(originally written 2021)
Candid conversation about to happen here.
Those people that know me and work with me know that I’m a woman whose faith is at the core of my values.
And last month when I shared my evolution with money, it spurred a lot of reflection in me about how many of my previous underearner qualities were directly tied to my Christian faith. I hold on to lies that weren’t necessarily taught to me, but have somehow seeped into my brief about my financial success.
Things like-
▫️Wanting to make money means I’m greedy.
▫️It’s better to have less and keep humble.
▫️Money will distract me from serving God.
▫️It’s more honorable to ‘suffer’ than to thrive.
▫️Having success feels so good that I just am waiting for the “shoe to drop” and have something bad happen.
😬 Those are HEAVY. And I didn’t even realize that subconsciously I had felt these things and allowed them to be ingrained in my beliefs and habits.
HOLD UP- I need to make clear that this hasn’t been an error in the doctrines of my faith; this is an error in MY humanity in interpreting elements of my faith. None of these dogmas were told to me or even modeled for me. But, as you grow and ebb and flow in your faith I think you extract things here and there that form your thoughts.
This week, I’m talking all about faith and finances. Whether or not your a current Christian, were raised as one or whatever your beliefs are, I think taking time to look at some of the subconscious ways we remain underearners or don't develop a healthy relationship with success is valuable.
Faith + Finances Myth #1:You’re greedy for desiring success
Greed: The intense selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power or food.
In the Christian faith, greed is in the Bible over 25 times, outlining stories of people who wanted too much power or money and the condemnation that occurred because of it. Warnings of greed and it’s downfalls are at the core of lessons within faith with a rooted message to stay far away from greed.
And these lessons for me have warped into the simple fact that I felt wanting financial success meant I was greedy. If I wasn’t ‘content’ with where our finances were at, however little or large, I subconsciously have believed that desiring increased success was a bad thing.
▪️And this underearner mentality tied to my faith kept me small.
Small in my actions, ambitions and abilities.
And it’s finally dawned on me that a desire for success is NOT greed.
My desire is not rooted in selfishness. It is not because I can never be content. It is not because I don’t trust in God.
✝️ My desire for success is directly tied to wanted to live my gifts and talents to the fullest. To THRIVE in my life and to bless the lives of the people around me. And money is a wonderful byproduct of pursuing that level of success.
Faith + Finances Myth #2: It’s better to have less to remain humble.
Humility. The most misunderstood word in the world. Within faith, the virtue of humility is one of the most sought after and revered.
But, the misconception is that humility equals meekness.
Docility Passivness. Lowliness.
So in the mind of faith, how can one rise and want more success and still remain “meek and passive”?
❌But, that’s NOT what humility means!
Humility is a genuine gratitude and a lack of arrogance, a modest view of one’s self. It IS being grateful for our strengths and gifts and knowing the areas that we aren’t as strong.
Having less, being less, staying small or hidden have nothing to do with humility. It’s a twisted lie.
You can remain humble (grateful, selfless and level-headed) and want more things in and for your life.
👥Your humility is the virtue and gift that allows others to connect with you. It gives generously of your knowledge and expertise. It shares without fear of competition. It assures that you can be grateful for your strengths without becoming arrogant and selfish.
Faith + Finances Myth #3: It’s more honorable to ‘suffer’ than to thrive.
This was hits all the feels. And I don’t think this dogma is limited to lessons from our faith.
Throughout history, we praise people who have gone through extreme challenges to make significant growth. And within faith, we can think that when we’re struggling, suffering in any way, that there is honor in it. That when things are hard, we have the chance to grow and evolve.
And I believe that’s true: challenges lead to growth.
🚫But, where that intermingles with finances for me is thinking that it’s better to struggling financially than to thrive.
Another underearner mentality that has kept me small. And that’s really when it clicked. One of the reasons why I wasn’t at the level of success the I wanted is because I had a subconscious mentality that it was ‘bad’. It was selfish. It lacked humility and was rooted in greed. So why would I pursue greater things when deep inside I felt it was better to struggle?
🙌🏼 The truth I’m being illuminated with is that God wants good things for us! He desires us to prosper, succeed and flourish. And it doesn’t take away the truth that challenges can lead to growth. They are two septette truths that in my own humanity I twisted together to make it seem otherwise.
And when we can begin to hold the truth that God desires our success just as much as we do, we begin to understand our value, our goodness and our strengths. And we can step out in faith, not fear, of growth.
Faith + Finances Myth #4: Having success feels so good that I just am waiting for the “shoe to drop” and something bad will happen.
🙋🏽All my anxiety prone people raise your hand.
Because if you think about the myth mentioned yesterday- that it’s better to suffer- than this fear of challenges always looms over your head.
And I think in regards to faith, we can sometimes bring in the image of an Old Testament God, the God of wrath and punishment. 🌩️ idea of a God that will allow hard things to happen in order to turn you back to Him lest you be distracted.
So, when good things are happening there can be this lie lingering and whispering in the peripheral that tells us-
💥“Wait for it.”
💥“Don’t get too attached.”
💥“This won’t last.”
And we live in anxiety and fear of the future. So as entrepreneurs, we decide to play safe and small and limited in an order to hush that whisper.
The truth- that’s not our God. That is fear. Which is the opposite of love. And we know that ‘perfect love casts out fear’. And God is the only perfect love.
Our humanity, our twists of truth, allow the fog of fear to be ever on the horizon. Waiting to come to our shore and cloud the sun of our success. Of our happiness. Of the good things in our life.
And to keep bad things at bay we don’t pursue more. We limit our growth, stifle our abilities and hide.
There’s one way to get rid of the fog of fear.
Faith. Fearlessness. Bold action. Abandonment.
We have to learn to trust that God is a God of mercy and perfect love. And it’s always hard to truly believe that. But, that’s why we need to take actions to step out, even when it’s scary and unknown.
Bold actions of faith are a requirement for success.
It doesn't mean that hard things won't happen. But, the fact of life has noting to do with seking success and great things in our life.
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