What is Your 200 Million Dollar Boat?

Tomorrow begins it! A personal challenge of sorts that I am inviting anyone who reads this to hold me accountable to. But first let me back up a little before I explain more.

Lately I have been feeling frustration over the waste of money in our country and in our culture. It started some day when I was thinking about Hollywood. Specifically, I was thinking of the way actors and actresses dress for awards shows, pondering the thousands of dollars spent on a dress they will only wear once. And I thought it would be a better idea to have an awards show where all the actors had a budget of only 100 bucks or so for their wardrobe, and then they donated the rest of what they would have spent to charities and mission work.

Then we had a guest speaker at our church one day preaching on mission work. He told the story of meeting some guy who was showing off his 200 million dollar boat (or something to that effect). Then he told us that this is the same annual amount that is donated to missions (in our church denomination) throughout the whole country! One guy spends the same amount on a boat as all our churches put together.

After pondering this issue for a little longer and getting off my somewhat judgemental soapbox, the one distinct thought that came through all of it was, So Erin, what are YOU going to do about it? "What Lord? I'm not making millions, or even thousands of dollars that I can just donate. Trust me, if I did, I would." Or would I? You see, it's easy to judge what other people "waste" their money on, and to lament over the lack of giving to worthy causes, but when it comes down to it the only person you are responsible for judging is yourself. So the question shouldn't be "Why isn't he or she giving all that money they have" but "why aren't I?" and "Where can I give more? What can I give up?" Concerning the guy and the boat, instead of asking "Why isn't he giving that money to missions" we need to ask "why aren't we giving more?"

I may not be "wasting" my money on things like thousand dollar formal dresses or 200 million dollar boats, but I'm not being the best steward I could be with it. It is so easy to justify my "spending habits" because I don't really have too many--we live very modestly; I don't buy myself expensive things the latest electronics or clothes or shoes. And when I do want something I try to be smart and budget for it. This is all very well and good, but I know I can do better.

So, all of this to say that I have felt convicted lately of needing to give up what is my spending habit, which is the $2 here and the $3 there and the occasional $5 spent on food and drinks, lunch and snacks! Eeek! I am almost embarrassed to admit it, but I'm hoping to inspire some others out there with this little confession! It never seems like that much at the time, and it is part of my allotted spending money, but when I am honest with myself I know this isn't what I want my spending money to go to. I think this $5-10 a week would be my equivalent of a thousand dollar dress or a 200 million dollar boat. It's money I could be giving to something much more worthy than my current cravings. So there it is! My confession. My challenge. And maybe a challenge to you as well: what is your 200 million dollar boat? I am not judging anyone else for what they choose to do with their money because I am only responsible for my choices, so to begin I am choosing to cut off this spending habit for the month of April. I will try to update you once in a while on how I am doing. Feel free to ask me too! It's good to be held accountable. I am excited and encouraged about it, and I hope you are encouraged today too!

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:20-21