Right now you are young and the world around you is small. As you get older the world around you gets a little bigger until eventually the world is huge and you may feel very small in significance. You may think that other people are more important or more correct than you because their voices are bigger. I am going to tell you a little secret: YOU ARE significant! YOUR voice is heard. YOU are as big and as important as you make yourself, so aim high. The 'voices of the world' try and tell you how to be big and important, but only Heavenly Father can tell you where he needs you, and when you listen to Him he will help you reach your highest purpose in this life. Don't ever think that someone is correct just because a lot of other people agree. Remember, that even Satan was able to lead away a THIRD of the hosts of heaven with his big voice, and they were cast out of God's presence. BIG and LOUD does NOT MEAN RIGHT!
I just wanted to tell you a little bit about one of the things that holds a lot of power to people of the world. MONEY! It may seam like everyone's goal in life is to obtain more of it. The voices of the world will tell you that as long as you have money, you can have anything and everything that you want. There is some truth to that, but the goal in life isn't to have anything and everything we want. The goal of life is to follow Jesus Christ and learn to be like him through self-mastery. Satan is so sneaky by tricking people to believe that their goal and purpose is about having more instead of BEING MORE. Money is not bad, money is a great tool to obtain and work with. With more money you can give more to the needy, acquire a better education, and let's be honest - you can have a lot of fun with what money can buy, but money will NEVER make you a bigger or better person. We learned from the Widow's Mite that the amount of money you give to the Lord is not as significant as the percentage of ourselves we are willing to give. So, always remember that in the grand scheme of life and our purpose here, the quantity of things we obtain means nothing compared to our stewardship of what God has blessed us with.
People will tell you how to spend your money on amazing things that will make life easier, better, happier, and even longer. The things they sell may actually work, but REMEMBER what your goal and purpose is! As loud as their voice is, be sure to listen to the still small voice of the spirit before you listen to their loud claims and cures. I don't want you to misunderstand what I am saying. I am NOT saying that you should seek destitution and poverty. I am saying that you need to know how to use a tool before you break the tool or the tool may break you. Like any tool, we should learn how it works, why it works the way is works, and how to best use it to utilize its benefits. When I was working in a salon as a hairdresser I carried my cutting shears with me at all times. I didn't let other people use my shears, because to an untrained person they can be disastrous and even dangerous. Shears were just my tool of employment. Money is your tool to obtaining most things, so it's even more important to learn all you can about it to increase your success in using it with little pain.
Borrowing Money: Just like using someone else's shears in the salon, borrowing money is not a great idea. The voices of the world wants so badly to be in control of your money so they can use it however they want. They want you to be in their power. They want you to be without a voice, a thought, or especially any control over one of the greatest tools to wield worldly power. To be out of control is Satans plan. When you give someone else control, you are handing over a piece of your agency, and allowing someone else to have power over an aspect of your life. Unfortunately, this worldly power culture has become so prevalent that it is nearly impossible to go throughout life without borrowing, so let me give you a few tips:
1. ONLY borrow for necessities of life: vehicle, home, education. When you are in debt you do not own what you think is yours. The lender is your boss as long as you take from them. The world's voice might tell you that you can afford more, but they don't care about you. I'm going to give you advice because I do care for you. A bank lender will tell you the MAXIMUM amount you can borrow. . . what that translates out to in caring person language is "this is the absolute most we will let you borrow, because any more and it will destroy your life." There is sometimes a big difference between what you are allowed to borrow and what you should borrow. It's like sales at stores. I know many of us are guilty of buying more because it's a deal and 'easy money', but when it comes down to basic math you will spend more if you're buying things that you weren't planning on buying. Be sure to do your research, do your math, and spend some time communing with Heavenly Father to help you make the best choice.
2. NEVER spend more than you can pay back! When I was young I used to think that wealthy people were the ones who have the big houses, the fancy cars, and the nice clothes. As I've gotten older I've learned that there are companies who want you to have whatever you want in life. . . (sounds great right?) . . . in exchange for paying them WAY more than what the items are worth. They've given these arrangements the lovely names credit cards and interest. Beware of their cords and shackles that will so easily bind you. With that said, I will add that when used correctly, I think credit cards are wonderful, so just KNOW YOUR LIMITS. Don't give up your agency by maxing out what is offered, when you stay in control you can use credit cards to your benefit. Here are Dad and my rules for credit cards: monitor them regularly so you know what's been taken out and never charge more on your card than what you are able to pay off in that billing cycle. I now know that what someone has or what someone makes means nothing. Anyone can spend money and acquire stuff. We see hollywood icons who made millions loose everything in a matter of months, and I've seen people spend way more than they have to enjoy the comforts of society by placing the handcuffs of debt on by choice. This is not joy or happiness. The principle of money is the same whether it be $100 or $1000. If you can't hang on to a little bit of money you will not be able to hang on to a lot of money either, your money managing skills don't suddenly change when you make more money. We can learn a lot from the PARABLE of the TALENTS. Wealth is about how much of what you've earned you can retain and invest, being free from the shackles of debt, not about how much stuff you have acquired. Here is another great example that is more eloquently put in LUKE 16:10.
