The Tower
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” Luke 14:28-30 ESV
Most of us have had a moment when we look around and say “I’m lost.” I’m not only not structuring my life to complete this tower, i forgot what I am building. This moment came for me several years ago. I was out taking a walk. I’m a FAST walker. I walk to burn calories not for leisure. When the kids join me its usually on their bikes or scooters. So, I’m out walking and come to a crosswalk. I hit the button to activate the lights alerting drivers to stop for me and as going across this Maserati literally honked at me. While I was in the crosswalk. So rude! At that moment I said “Lord, how in the world did I get here, and more importantly, how do I get out?” I’m a farm girl who never wanted to be rich or live in the city. I wanted a comfortable life IN THE COUNTRY, and here I was in a cushy subdivision being honked at by a Maserati in a crosswalk… It was at this moment that I realized something important. I had been building a very pretty life that I didn’t even want! There was a reason my children, who were raised in church, were not walking with the Lord. There was a reason I was in this subdivision feeling empty and lost and like a failure. I had been giving lip service to the Kingdom of God in favor of the American Dream. I talked like a Christian, I lived like an American. I’m not knocking America, I love this country and what she stands for, but the materialism had to go. I had to figure out how to love God more than the American Dream. I want to get to the end of my life I hear “well done good and faithful servant” rather than “you didn’t finish”. I want to be trapped by the love of my Lord and not the material offerings of this world. I want everyone to know I serve the Creator and not myself.
It took several years to implement the changes we needed to make to leave the suburbs. In this process, God did a work on my heart and I am so grateful. Grateful for my small, urban home. Grateful that I am free to give and serve the things that are important to me. Grateful I figured out I never wanted the tower I was building, I wanted a different tower, a better tower. My foundation is firm and my heart and life rest in the love of Christ. Maybe a good first question to ask as you walk through your financial journey is: “What kind of life do I want to build?” Dream big and don’t let other people decide for you! Financial freedom can be found without loads of money when you live below your means and have a solid plan. You can then be free to focus on the things that really matter to you. Godspeed!