What My Checkbook Says About Me

What My Checkbook Says about Me

Glynnis Whitwer

Imagine walking into church one day to discover all your financial information on display. Your check register is included as a bulletin insert. Your bank statement is in the pastor’s PowerPoint presentation and the message that day is based on how you spent your money last week. How would you respond? Would you sprint out the back door, horrified at the thought of your spending habits being exposed? Or would you perhaps feel a little uncomfortable but trust that your spending was in sync with your values?

The way we handle money—how we earn it, spend it, and give it away—shows what’s important to us. A peek inside our checkbooks reveals what we value most.

In the early years of our marriage, our checkbook definitely revealed the truth about what I valued and trusted—and it wasn’t God. My husband wanted to give 10 percent of our income to the church, and I continually talked him out of it, bargaining the percentage down with the promise of increasing it over time. My lack of faith (in God and my husband) shouted through the entries in my check register.

Years later, I finally gave in to my husband’s repeated requests to tithe. Sadly, it wasn’t with serene faith and confidence. Rather, I secretly believed I’d be able to say, “I told you so” once and for all. Imagine my surprise when God proved Himself faithful in spite of my unfaithfulness.

I learned a life-changing lesson: God can be trusted. Listening to great sermons didn’t teach me this. Hearing how God answered my friend’s prayer didn’t teach me this. I had to learn it for myself. In doing so, I learned that one of the best ways to experience God’s trustworthiness is in the area of finances.

Though many of us are uncomfortable talking about money, the Bible refers to it more than two thousand times. God knows that how we manage this part of life is important to being an effective Christian, particularly because few people will ever see the details of our obedience in this area.

Holding money with an open hand shows we trust God. He’s given us everything we have: our health, our jobs, our homes, and our financial resources. Giving back to God shows we trust that His Word is true and that we trust Him to provide for our needs.

At the heart of the decision to give money to God is whether or not He can be trusted. The answer is yes—God can be trusted! Today, through the grace of God, my checkbook lines up with my values and my profession of faith.

Dear Lord, You are worthy of all my trust. Forgive the times I doubt You and choose to trust myself. Thank You for giving me another chance to obey Your command to give with a generous heart. Help me to be a woman who lives out her faith in her checkbook as well as her words. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

How we handle money reveals what we really value most in life.

REFLECT

Take a look at your bank statement or check register for the past few months. What do your spending habits (as well as what you don’t spend money on) reveal about your values?

RESPOND

Commit to keep a spending diary for one week. As you enter expenses, take time to pray, asking God if there’s anything He wants you to change.

POWER VERSES

Deuteronomy 14:23; Malachi 3:10