Many things can cause discontentment. We often tell ourselves: “If I lived someplace else, if I had more money, if I had a better job.” God tells us: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have  . . . never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

In his book Taming the Money Monster, Ron Blue identifies two reasons people make foolish financial decisions: 1) The Search for Security, and 2) The Search for Significance. “The problem is that most of us have an earthly perspective and equate security with position or possessions – something other than an eternal relationship with God,” writes Blue. Both security and significance are legitimate needs, but they’ve already been met by God if we are rightly related to him. We need to heed the words of Matthew 6:25-33, “Do not worry about your life.”
One day, we must stand before the Lord and give an account of what we have done with His resources. More importantly, what has been our motive as we have viewed our resources, or lack thereof? Have we been content? Galatians 1:10 asks us: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

The writer of Proverbs 30:8-9 gives us godly wisdom: “Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” We all need to pray for this right attitude toward our finances, to have a greater trust that “God shall supply all our needs according to His riches and glory” (Philippians 4:19).

Paul tells us “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13).

The drive for significance and security often causes us to be discontent. When we attempt to meet our own needs in our own ways, many times we make bad financial decisions to create our own sense of security or significance. When we continue to make these bad decisions, we often acquire serious debt problems, bringing even more discontentment. The Bible not only gives us direction on how to avoid debt problems, but it also directly points out the root causes of our difficulties. The problems of lack of discipline, discontentment, and lack of security and significance are timeless. We need to resist the world when it tries to influence our financial decisions, and exercise self-control and the renewing of our minds.

Jeff Masters is an Elder at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and has 20 years experience in Financial Counseling and Professional Financial Planning.  He has a Master’s Degree in Administration, is certified with Crown Financial Ministries, and is a qualified advisor with Kingdom Advisors.  You can reach Jeff at [email protected]