Ottawa writer Karen Monie reflects on biblical ideas on using our money at Christmas and all year round.
When the topic of finances comes up, my friends and I end up agreeing that times are tough and it’s only getting worse.
How is it, then, that I find myself cruising through each day with a contented humming in my heart. Is it that I'm well-off? Far from it.
I come from a Pentecostal background where miracles are still commonly seen. But while I’m always open to financial miracles from God, I am also playing my part in managing the resources God has given me and practising the good stewardship we have all been called to.
This means staying on top of my finances, keeping and following a budget, and being aware of where things are. I’ve also spent time learning about managing finances from a godly perspective and managing other small streams of income.
All of this has helped me to survive financial hardships and taught me above all to rely on God and His principles for my wellbeing.
Christmas is around the corner, and for many of us it’s the time of year that budget and responsibility become very loose terms. We want to wow our children with amazing gifts, we want to for once – after a long year – let go of anything requiring mental energy, and turn off our brain for some days so we can spend without constraints, what I like to call “financial outage.”
Who wants financial restraint at Christmas?
If you’re unfamiliar with this cycle, then you’re among the few with great discipline. More likely you know what follows: regret, stress and a genuine “How did I wind up here?” moment.
Is the problem that we know nothing about tracking our expenses? No. The problem is much deeper. The issue is our hearts.
How many of us have paused to ponder about what treasures the Bible is saying we should store in Matthew 6:19–21? It most certainly has nothing to do with the physical things we currently own.
Seeking any kind of lasting financial peace will require we first do some inward work. As Proverbs 4:23 counsels us, we need to first tend to our heart, because whatever we allow in will influence our actions.
Just like a good turkey dinner requires a fair amount of time marinating and getting all the seasonings down to the bones and marrow, arriving at a place of financial soundness requires preparatory internal work that takes time, patience and attention.
Five baby steps
1. Motive
Proverbs 16:2 can help us before we go on that huge impulse-driven Christmas shopping, which can easily feel like, "If I don't buy a Christmas gift, they won't survive! "
"All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD." This leads us to stop and ask why we need to buy these people gifts. Are we driven by true love that brings peace and calm to our soul, or is it a near-anxiety experience where we feel overwhelmed and restless?
One rule of thumb that helps me in times like these is doing something only if I feel calm and peaceful about it. God doesn't want us stressed, which is why He has said that we give according to our hearts (2 Corinthians 9:7–9). Stress not only disconnects us from God, it strips us of joy and peace.
If you're unsure of your motives, try using Psalm 139:23–24 as your prayer. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Practice: With this step you can take a look at your list, identify those gifts you can actually afford and come up with other, simpler – even homemade – alternatives to replace those gift ideas that are financially out of reach.
2. Is your house in order?
I love Proverbs 27:22–24. “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.”
This verse reminds me financial security is very volatile, and what is here today can be gone in a whiff. In our pre-Christmas context, this verse is saying we should be aware of our financial standing. We may feel pretty confident and trusting of our financial viability, but that can change tomorrow, and so even with plenty we should still spend with the future in mind.
Practice: Have a budget and stick to it. The only exception should be critical situations of loss or health.
3. Discerning wisdom
Making financial decisions when emotional is never a wise thing to do. When we’re emotional, we act before we think. Profit-driven businesses understand this and thrive on this weakness for their benefit. This is why commercials mostly play on how the products make you feel, not what it actually does.
Let’s consider Proverbs 3:21–22. "My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment. They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.”
If we are to have financial peace, we are to pinpoint and minimize the attention we give to the things we know will likely derail us from the path of wisdom and unto the path of unwise financial decisions.
Practice: If you are considering making a non-essential purchase, don’t rush to get it. Push the urge to the side and find an essential task or errand to tackle (to get your emotions in check). When you come back to this purchase, ask yourself if you will stress or struggle financially if you purchased it now. If the answer to any is yes, consider other alternatives to get it and remind yourself that you can still find joy in an alternative (second-hand, borrowing, etc).
4. Pick your costs
We must choose what is most important. Is it:
Will your children be disappointed that they didn’t get the latest Xbox or Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Tower? Probably.
Luke 14:28 has something to say about towers. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?"
This season might be a good opportunity to show our children that we will still be okay without those things and to teach the importance of contentment and the value of giving rather than receiving.
Practice: A budget can help you maintain control on your finances, and a spending journal will help keep track of your spending habits and patterns. There are also apps you can use for this, but actually writing down the figures by hand helps you process and analyze the data.
5. Give according to your actual, not ideal, ability
I’m a giver by nature. But lately, I’ve had to slim down my spending budget and get creative with gifts. And to be honest, it hurts sometimes when I have to accept that instead of getting the latest gadget for my kids, the way I need to go is to get pants for their ever-growing bodies. But being truthful about your circumstances is better for long-term peace. We can focus on what we really can give – perhaps not even something from the store.
Think of Acts 3:6 where Peter says, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"
For example, perhaps we can’t afford to go out to dine with friends. Can we instead invite them to Christmas night at our church? Giving does not have to be monetary. We have other things to give that are worth more than possessions that can break, be lost or forgotten, and give a joy that’s only temporary.
Practice: Politely turn down invitations that require you to spend more than your budget. Make handmade goods or offer services. I, for instance, am good at photography and cooking, so this Christmas I can offer mini photoshoots to my friends and their families (a gift that’s valued at $150) and might have a potluck dinner with friends. If we’re feeling a little ambitious, we might throw in a Secret Santa, making sure to stick to a reasonable dollar limit that ranges from $10 to $20.
Sidenote: It’s okay if this exercise brings about a realization that’s not all rosy. The truth is useful for freeing us from unrealistic expectations, pride, financial stress from debts, and anxiety. It’s humbling, and humility will keep you grounded in reality.
The journey starts in the heart
The journey to financial peace isn't found in a complex spreadsheet or the latest investment tip. It begins with the quiet work of protecting your heart and questioning your deepest motivations. By diligently choosing calmness over anxiety, thoughtfulness over impulse, and reality over idealism, these five mindset-based steps guide us toward wiser stewardship. This path requires patience, attention, and above all, humility to accept where we are right now.
We start by asking that crucial question – What is my motive? – and then trust that external order will follow that internal shift, bringing us true, sustainable financial peace that no market turbulence can take away.