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How to Calculate Your Real Hourly Wage

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Have you ever figured out what your time is worth?

We make decisions every week on whether something is worth our time.  Almost all of us choose to work.  We go to the office, the shop, or the site in exchange for money.  We’ve already come to an agreement with our employer on what our time is worth.

But have you ever calculated your real hourly wage?  You might be surprised!  Once you find it out, you can use that information to make some adjustments in your personal and financial life that will result in real change.

The Real Hourly Wage Calculation

1. Give Uncle Sam his share.

Anyone who gets a paycheck knows that the government gets their money first:

  • Social Security
  • Medicare
  • Federal and state tax withholding estimates
  • Other states have small city or disability taxes withholding

Check out last year’s tax return to figure out the average percentage of your total income that went towards income taxes.

Example: Jon makes $20 an hour and pays an average of 11.5% in total taxes. Jon’s post-tax hourly wage is $17.70 for his time on the job.

2. Calculate the hours before and after the job.

A 40-hour a week job does not take up just 40 hours a week.  We need to add up the time that Jon puts into these extra activities:

  • Getting ready in the morning  – 2.5 hours a week
  • Commuting to/from work – 5 hours a week
  • Unpaid lunchtime and breaks – 5 hours a week
  • Decompressing at home after work – 2.5 hours a week
  • Evenings and weekends checking/answering cell phones and emails – 2 hours a week

Each week, Jon devotes an additional 17 hours to maintain his job.  This brings the total hours each week to 57.

3. Calculate the net wage for job-devoted hours.

Jon gets paid $17.70 post-tax per hour for his job – so his weekly paycheck is $708 (for the 40 hours).  However, we’ve just figured out that there are 17 more hours each week Jon needs to put into maintaining this job.

Divide the $708 paycheck by the total of 57 hours to get a real wage of $12.42 per hour – before expenses.

4. Add up the expenses of having a job.

We all have expenses related to going to work. For Jon, these include:

  • Car and gas expenses – 15 miles to work at the IRS rate of 55.5-cent/mile – $83.25/week (10 trips)
  • Required professional clothing, uniform, and grooming items – $20/week average
  • Dry cleaning & professional laundry services – $10/week

Total job-related expenses: $113.25

Each week, Jon devotes 57 hours to his job and doesn’t always have the time or energy for household chores.  Because of this, Jon pays for:

  • Housekeeping services – $20/week
  • Yard maintenance for grass, leaves, snow, fertilizing, etc. – $30/week
  • Car wash – $10/week average
  • Pet care for grooming – $5/week average
  • Lunches out twice a week because he doesn’t always take time to make it – $15/week
  • Take-out, convenience foods, and/or dining out – $50/week

Total expenses of services & conveniences: $130

We need to reduce Jon’s paycheck of $708 by $243.25 ($113.25+$130) of expenses to get his personal “profit” from working to $464.75.

Divide that by the 57 hours – and Jon’s new real wage ends up being $8.15 per hour.

5. Add in the cost to the working parent.

Many parents make the decision every year on whether to go back to work, work part-time, or stay at home with children.  It’s a tough decision based on many factors like the need for additional household income, desire to go back to a career, or a wish to be at home with the kids.

Let’s add in Jon’s childcare factors:

  • 2.5 more hours a week to drop off and pick up at childcare location
  • 5 more miles per day for commuting to childcare – additional car expenses of $27.75
  • $250 a week on childcare

Jon now spends over 59.5 hours a week in job-related activities – not including the extra driving time to and from childcare.

Let’s do the math of take-home pay of $708 minus work-related expenses of $141 ($113.25 plus additional $27.75 for gas), convenience expenses of $130 and childcare expenses of $250  – which brings us to a personal ‘profit’ from working to $187.00 for the week.

Divide $187.00 by the 59.5 hours and the average wage for hours devoted to maintaining a job has dropped to $3.14 – and keep in mind we didn’t count the commute time to childcare, figuring that he would be driving anyway for other activities if he didn’t have a job.

Are you surprised? Jon gives up almost 60 hours per week, has a job fairly close to home, only one child – and averages $3.14 per hour for the time he devotes to having a job.

6. Keep in mind the hard-to-calculate costs of working.

Working a 40-a-week job has many other costs that can be hard to quantify in terms of money:

  • Health costs due to lack of energy to exercise, prepare healthy meals, go to the doctor or dentist
  • Mental costs of stress in the working environment or worrying at home
  • Relationship costs from lack of time for spouse or family time
  • Personal costs due to lack of time for community interests, faith organizations, hobbies
  • Financial costs from not having time for money-saving research, mistakes for overdrafts or late bills, lack of energy for retirement planning

Do Your Own Calculations!

