Financial Friday 12/6/19
“Hey, you look like you could use a lifesaver.”
This was the tagline for many years on commercials for LifeSavers. LifeSavers, one of America’s favorite candies (love the butter rum!), were created back in 1912 as a “summer candy” that wouldn’t melt in the heat of summer. Its name is derived from its shape, which happens to be a life preserver thrown to people who have fallen into the water. We see these life-rings on ships, beside swimming pools and hanging on lifeguard stands at the beach. In the commercials I remember from many years ago, there were usually two people, one of whom was facing some terrible situation (like missing the game winning shot or getting dumped by a girlfriend). So their friend would pull out a roll of the candy and say “you look like you could use a LifeSaver.”
There is no worse feeling of hopelessness and helplessness than drowning in debt or being swept out to sea by the riptide of financial problems. Unfortunately, in these situations we become desperate for someone to throw us a life saver. And so we are tempted to grasp at anything that looks like it might bring relief even if the life saver is more like a noose pulling us further adrift. I strongly believe in the old adage “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.” There is no easy, quick way to get out of debt. It takes time, wisdom, discipline, humility, hard work, and usually help from someone and something.
One the best books written recently to help with all aspects of financial management and especially debt is called “TOO MUCH: LIVING WITH LESS IN THE LAND OF MORE.” The book was written by my friend, Gary Johnson, who recently retired from pastoring The Creek church in Indianapolis. It’s just a great book and can be a real LifeSaver for you. I have several copies of the book for sale for $5. Just let me know you want one and I’ll get it to you.
In this book he boils down all the Bible has to say into a simple formula:
4 Principles: Gratitude, Contentment, Trust, Humility PLUS
4 Practices: Debt free, Savings, Budgeting, Giving = REAL PROFIT
Usually we think more in terms of the mechanics of money management: Saving, Spending, budgeting, eliminating debt. And, yet, the real battle is first having the right MIND about money. Things like gratitude, contentment, trust, humility. Right thinking about money leads to right actions with money. His contention in the book is that we as Christians simply need to live with less and spend less. We need to learn contentment in a nation built on and fueled by consumerism and discontentment. This is no easy thing to do. But contentment is truly the real lifesaver. And as the apostle Paul wrote, we need to learn the secret of being content in all situations.
Chris Higgins 