil men prevailing in leadership abound today, but the Lord’s Word stands, and eventually all men will be judged for their actions in this life.

Psalm 12

[1] HELP LORD; for the goldy man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. [2] They speak vanity everyone with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. [3] The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: [4] Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? [5] For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. [6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. [7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. [8] The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

Lord have mercy

May the Lord have mercy on us, a wicked and froward generation.  We are wise to humble ourselves, and to return to the Word of the Lord, to read it, to obey it, to exalt it!  That we may again prosper and have joy and have peace.

I will start with myself, we all must.  Return to the Lord, know His Word, thrive, and prosper!

Categories // Spirituality Tags // jesus christ, repent, Spirituality

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Disclaimer

Content on Debt Free Adventure is for entertainment purposes only. Rates & offers from advertisers shown on this website may change without notice: please visit referenced sites for current information. Per FTC guidelines, this website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise. We respect your privacy. Privacy policy.

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