Your life is probably different than our example worker of Jon.  This is a good example to start filling in the time and expenses of your current situation to find your real wage.

Once you calculate your real wage, what will you do with that information?

  • Realize that a lower-paying job closer to home might result in the same real wage
  • Consider a career you’d enjoy more even though the pay is lower because you’ll have energy for family & household things
  • Decide whether to go back to work after having a baby
  • Understand that a part-time job can sometimes net bigger real wages
  • Be a stay-at-home parent and find ways to make money at home
  • Evaluate the relationship between pay, commute, and housing prices.

What is your time worth? If you aren’t spending your time doing something that furthers your passions, your family relationships, and your financial goals, then figure out where to make some adjustments that result in a real change.

Have you ever added up all the expenses of your job?  Did this type of calculation help you with decisions related to children?  Share your experience in the comments!

How to Get Health Insurance With No Job

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Admittedly, getting health insurance with no job is a stretch. Why? Because no job implies no income, and health insurance companies aren’t in the business of giving away free coverage. However, there are instances when jobless people can get free or very inexpensive coverage. Also, alternatives to “normal” health insurance can sometimes save big time on “normal” premiums. Let’s explore some of these options.

Options for Jobless College Graduates

Get coverage under your parent’s plan.

According to Go Ask Alice, The Affordable Care Act of 2010 currently allows young adults to be covered under their parents’ or guardians’ insurance plan(s) up to the age of 26 if they are not eligible for employment-based coverage. Starting in 2014, young adults will have the option to remain on their parents’ or guardians’ plan(s) up to the age of 26 regardless of employment-based eligibility.

Try a continuation of your school’s health insurance plan.

This option varies from college to college, but it is worth checking on. Michigan State University, for example, allows graduates who meet necessary requirements to continue coverage for up to nine months at a premium payment of 25% above the prevailing student premium.

Options for Anyone Who is Jobless

COBRA

COBRA is an acronym for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which requires employers to extend the same health care benefits provided to current employees to those employees who lose their jobs. Because the unemployed worker will need to pay the full premium, including the portion his former employer paid, COBRA can be quite pricey.

High Deductible Health Insurance

If unemployment is causing you to consider dropping your health insurance altogether, you should first consider raising your deductible amount. Doing so will not only lower your premiums dramatically, but will also keep you covered for catastrophic events. According to some quotes my own agent prepared, a healthy 40-year-old male who pays $368.92 monthly for $250 deductible health insurance could lower those premiums to $152.35 by raising his annual deductible to $3,500.

Spiritually-Based Options

Samaritan Ministries or Medi-Share

Both of these organizations are based on the Biblical principle of Christians meeting each other’s needs; neither is an insurance company. Each requires a membership and a monthly commitment, which will be applied directly to another member’s health care needs – the concept being that believers help others as they are able and receive help when they have needs. Both emphasize the importance of prayer as well as money for members in need. Medi-Share began in 1993; Samaritan Ministries in 1994.

Both of these organizations claim substantial savings when compared to conventional health insurance companies and each has its own fee structure, with a variety of options. Their websites give substantial information, so do your homework if you are considering either of these. Read our review of Medi-Share for more thoughts.

Become Amish or Mennonite

According to the Wall Street Journal, Old Order Amish and Mennonites believe that, in lieu of purchasing health insurance, it is the religious duty of their communities to provide for one another when sick. They don’t pay Social Security taxes and reject Medicaid or Medicare benefits, as well as farm subsidies. Of course, joining either group for the purpose of saving on health insurance premiums would not be an ethical decision, but if one is considering the simple life anyway, it may be worth considering.

Health Insurance for Senior Citizens or Disabled Citizens

Medicare and Medicaid

These two government programs provide medical and health-related services to specific groups of people in the United States. Medicare is a social insurance program while Medicaid is a social welfare program.

Medicare, basically available for U.S. citizens aged 65 or older or disabled U.S. citizens at any age, will pay for basic hospital, home care or nursing home care.  However, a supplemental policy is needed for other health care needs such as physician visits or pharmaceutical needs.

Medicaid, a means tested health and medical services program for certain low income individuals and families, has state specific eligibility requirements.

One Final Thought

Regardless of the health insurance you carry, your health is ultimately your responsibility. Therefore, your best insurance for good health – for the rest of your life – is to do what you know you should be doing: exercise and eat right.

How have you been able to save on health insurance? Do you have any additional ideas how jobless people can get health insurance? Leave a comment!

A New Baby Checklist – What You’ll Need!

