ka-ching

Financial security. Most 19 year-olds have little thought concerning their financial security, I guess I've always been different. It's not that I want to stockpile money & become a millionaire. I want a secure financial future, not the sound of "ka-ching."

I have always been concerned with finances. When I had my first ear surgery at 8, I was concerned that my parents were spending money on me that could be used elsewhere. Each time I received money, whether for my birthday or for Christmas, I would save it away. Crystal would get so frustrated with me because I would talk myself out of buying something I really wanted simply because I didn't want to spend the money. It wasn't that I wanted to hear the ka-ching of my money in my piggy bank, I simply couldn't persuade myself to spend money something I didn't need.

I started working at 16; I was a customer service associate of JCPenney. I immediately began saving 60% of my paycheck for college. Even that did not add up to as much as I would have liked. In the 2 years that I worked at JCPenney, I saved enough money to cover my down payment of college--no more. After writing my first check to Maranatha I didn't have a dime left to my name. I called my mom crying because I couldn't help more with my college bill. It's my education, I want to pay for it.

I tried to solve my financial problems on my own. I have always wanted to be involved in the military, so I considered joining the Air Force ROTC to help pay for college. I struggled all last summer. God showed that it wasn't His will for me, at least not right now. As I entered the fall semester I was worrying about how to pay for college. To me, my future seemed to be crumbling around me; I had forgotten that God is in control.

The Lord is good: He provided me with a job on campus that would put about $100 every month towards my college bill. He also blessed me by granting me a scholarship. After my surgery in January, I again began to worry about how I & my parents were going to afford paying for college. Christ reminded me that He is directing my paths: He rewarded me a $1500 scholarship that will cover my down payment for next fall. I have begun to realize that in Christ, I am financially secure.

Why talk about finances at 19? It's important. "Who you are now is who you are becoming." What a great quote! If I don't save for my future now, I won't save for my future later. This summer in Sunday School my college & career class is studying financial security by studying the book Money, Possessions, & Eternity by Randy Alcorn. My interest was peaked as soon as the teacher mentioned the subject. We are going to by studying how to be financially secure, but more importantly, how use the finances Christ has given us to help those around us.

I have decided that I want to invest in a future of financial security. Security found thru service to Christ. My decision is to save for my future home & family now. It's more than money, it's my future.