I'm not going to tell you how to spend all of your money, but I will tell you where some of you money needs to go.
How should money be used?
1. Pay a full tithing and make generous donations. This is a law made in heaven. We know how gravity works because it's effects can be viewed in plane sight. The law of tithing works the same way. When you pay a full tithing you will be blessed.
James E. Talmage has said:“Tithing is the Lord’s revenue system, and He requires it of the people, not because He is lacking in gold or silver, but because [we] need to pay it. …The prime … purpose behind the establishment of the law of the tithe is the development of the soul of the tithe-payer, rather than the providing of revenue. The latter is an all important purpose, for so far as money is needed for the carrying on of the work of the Church, the Lord requires money that is sanctified by the faith of the giver; but blessings beyond estimate … are assured unto him who strictly conforms to the law of the tithe because the Lord hath so commanded.” (James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith, 12th ed., Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1924, pp. 528–29; italics added.)
2. Eliminate Debt. Work as aggressively as you are able to unbind the shackles of debt. If you have multiple debts, never miss the minimum payments, and pay on time. If you are able to, double or triple the payment amounts on the smaller debts one at a time until those are eliminated and then do the same thing on the bigger ones until eventually they are all paid off. Use a FINANCIAL CALCULATOR to help with the process.
3. Save for the future. When you are young you feel like you have all the time in the world to worry about the future, but time goes by quicker than you think. Start saving as soon as you can for retirement. Some financial experts suggest putting in 10%-15% of your income into retirement accounts and investments for the future.
4. Save for an emergency. Emergencies happen and we can't determine when. Begin a savings account for emergencies. Aim to have a 3-6 month supply of money to cover all of your families needs, and then add to it as often as you can.
5. Create a realistic budget. Diets frequently fail to produce long-term results because when a diet is finished they go right back into bad eating habits. Money is no different, if you restrict your money too much, you may end up with some binge spending that will completely throw all your plans out the window. Follow a strict budget that is carefully monitored, but be realistic. Allow in your budget wiggle room and 'fun-mon', as we call it, to go to a movie, buy non-essential food items like ice cream at the store, or to grab a smoothy occasionally. If you're not budgeting carefully you will find that money is gone just like a drippy faucet looses water down the drain, with nothing to show for it. When you've budgeted in the excess than it feels like more of a treat to go out and buy the non-essential things.
6. Moderation in all things. There may be times in your life where you are blessed with an abundance. After you've done 1-4 you will probably want to use some of the abundance to celebrate the hard work it took to get there. There is nothing wrong in enjoying the fruits of your labors, but keep in mind that pride can come when you forget the journey it took to get what you are blessed with. When I make a batch of brownies I could easily eat the whole thing, but the consequence of doing that would be an upset stomach and a few extra pounds on the scale. When we 'devour' our gifts in instant gratification we are not able to fully enjoy them, share them, and utilize them in the future. Just because your cup runneth over doesn't always mean that you need to buy a new cup. Be happy and grateful and refrain from feelings of entitlement. My cousin once was talking to me about a family that was well off and I will always remember the way he described them, "They're rich, but they make their own bread" It had nothing to do with actually making bread, but was a metaphor for the type of people they were. They were wealthy, AND they were hard working, AND resourceful. Living a frugal life has nothing to do with how much money you make, it is lifestyle choice for any budget. You can still buy nice things and live a frugal life by choosing areas you want to spend more and other areas that you don't mind spending less in. A Hollywood story caught my attention: HERE. Spend wisely.
