Align Heart and Money


24 April 2023

By Sandra Ferguson 
Independence, Missouri, USA 

The marvel of God’s generosity is not just its abundance; it’s how God freely gives to everyone. No one has to earn God’s generosity. 

Principle 3 of A Disciple’s Generous Response reminds us to Align Heart and Money. What forms our view of generosity? Often it’s our experiences. If we have extra money or not enough money, our priorities may become misguided. Jesus knew this was a struggle and reminded everyone: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NRSV). 

Choose Generosity/Discovering Whole-life Stewardship states: 

Managing the money we have, no matter the amount, expresses our desire to love and help God, neighbors, ourselves, and the world. When we focus our giving on God’s purposes, our hearts become aligned with God’s. 

The marvel of God’s generosity is not just its abundance; it’s how God freely gives to everyone. No one has to earn God’s generosity. 

My parents divorced when I was young. When each passed, it was therapeutic for me to reflect on their lives. My parents were chameleons. They mastered the art of loving me and maintaining a daily routine that surrounded me in comfort and safety, even while sometimes masking their fear of being able to provide necessities. 

My mother’s courage and determination meant I never knew how dim our financial situation was. She always took care of me. Absolutely always. 

My mother’s meticulous habit of putting her meager wages in different envelopes—one for the rent, one for food, one for transportation, one for utilities, one for emergencies, and one for giving to our church—helped us manage within our means and still tithe. 

While budgeting and envelopes became a necessity, “incidentals” always cropped up. In junior high, I desperately wanted to participate in the school band. I joined without thinking about the cost. Years later I learned my mother had approached the junior-high administrators and worked out a plan to pay the band fee in monthly installments rather than the customary upfront amount. 

...we’re called to something bigger than ourselves. God invites us to participate in God’s purposes in bringing shalom to the world. Aligning heart and money is part of that journey. 

My dad believed actions spoke louder than words—something I witnessed when I watched as he and my stepmother drove to a friend’s house and put meat in their freezer. They knew the family was going through a tough time. Dad wanted to help but didn’t want the family to know who gave them the food. I have a feeling the family knew. 

Aligning heart and money captures the essence of my parents. It framed their lives, even during difficult times. We each are called to a purpose. We’re not destined to be aimless wanderers. Rather, we’re called to something bigger than ourselves. God invites us to participate in God’s purposes in bringing shalom to the world. Aligning heart and money is part of that journey. 

Practical Tips 

  1. Work together. Involve the whole family in financial planning. If you are single, consider involving another person as an accountability partner and sounding board. 
  2. Plan your spending. Developing a plan provides the opportunity to think through spending decisions and gives you a better chance of making choices that reflect your priorities. It also helps you avoid “impulse” purchases. 
  3. Follow the plan. It takes discipline to tell yourself you’re not eating out or to tell your kids you can’t buy that toy because it’s not in the plan. The plan is just a means to an end. It allows you to fund what you truly value. 
  4. Audit your spending. Track every expense for a month. Notice any patterns. This can help put your spending and values into perspective and discover what changes you might need to make. 
  5. Keep a healthy perspective. Wealth itself is not bad. Wealth can be used for God’s purposes. The pitfall is when we trust wealth instead of God for our overall security. 

About the Author

Sandra Ferguson 

Location: Independence, Missouri, USA 
Congregation: Walnut Gardens 
Priesthood: Bishop 
Jobs: Retired 

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