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Are you welcoming a new baby to your family? If you are, there are a few things you’re going to need, and it’s best that you get as many of them before the baby arrives as you can. Life happens very quickly when a baby comes along, and advanced preparation is truly a virtue. To make it a bit easier to keep track of what you need, we’ve assembled a list of the general categories of baby related needs, and a more detailed list within each category.Are you welcoming a new baby to your family? If you are, there are a few things you’re going to need, and it’s best that you get as many of them before the baby arrives as you can.

Life happens very quickly when a baby comes along, and advanced preparation is truly a virtue.

To make it a bit easier to keep track of what you need, we’ve assembled a list of the general categories of baby related needs, and a more detailed list within each category.

Printable Newborn Checklist

Feel free to read through the article for more details or you can just print off this Newborn baby checklist and take it with you to the store!

Printable New Baby Checklist

Clothing

Clothing for babies should be kept simple, with easy maintenance a high priority. You’ll be changing them frequently each day so quantity counts. Don’t spend a lot of money here – they’ll grow out of everything in a matter of weeks.

Furniture

Babies don’t need a lot of furniture, but what they do need is very specialized.

Sleeping Accessories

With sleeping accessories you’re trying to help the baby fall asleep as well as to be prepared for predictable nighttime disturbances, like feeding and diaper changing. It’s a combination of comfort and practicality.

Feeding Accessories

When it comes to feeding, babies progress very quickly from one stage to the next. Since you never know quite when a change will occur, you’ll need to be ready when it happens.

Changing Time

Once again, think quantity here. Babies have no control over bodily functions and it’s often only a matter of minutes between feeding and changing times.

Life Insurance

In addition, the family also requires greater contingency planning, and that means life insurance.

  • For mom and dad – increase your coverage, you now have someone who is completely dependent on you
  • For the stay at home parent – never underestimate how much it will cost to replace the services of the primary care-giving parent
  • For the baby – you’ll probably never need it, but rates are never lower than on infants

This is also an excellent place to remind you that you should add your new baby to your health insurance policy (or Medishare account) as soon as possible.

Health

A baby’s health needs are more basic than they are for adults, and you need to be prepared for anything.

  • A baby thermometer
  • Teething medication
  • Baby pain reliever (as recommended by your pediatrician)
  • Cotton balls
  • Your pediatrician’s phone number should be a contact on all cell phones and landlines in the household, and it’s not a bad idea to have it prominently displayed
  • Nasal aspirator (to clean out nasal passages when necessary)
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Cotton swabs
  • Medicine droppers
  • Vaporizer and vaporizer fluid
  • Baby sunscreen
  • A very wide brim hat to prevent sun exposure

Bath Time

Bath time for babies is mostly about scaling everything down to their size.

Safety Equipment

It’s sometimes recommended that you get down on all fours and crawl around your house so that you can see your home as your baby will. This is good advice! There are danger spots for babies and toddlers all over a typical home that as adults we’ve long since come to ignore.

  • A baby car seat – you can trade up as the baby grows
  • Electrical outlet covers
  • Cabinet door locks – these will keep them out of the cupboards for a little while at least
  • Safety gates – there are certain rooms you won’t want them in for safety reasons
  • Smoke alarms – have them in every room of the house and be sure they work
  • Bumpers to cover sharp edges in the home
  • A top quality vacuum – to help keep any and all small objects that could be a choking hazard off the floor and out of the baby’s reach
  • A spout cover for the bathtub faucet

Miscellaneous

There are plenty of baby items that don’t fit into a specific category but they’ll be needed all the same.

  • Plenty of laundry detergent – don’t be fooled by a baby’s small size – you’ll be doing a lot more laundry
  • Ditto for dishwasher detergent
  • Baby stroller
  • Simple baby toys
  • A good still camera and video camera – you’ll want to get those milestone moments on film
  • A baby walker to help them get around when they want to walk but aren’t quite ready
  • Plenty of blankets and baby blankets – you never know where you’ll have to set up a makeshift bed
  • Playpen
  • A baby book to record events and milestones
  • An electronic baby swing to keep them busy when you need some time

Are there other items that you found either helpful or necessary with a baby?

What Does the Bible Say About Worrying About Money?

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What does the Bible say about Worrying About Money

If you worry about money issues, you have a lot of company – according to a Marist Institute Poll published in USA Today, 65% of Americans “always” or “sometimes” worry about their money.

But, according to the Bible, should you be worrying about money?  And does the Bible give practical tips for overcoming worry?  Worry has many affects on your health and situation, so how do you get rid of it?  In this post, I won’t claim to give the totality of Biblical counsel on this topic, but I do promise that the following passages will help.