You will find that people will find ways to acquire the things that are most important to them, so we should not make any assumptions or judgements about how people spend. Worry about yourself and know that not everyone has the same life goals as you. Quite a while ago a friend of mine and I were talking about a trip we had gone on and she made the comment that she could never afford doing something like that. I thought it was funny, because she frequently goes to the salon to get her hair and nails done and I always think that I could never afford to do that regularly. If we don't make a budget for something and make it a priority than we were both right, I will never afford regular salon pampering and she will never afford our trip. It's simple. We will find a way to afford the things that are most important to us whether it be a vacation, weekly date nights, traveling the world, furniture, etc. It applies to everything and it is a good reminder to plan and budget wisely. Some things may take sacrifice to achieve, but if it is important enough to us to make those sacrifices than the way will open.
6. Moderation in all things. There may be times in your life where you are blessed with an abundance. After you've done 1-4 you will probably want to use some of the abundance to celebrate the hard work it took to get there. There is nothing wrong in enjoying the fruits of your labors, but keep in mind that pride can come when you forget the journey it took to get what you are blessed with. When I make a batch of brownies I could easily eat the whole thing, but the consequence of doing that would be an upset stomach and a few extra pounds on the scale. When we 'devour' our gifts in instant gratification we are not able to fully enjoy them, share them, and utilize them in the future. Just because your cup runneth over doesn't always mean that you need to buy a new cup. Be happy and grateful and refrain from feelings of entitlement. My cousin once was talking to me about a family that was well off and I will always remember the way he described them, "They're rich, but they make their own bread" It had nothing to do with actually making bread, but was a metaphor for the type of people they were. They were wealthy, AND they were hard working, AND resourceful. Living a frugal life has nothing to do with how much money you make, it is lifestyle choice for any budget. You can still buy nice things and live a frugal life by choosing areas you want to spend more and other areas that you don't mind spending less in. A Hollywood story caught my attention: HERE. Spend wisely.
You will find that people will find ways to acquire the things that are most important to them, so we should not make any assumptions or judgements about how people spend. Worry about yourself and know that not everyone has the same life goals as you. Quite a while ago a friend of mine and I were talking about a trip we had gone on and she made the comment that she could never afford doing something like that. I thought it was funny, because she frequently goes to the salon to get her hair and nails done and I always think that I could never afford to do that regularly. If we don't make a budget for something and make it a priority than we were both right, I will never afford regular salon pampering and she will never afford our trip. It's simple. We will find a way to afford the things that are most important to us whether it be a vacation, weekly date nights, traveling the world, furniture, etc. It applies to everything and it is a good reminder to plan and budget wisely. Some things may take sacrifice to achieve, but if it is important enough to us to make those sacrifices than the way will open.
When things don't work:
I would like to say that if you follow the above guidelines you will always have enough and you will be prosperous, but I can't. Remember that money is a means to an end, it is a tool, not the end in itself. Sometimes even the best tools can malfunction and break. Elder Marvin J. Ashton said,"The wind and waves will periodically interfere with our chosen course, even in financial matters; but the laws of the gospel can bring us back on course and guide us to peaceful waters." Most likely, at some point in your life, you will find yourself in need. Follow the financial principles I have told you as best as you can, and praise God for his endless love. To loose everything is hard, sometimes it may feel like it is more than you can bare, but I assure you that the Savior has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Sometimes when things are hard, you may have to borrow more than you can pay back right then, just do the best you can with a prayerful heart. I am not a perfect steward with all that Heavenly Father has given me, but I am trying and when I fall short of my potential I fall to my knees and ask for help. Keep moving forward no matter how hard things get. It may mean cutting back, a move, selling a car, or buying things second hand, but this is all just stuff. Like Job, we can prove to our Heavenly Father that no matter how we receive our trials of refinement, we can start and end each day on our knees in prayer and be up on our feet ready to work the rest of the time. Follow President Gordon B. Hinckley's life council:
Be grateful
Be smart
Be clean
Be true
Be humble
Be prayerful
Don't make assumptions or judgements about other peoples finances. We never know where someone is on their journey of life. When Christ lived he loved many poor AND rich people who chose to be wise stewards of what they were given. Do not assume that if they are poor they have not been smart with their money. Do not assume that if they are rich they are prideful. We are all fighting a different battle to prove to ourselves our faithfulness despite adversity, but adversity cannot be given to everyone in the same manner or dosage. One persons trials can be another persons greatest strength, and that is the beauty of charity and service. We are all created differently so that we can compliment one another and help build each other up. Be a builder of others instead of a wrecker. The only assumption you should ever make is that everyone needs your love. That doesn't mean that you can allow yourself to be governed by 'the voice of the world'. Only allow yourself to be governed by your own convictions rooted in the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ.
"Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them."-Jeffrey R. Holland GENERAL CONFERENCE TALK HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment