"Your Checkbook is Your Autobiography"

I was listening to K-Love's spring fundraiser on the radio this morning. (If you are not familiar with K-Love, it is a Christian non-profit, completely listener supported radio station.) One of the djs made a comment that I've been pondering off and on all day: "Your checkbook is your autobiography."

He went on to expand on this by saying how you spend your money (or don't spend your money) gives insight into your character and what you value. The purpose, of course, was to encourage more listeners to give to K-Love. (If you visit their website and read all the testimonials about how many people, all over the world, have been impacted positively by this ministry, you can understand why he spoke so passionately.) In this day and age, we really ought to say something like "your checkbook, online bill pay bank statement, PayPal account and credit card statement combined are your autobiography..." but I think the dj's original comment is much more catchy and easier to remember, don't you?

What does your checkbook tell about you? If someone was to pour over it, study it in detail, would they find that you've recently purchased a large flat screen tv, but haven't donated a penny to a church or charity in months? How do you think that would look to a potential employer or that young woman you are trying to impress? You might as well write "greedy, selfish, self-centered" in big bold letters on that resume. Your checkbook says you value things over people and God.

Are you a regular tither and giver to your church or charity of choice? Your checkbook announces "generous, compassionate, self-disciplined." You value honoring God over hoarding money. If your checkbook balance is regularly low yet you still tithe, it also shows you trust God, even during the fiscal hard times.

Do you go out to eat every few days, but only do the minimum payment on your credit card? Your checkbook sighs "self-indulgent, short-sighted, undisciplined." You value your fleshly appetites (your stomach) over getting and staying out of debt. You are a poor steward of your finances.

Do you regularly save a percentage of your income and put it into a savings or retirement fund when you can? Your checkbook booms "self-disciplined, long-sighted, practical." You are a good steward of your finances.

Jesus spoke on this topic in Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Since we live in such a materialistic society here in America, how we spend our money (our treasure) says a lot about our hearts. What would the record of your treasure - your checkbook - say about yours?

Just something to ponder.

Source
Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford (notes). The Student Bible. NIV Version