Upside Living in A Downside Economy. Mike Slaughter

The young man said that he had kept the commandments.

      Like many Christian hedonists today, the rich young man was committed to moral living. Yet even though he was pursuing Jesus and was committed to moral living, he still found his values in hedonism, in the pursuit of pleasure. We know this because of what comes next in the story.

      In Mark 10, Jesus said to the young man, "If you wish to be complete, sell your possessions." I don't believe Jesus meant for him to literally sell everything he had. Rather, I believe Jesus meant that he needed to let go of what he was holding onto in his attempt to find meaning and security. Jesus essentially said, "Let go of where you are trying to find life, and focus on the things that God cares about. Then come and follow me."

      The motive of hedonism creates a spirit of coveting. Coveting means to want what we don't have, which often leads to debt. Coveting is failing to celebrate the blessings of what we have been given, and it always leads to conflict. In any dimension of our lives, when we fail to see and celebrate the blessings that God has already given us, we inevitably begin to seek satisfaction in other sources. James calls us adulterous people (4:4) because coveting is adultery (disloyalty) against God.

      Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:34-35). When we fail to see the blessings of what we have in Jesus Christ and seek satisfaction somewhere else, we are saying that Jesus is not enough. But the truth is that we can lose everything we have and still have enough if we have Jesus Christ.

      The idea is not that having money and possessions is bad. It is loving money, or seeking security in money, that we must guard against. The Bible warns, "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). Likewise, the Book of Hebrews instructs, "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for [Jesus] has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you' " (13:5). With that promise, we truly can be content! We are in a good place!

      So, we must continually ask God, "Do I have the right motive?" We also must continually ask God to help us stay motivated.

       Check the Source of Your Motivation

      Many people start something with the right motive but never finish what they started because they don't stay motivated. Motivation is the ongoing force or energy that propels each action toward the next accomplishment. We simply must stay motivated. But where does motivation come from?

      James gives us the answer in these words: "But [God] gives . . . more grace" (4:6). Motivation comes from grace, and grace comes from God. Grace is something we do not deserve or earn; it is a gift. This is why James ends the verse with these words, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

      Have you ever tried to get out of debt only to get frustrated and give up? Have you ever started a diet with the right motive only to quit? What happened? It is called fatigue. How do we stay motivated? God gives us "more grace." God knows that we will fail multiple times, and God's provision is grace.

      Some of us have experienced failure in the area of finances. Others of us have experienced failure in other areas. Eight years ago I made a commitment to exercise and eat healthy, and I am sticking with it. Yet sometimes I fail to exercise or eat right. Despite my failures, however, God's grace enables me to keep on keeping on.

      My family recently celebrated my birthday and my future daughter-in-law's birthday at the same time at my sister's house. My wife, Carolyn, made an apple pie for my future daughter-in-law, Stacy, and a cherry pie for me. My sister, Gayle, also made her incredible homemade ice cream. That is one addiction I have. I can pass on regular ice cream, but there is something about homemade ice cream! So on my birthday I had apple pie, cherry pie, and two big bowls of homemade ice cream! However, it is not my practice to do this. That occasion might be called a failure, but it was not the beginning of a habit. I am thankful that God gives us more grace.

      When it comes to pursuing financial health, a lot of us start with the right motive but fail to stay motivated. Where does lasting motivation come from? It comes from the Lord. Our dependence must be on God alone. We can't manufacture motivation. Even when we fail, God's grace is what sustains us and enables us to persevere.

      Whether it's our health or our finances or any other area of our lives, God gives us more grace.

       Check Who You Are Listening To

      Finally, we must check who we are listening to on a regular basis. A good friend of mine, Ross, is in automobile sales. Of all the professions that are experiencing greater challenges during these trying economic times, automobile sales is surely one of them. But there are some people who always find a way with God. Recently, I said to Ross, "I have known you for many years, and I have never seen you not find a way with God to sell cars. How many cars have you sold this month?" It was three days before the end of the month at the time. Ross said, "I have sold twelve this month." Now, that would be considered good in a stable economy, so it's beyond good in the current economy! Then he added, "My goal is fifteen." I asked him to tell me how he does it. His answer was simple: "I don't listen to the media."

       To keep our motivation, we must be careful to whom we are listening.

      To keep our motivation, we must be careful to whom we are listening. This is why I am continually aware of what I am putting into my mind. The first thing I put in my mind every day is the Word of God. Regardless of what all the indicators say across the globe, I daily feed my mind and my spirit with the Word of God. The other folks I am listening to, including the people whose books I am reading, are those who are demonstrating godly fruitfulness in their lives.

      Take advantage of every opportunity you have to gain financial insights and wisdom. Anyone who desires to build sound financial health seeks wise counsel. My wife, Carolyn, and I have been blessed to have people in our lives who have taught us wise financial counsel, beginning with To keep our motivation, we must be careful to whom we are listening.professors I had in college and seminary who sat down and taught me basic principles about debt and interest rates. Who are the people in your life who can provide wise financial counsel? What opportunities are available to you for financial instruction? Talk with people you know and respect who are knowledgeable in the area of finances. Look for books you might read, workshops or seminars you might attend, courses you might take, or Bible study groups you might join. Consider the benefits of consulting with a financial advisor. Follow the advice of Proverbs 1:5, which says, "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, / and let the discerning get guidance" (NIV), and you will be on your way to achieving financial health!

      Remember, if you are living in defeat in the area of your fi-nances, you don't have to stay there! Regardless of how far you may be in debt or how bleak your situation may be, God can make the impossible possible. It always begins with having the right perspective—God's perspective—and then building on that perspective by keeping the right motives, staying motivated, and seeking wise counsel.