YOUR FINANCES: FOCUSING ON THE BIG PICTURE
By: Austin Pryor
 Perhaps you have heard the tale of three bricklayers working on a major project. When asked what they were making, the first said, "$18 an hour." The next replied, "We're making a wall to help support the roof." But the third said, "We're building a cathedral for worshipping God!" They were all engaged in the same task, but only one of them caught the bigger vision.
A new version of this story could feature investors contacting their brokers to explore recommendations for their financial strategy. A spouse, or one of their children, comes along and asks what they're doing. One says, "Oh, just placing some mutual fund orders." Another replies, "I'm investing for our future." But the third responds, "I'm managing God's money for His glory."
Do you have a big vision for stewardship - how you manage your financial resources? Or do you think of it merely as paying the bills, putting some money into an investment account, and giving a little to support charitable causes? If your money management routine seems humdrum, you have lost sight of the big picture. Your financial decisions have the potential for life-changing blessings and eternal impact - for you, your loved ones, and those who benefit through your giving. Make sound decisions and, like the faithful stewards in the parable of the talents, your efforts will bring a smile to the Master. Make indifferent or undisciplined decisions and one day you will discover that you have wasted a lifetime of opportunities.
Here is a starter list, for instance, of common failures among young families: Failure to develop a spending plan that assures they end up with a monthly surplus rather than spending more than they earn. Failure to assign high priority to giving generously to God's kingdom work. Failure to be responsible in the use of credit. Failure to drive a car or live in a home within your financial means. Failure to start and maintain a contingency fund. Failure to contribute strategically to a retirement account. Failure to learn basic principles for investing wisely.
None of these tasks is particularly difficult, but they all require self-discipline, effort and a degree of sacrifice. But the end result is worth it. Not only because we will enjoy greater success in money matters, but more importantly, living up to our potential brings glory to God, the ultimate giver of all our resources. In his book, Pierced by the Word: 31 Meditations for Your Soul, John Piper writes:
"God made us with the highest creaturely purpose in mind - to enjoy and display the Creator's glory. This is why we were made ('All things were created through Him and for Him' - Colossians 1:16). This is why we eat and drink ('So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God' - 1 Corinthians 10:31). This is why we pray ('Whatever you ask the Father in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son' - John 14:13). This is why we do all good deeds ('Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven' - Matthew 5:16)."
Piper adds, "That is why we exist - to display the glory of God.... When we fulfill this reason for being, we have substance. There is weight and significance in our existence. Knowing, enjoying, and thus displaying the glory of God is a sharing in the glory of God. Not that we become God. But something of His greatness and beauty is on us as we realize this purpose for our being-to image-forth His excellence. This is our substance.
"Not to fulfill this purpose for human existence is to be a mere shadow of the substance we were created to have. Not to display God's worth by enjoying Him above all things is to be a mere echo of the music we were created to make."
Austin Pryor is publisher of Sound Mind Investing, America's best-selling financial newsletter written from a biblical perspective. He has written the book, Sound Mind Investing. .
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