What Jesus Said About Worry

Jesus has plenty to say about worrying, so I will share some of his thoughts, followed by my comments.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? – Matthew 6:25 (NIV)

You have life, so don’t waste your mental energy on peripheral issues such as food and clothing.

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? – Matthew 6:27 (NIV)

Worry accomplishes absolutely nothing, so don’t do it.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Instead of wasting your time with worry, do something practical and effective: Seek the Kingdom of God and righteous living.  When you get your priorities straight, God promises to give you everything you need.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

We are prone to wearing ourselves out worrying about stuff that hasn’t happened yet and may never happen.  Reality is that the things we dread and fear are seldom as bad as we imagine they will be.

Bottom line: If you deal with problems as they come along without allowing your imagination to run rampant on what may happen, you will always have the ability to cope.

Joe, I understand that Jesus teaches us not to worry, but when the bill collectors are calling and my husband gets his hours cut, I find myself sinking into worry mode before I realize it.  Any tips for me?

Sure.  The Bible is very practical, so let’s dig a bit more.

Substitute Prayer for Worry

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

You can’t simply drop a bad habit; you need to replace it with a good habit.  Therefore, pray instead of worrying.  While you are at it, tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.

Devise a Plan

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. – Proverbs 14:8 (NIV)

Have a financial plan, starting with a budget.  A good budget will not solve your problems by itself, but it will give you a clear synopsis of your financial condition.  If you had been suffering abdominal pains for a month, wouldn’t you prefer a medical diagnosis instead of stewing about the unknown?  Me too.  A budget is your financial diagnosis; once you know where you stand, even if it is not good, you can create a plan to deal with it instead of wasting your time and energy worrying about it.

Team Up!

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24 (NIV)

Married couples are inextricably connected – one flesh, meaning that every facet of the marriage – including money management – is to be handled jointly.  Instead of blame games, name calling and secrets, a healthy marriage means clear and open communication.  Whatever your financial problems, attacking them as a team will eliminate worry.

Consider Your Worst Case Scenario

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” – Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)

Whatever your financial problems, look them in they eye and take the time to consider your worst case scenario.  Could it be foreclosure?  Perhaps even bankruptcy?  Take a deep breath, put your circumstances in the perspective of Heaven, and realize that you have a helper in the Lord.  Nothing anyone can do to you will ever change that, and worrying, of course, will never help.

Keep Life in Perspective

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? – Mark 8:36 (NIV)

The almighty dollar may try to dominate your thoughts, emotions, and your life, but if you back away and look at the big picture, your fiscal net worth adds up to zip when compared to the value of your soul.  Therefore, worrying about anything temporal is an exercise in futility.

What does the Bible say about worry?  There is no reason for worry, but, in case you find yourself doing so, take time to reexamine your priorities . . . a perfect segue to our closing Bible quote about money:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. – Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)

If your treasures are in Heaven, you have nothing to worry about.

Do you worry about money issues?  How often?  When worry comes your way, what helps?  Leave a comment!

You can find even more Biblical perspectives on money in my article: 5 Bible verses about money!

What Are the Average Community College Tuition Costs? (It Might Shock You)

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What are the Average Community College Costs per YearA few months ago, my 17-year old son was accepted into a fairly rigorous technical college that focuses on mechanics.

I was happy for him, but at the same time, knew the tuition to attend the school would not be cheap.

When the recruiter tallied up the costs associated with going to through the program – my wife and I were a bit shocked.

It’s no secret that attending college is one of the best investments a student can make as well as one of the costliest.

Tuition seems to be going only one way: up.

It’s estimated that the average loan debt that a student will take with them after graduation is over $20,000.

And the sad thing is that many students will spend a large chunk of their working life paying it off!

Considering Community College

One of the things my son’s recruiter tries to emphasis with kids he works with is to pick a career first before picking a college. Many times students will go to college without any clear direction about their future career. “Give me four years and I’ll figure it out” is the mantra many students live by. But when you think about it, a student can save a lot of money and time working on figuring out what it is they are good at and how they can make it a career vs. trying to figure out where to go to school.

If a student doesn’t know what it is they want to do before entering college, many times the best solution is to attend a community college. But even if they do know – a community college can end up being a cost-effective and better solution than a 4-year private or public university.

In 2011, an article declared that community college graduates earn more money than their four-year counterparts. According to the report, community colleges tend to teach practical skills and impart technical training that others often times do not.

Average Community College Costs

So, what are the average costs to attend community college? To answer that, I consulted the College Board. These are the guys that developed the SAT entrance exam. They have a wealth of statistics on trends associated with tuition costs at 2-year community and technical colleges. Because costs can vary from school to school, let’s just compare published tuition and fees.

community college costs

According to the College Board, the average tuition and fees for a 2-year community college during the 2011-2012 school year was $3,000. Now, compare those rates to a 4-year public college at $8,370. That’s quite a difference.

