How Budgeting Reveals More About Your Heart Than Your Wallet

My husband and I have really pared down our budget in recent months. Since we got married, our goal has been to live completely free of debt (though we are comfortable having a mortgage). Thus far this has remained beyond our reach.

We did pretty well during the early years of our marriage. At that time, we had two incomes and no children. Now we have one income and three children. In recent years we’ve incurred a number of unexpected expenses, including those associated with major car repairs, plumbing repairs, and our second child’s NICU stay. Though we had money in an emergency fund to cover these sorts of expenses, it didn’t contain anywhere near enough!

In order to make sure we use our income wisely, we have a budget. We sit down at the end of each month and go over our budget for the coming month. To be honest with you, I hate this. This is partly due to the fact that I’m not particularly good with numbers and spreadsheets, but it is mostly due to the fact that prioritizing how we spend a limited amount of money is unpleasant. It’s challenging in practical terms (i.e., figuring out how much…or how little…to put in each budget category), but it is even more difficult spiritually. This is because budgeting provides a mirror for the heart.

What budgeting reveals about the heart

• It reveals priorities. If we spend money on something, then it’s a priority. We may say that our priorities are something in particular (e.g., giving, saving, caring for loved ones), but this is one of those situations where actions speak louder than words. Like many of you, my family spends a large portion of our income on basic living expenses (e.g., food, shelter, electricity, water). These are priorities for obvious reasons. When I look at how we spend the money that we have left over after paying these basic living expenses, I can easily see what things we consider to be important.
• It reveals selfishness and the desire for instant gratification. We rarely have enough money available for me to make discretionary purchases for my kids and myself. I wish I could make these purchases. I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to be able to grab lunch for us when we’ve had a busy morning or wanting to treat my kids to something like ice cream or a new toy. The problem is that I grow jealous of other people. I feel jealous of my husband when he gets to grab a meal at a restaurant (this happens on occasion because his work hours or travel mean he can’t eat a meal we packed at home) or when he gets a new clothing item. I feel jealous when I see the trips that our friends can take or the things that they can buy for their kids. At the root of this jealousy is selfishness. I want the things that I desire and I don’t want to have to wait to be able to afford them.
• It reveals concerns about the opinions of others. We don’t spend much money on clothing. I have plenty of clothes that are in good condition. Some of these items are old, many (probably most) of the items aren’t particularly fashionable, and some don’t fit as well as they once did, but they get the job done. I worry, though, that others notice that I frequently wear the same outfits. I worry that they judge me because I’m not dressed like them, wearing the same boots, scarves, or whatever item happens to be in style this season. We also don’t spend much on activities. I worry about what others think of us when they invite us to go with them to the zoo or a museum and we constantly turn down their offers and suggest free activities instead.
• It reveals where I place my trust. Though there may be hints of this, you can’t necessarily determine where we place our trust from looking at numbers on a spreadsheet. I say this because we do continue to tithe and give, so this gives some indication that we trust God enough to continue giving financially. However, it’s how I feel while creating our budget that really shows me where I am placing my trust. If I feel confident that God will provide for our needs, then I know I’m trusting Him. On the other hand, if I feel anxious, then I know I’m not really trusting God.

I could go on and on because there are a number of other things that budgeting reveals: our fears, our hopes for the future, our beliefs about money, etc. However, I think you get the idea of how budgeting shows us what is in our hearts. No wonder the Bible has so much to say about money! There are a number of verses that stand out to me given our recent experience with our budget.

“‘Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’” Matthew 6:19-21

“He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase…” Ecclesiastes 5:10

“‘Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?’” Matthew 6:25-26

These, and so many other verses, are great to meditate on when budgeting. I’m so glad that a task as practical as budgeting can help me grow spiritually!

Do you budget? If so, has it helped reveal what is in your heart? What have you learned about yourself?

Shared at the following:

Tuesdays with a Twist, Thursday Favorite Things, Over the Moon, and Encouraging Hearts and Home.