Everyone is after A GOOD DEAL. Unfortunately we don’t always find it. Sometimes we have to settle for something cheap. The old saying goes, “If your outgo overcomes your income, your upkeep will be your downfall.” Dad repeated this time and again, but for some reason I didn’t ‘get it.’ Credit cards enter the scene. All of a sudden, all “good deals” were “affordable.” Then the bills started mounting and I started to ‘get it.’ Paying off those awful monthly minimum payment bills is not easy. Never-ending!!!
Dad always said, “It’s not a good deal when you can’t afford it.” Seeking a ‘good deal’ is always the most desired, but sometimes “settling for less” is the best thing. Now, good deals need repair, or become outdated in a month, and then (if you use a credit card to purchase it you go and find yet another ‘good deal.’ Then add more monthly payments. Yuck.
All of a sudden, if you didn’t have it before hand, you have this sick feeling in your stomach. The “hot-sweats” begin, repairs are now on top of the purchase on the credit card. Creditors love it, but I sure didn’t. Too many times, cards were maxed out, or balances were transferred to “better” credit cards. So it goes…
What does this have to do with anything? Well, perhaps someone can learn from my early financial mistakes.
1. Settle for less instead of using a credit card. in other words, buy what you can afford.
2. Don’t let money problems become such a heavy burden, that you cannot enjoy life or seek first the kingdom of God.
3. If it’s too late, then use a strategy called “snow-balling” to get the card(s) dealt with once and for all. (“Snow-ball” method is where you pay off the smallest card, and then instead of spending that extra money to go into debt, use it one the balance of the next card and begin to pay off that one quickly, and so on. Pay all credit cards off. If you have a mortgage, then start paying on the principle with money now freed up from paid off credit cards.
4. Get life under control by living within your means… ie “SETTLE FOR LESS UNTILL YOU CAN AFFORD MORE.”
5. (This should be first) Put God first!!! Never put Him in a place other than #1.
Yes, we all want a “GOOD DEAL.! Nothing wrong with that. (Yard sales calling!)
You may recall, in John 15, that Jesus said, “I AM THE TRUE VINE.” Go ahead, read the chapter. You will see an active Gardener as well. The point we want to make now is that when Jesus said he is the “TRUE VINE,” he is implying that there are other vines… but HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT TRULY SUSTAINS LIFE. Truly good QUALITY! The BEST! “You may say, “I can’t afford to be part of that Vine.” Wrong! You can’t afford NOT TO BE part of this Vine. This is Jesus. I mean you can’t get better “quality” because God sent his VERY BEST! Don’t even pause to consider the other “vines”(“good deals” because they are not what you want, not really. Even if they are “cheaper,” they will never sustain real life like the one Jesus offers.
We are always worried about the COST of course. Well, hear this. JESUS PAID IT ALL. John 10 speaks of how he gave (PAID WITH) his life out of His love. Think about it. He loved us so much, he was willing to die in shame, so we might be raised in glory. This ‘deal’ is not cheap! It does have a price. “A teacher of the Law of Moses came up to Him and said, “Teacher, I’ll go anywhere with you!” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests But the Son of Man doesn’t have a place to call his own.” Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.” Jesus answered, “Come with me, let the dead bury their dead.” (Matthew 8:18-22 CEV) Crosses are not cheap, and the world doesn’t consider this cross a “good deal.” “Then He said to them ALL, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 NKJV)
Looking back, I see a young boy about 10 years old, walking to the front, confessing Jesus as Lord, and being baptized into Jesus. Years later, after a dark journey to a ‘pig pen,’ did I come to appreciate the marvelous grace He offers. Now re-dedicated to Him, can I look and see the price is WORTH IT ALL. It’s worth EVERYTHING! Now I know. I need no credit card for this. I don’t worry about payments and interest. Jesus will always be there, on His throne, ready to save, and keep his people.
That’s a “GOOD DEAL!”
Grow in grace people!
