(Be sure to see the previous posts to
get the context of this article.)
I'd like to take
these principles and apply them to some situations in order to
explain the idea in more detail. I won't be covering all possible
issues and so if your struggle is in a different area, you'll need to
take the concept and apply it to your situation. Also, I will be
oversimplifying these concepts. Each scenario could be the topic for
a book but we're going to discuss them in less than one printed page.
For the first
example, let's take personal finance. I know of many people who find
themselves in a financial bind. The scenario I'm visualizing involves
a normal working family who have a job, but find themselves
struggling with their finances.
First
we need to know the truths involved in this situation. A few of them
are 1) Man's life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions. (Luke 12:15); 2) My God will supply all of your needs
(Philippians 4:19); 3) He who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully
(2 Corinthians 2:9); 4) You can't continually spend more than you
take in; 5) You can't spend the same money twice; etc. etc.
As we accumulate
truths related to money, we need to embrace those truths and accept
them as operational even for us in our own personal circumstances.
Now comes the hard
part. We need to live life accordingly. If life does not consist of
the abundance of my possessions, I don't need to accumulate stuff
just because I want to. I might want the latest flat screen TV or
electronic gadget, but since my life does not consist of these
things, I don't have to purchase them. But here's where the battle
comes in. Something inside me wants stuff. Why should I have to use
an old analog TV when all of my friends have the cool digital kind?
Another truth is
that I can't spend the same money twice. If I buy the TV, I can't use
that money to buy shoes. I can't put it in the bank to save for a
rainy day fund. I can't use it on my family vacation. I might wish
with all of my heart that I could do it all, but I can't and I have
to accept that fact. I need to learn to live within the bounds of the
truth.
I kind of look at
it somewhat similarly to a football game. The players can have a
great time giving their all on the field. But suppose some kids are
playing a pick up game and as they play the guy with the ball decides
to run outside of the bounds and through the area where fans would be
seated in a real game. He runs way out of bounds and around a couple
of trees to avoid being tackled. Obviously that's not going to work
well. We have rules for games so that participants can enjoy the game
within certain bounds. Reality shows up when someone runs up against
one of the rules. Life can be going along pretty well and we can be
fairly contented, but when we begin to want something which lies
outside the rules or outside the realities of life, that's when we
get bent out of shape. If we learn to live within the bounds and be
to contented with reality, life goes much better.
In explaining
these things, I'm not saying that it is easy or that trying to do
this will make all of life's pain and sorrow go away. That's not
going to happen, but I am saying that you will find that you are able
to maintain a much better spirit if you will think and accept the
truth. When it comes to personal finance, you have to accept the fact
that certain truths are in force. Acknowledging that and then basing
your decisions accordingly is much more productive than either
fretting about past decisions or worrying about future ones.
...to be continued...
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