For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 NIV
Margin with money has been an issue from the beginning of currency and possessions. You can see our tendency to grab all we can and spend it on ourselves and our own desires in the earliest secular and biblical stories as well. It certainly was a concern when Jesus walked the earth and taught us how to reclaim life as God originally intended it. He was teaching His disciples from the top of a mountain with a huge crowd listening in. He told them that their hearts freely told on them – they identified what their true treasure was by the way they lived, regardless of how they declared otherwise. He said the only way to the true satisfaction and life they desired was through submitting their lives and resources to God, His Kingdom and right way of living. Then everything they truly desired would be given to them as well.
Jesus was right. A person's deepest affections and priorities follow what they value most. What we do financially reveals our true passions and priorities – whether material, temporary, or eternal. Financial margin – the space between your income and your expenses – is a godly practice that provides peace, stability, and capacity for generosity. Creating this space is not hoarding. It is intentionally and wisely creating room to respond to life and God without panic.
Financial margin is enabled when we choose contentment over consumerism. Our culture is constantly pushing us for more. We “need” bigger TVs, the latest phone, a newer car, the latest in everything. True financial freedom and peace come from recognizing that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6), and that money is a tool rather than our source of safety and security.
The goal of financial margin is not just having “extra” for selfish reasons or hoarding over-the-top bank accounts. It is for making certain we handle our responsibilities in a way that honors God’s character and reputation. We honor Him and build His Kingdom with our resources. Margin enables generosity. Without margin, we can’t open our hearts to respond well to the needs around us. We think about what we would do if we had the ability. But our impulsive spending and resultant lack of margin squelches those positive desires. When we have margin, we can respond to needs and turn our response into an act of worship.
Financial pressure often leads to anxiety, fear, exhaustion, and relational troubles. Margin enables peace, rest, and joy.
- If you are one of the many people who feel overwhelmed at your lack of financial margin, remember this: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.” Start today. Work with God and you will be surprised where you will be in six months. God is committed to those who commit to His way.