Encouragement for Today
Principle 5
“Choose to Grow”
Luann Prater, Proverbs 31 Speaker and Writer
Key Verse:
Proverbs 13:1, “But he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” (NIV)
Devotion:
She wanted a job. She had goals that she wanted to attain, and they were going to require money. And she didn’t want just any job; it had to be Chick-fil-A. You see, they were closed on Sundays and working Sundays was not an option. Her desire to be in church was greater than her desire for money. One thing stood in her way: she was 15 and their hiring age was 16. In her mind that was just a detail.
After picking out the perfect outfit, brushing every tooth, and wearing her radiant smile, she bounced into the restaurant. With a firm handshake she introduced herself to the owner, filled out the application, and reassured him that her age would not limit her ability to do a great job. The next day she called him to see if he had any further questions or references he would like. He was so impressed with her attitude that he took a chance and hired her. At orientation he told her these were the rules for making sure she had a successful work life: keep God first, family second, school third, after-school activities fourth, and then Chick-fil-A. “When you are here,” he said, “give us all you got.”
For the next five years her job worked around every school play, mission trip and wedding my daughter attended. Unlike many of her friends, she socked her paychecks away in the bank. Rarely would she pry open the purse strings. She had a goal.
We watched her slip her four-hour paychecks faithfully into the bank. Little by little her account grew. She came home from college during holiday breaks and went right back to the drive-thru. One day she announced she was accepted to a study abroad program in
When you look at the Proverbs 31 woman, you’ll find she is a faithful steward of her time and money. My daughter taught me volumes with her technique. First, she kept Christ at the top of her priority list while she sought a job that fit her life demands; then she collected every little paycheck to achieve a great big dream. It was a choice.
In this fast-paced life we often forget that we have choices. We choose if God comes first in our life. We choose how we spend our time. We choose how we spend or save our money.
My Prayer for Today:
Lord, today make me keenly aware of how I spend my time and resources. Help me to make better choices that will give me the ability to live out the dreams You’ve laid in my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Examine your spending habits. Do you have a budget?
A good rule of thumb: Give, Save, Spend; in that order.
Set a financial goal and then “gather little by little and make it grow.”
Pray that God will help you be disciplined in these areas.
Reflection Points:
Which is top priority in my life, God or work?
How can I cut spending and increase saving?
Do I need to have what others have?
Power Verses:
Luke 14:28, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” (NIV)
Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” (NIV)
Proverbs 10:15, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (NIV)
Proverbs 22:4, “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” (NIV)
Additional Resources:
Living Life on Purpose. By Lysa TerKeurst
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_livingLife.htm
Dollars and Sense, by Cynthia Summer
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_dollarsSense.htm
Material Girls, ETC Corner March 2005
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/etcMar05.htm
Originally published Wednesday, 21 June 2006.
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