The College Board estimates that in this current year, 2012-2013, the tuition rates will only rise $130 for a 2-year school.

Community colleges not only have less tuition costs, but can be cheaper overall due to no room and board costs. Many students will opt for staying at home and commuting to school than relocating and paying room/board costs on top of tuition.

It’s also important to factor in grant and tax benefits when figuring in your school costs. According to the College Board, average total grant and tax benefits for attending a community college for the 2011-2012 school year amounted to $4,350. Compared against the average total tuition and fees, that’s a -$1,350 difference (essentially giving the student a free-ride!).

While some students will get their associates degree and go on to a rewarding career – many will decide to continue on to a 4-year college to continue their studies and obtain a bachelor’s degree. Consider a student attending a 4-year public institution for four years vs. another who attended a 2-year community college earning some of the same credits. The full, 4-year student would be paying (using our 2011-2012 tuition/fees number) over $30,000 while the community college student (who only needed two years at the 4-year college) would be paying just over $20,000 – a $10k difference!

As you can see, there is quite a benefit to knowing the career you want to get into and obtaining a degree as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. A community college just may be the right fit for you and you pocket book.

Did you attend a community college – what was your experience? Did you continue on to a 4-year college/university?











Stewardship in the Bible

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stewardship in the bible
stewardship in the bible

Stewardship is something that I hear a lot of talk about, but not a lot of understanding. I truly believe that understanding what stewardship is and how it applies to our lives will change the way we make decisions each day.

If we really understand what it means to be good stewards, we will begin to not only see our lives change, but also the world around us. Like all other Biblical principles, tremendous benefit is gained by following them.

Bible Verses about Stewardship

There are many Bible verses on money, including a few key stewardship verses (financial and otherwise) that are worth highlighting. If you know any other scriptures on stewardship please share them in the comments below!

Genesis 2:15
Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

Deuteronomy 10:14
Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.

1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, o Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, o Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

Psalm 50:10-12
For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains.

Matthew 25:14-30 (the Parable of the Talents)
For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 12:42-44
And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Luke 12:47-48
And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Luke 16:9-11
And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?

The definition of Christian stewardship

Lets look at the actual definition of stewardship.

Stewardship:

1: the office, duties, and obligations of a steward

2: the conducting, supervising, or managing of something ; especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care <stewardship of our natural resources>

I like how it says “managing of something.” To me this implies that we have decisions to make and are responsible for that which we are stewards over. Just like a manager of business is responsible for his/her department and employees, so we are with all that has been entrusted to us.

So what are we actually stewards over?

Personally, I believe it applies to everything we have been given. Our time, our money, our God given gifts and abilities, our influence, it all comes from God. There are lots of stewardship verses that show us how we should act, but my favorite is the Parable of the Talents since it gives such a great illustration of what a good steward does.

Put simply, the good stewards were the ones who took “risks” and action in order to multiply what they had been given. The bad steward was the one who out of fear decided not to take a risk and was called lazy as well.

This reminds me of another scripture…

Luke 12:48

…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

How should “stewardship living” affect our lives?

Our finances tend to be the key area that people refer to when speaking of stewardship. I think the main reason is that often money is one of the most difficult things for people to give. At least for me that used to be the case. I was okay giving my energy, time, or sharing my abilities, but money was not something that I was interested in giving away. That is probably why God had to work on me for so long to help me lose my attitude! 😉

One of the things that helped me was keeping focus on the fact that I came into the world with nothing and would leave with nothing. I began to look at all my possessions as merely being “on loan.” This has helped me begin to see myself more as a “steward” rather than a “possessor”.

Stewardship of a violin

I remember a friend of mine saying that he was talking to a well-known violinist about his violin. The violinist had mentioned that the violin was a couple hundred years old and worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars. The interesting point I remember from the conversation was the way the violinist viewed himself as a steward of the instrument. He knew that many great musicians had played the instrument before he was even born. He was also not naive to think that he would be the last to play the fine instrument. He understood that it was just temporarily passing through his hands.

The violinist’s outlook on his violin has really helped me get a better understanding of the role possessions should have in my life. Changing my thinking in this way has affected how I handle my money and even my weekly buying decisions. It’s not that having possessions is a good or bad thing, just that it needs to be in the proper perspective.

So are you a good steward?

This is a good question to ask yourself. The Bible says that someone who is faithful with a little thing will be faithful with much (Luke 16:9-11). So, if we are honest and do the right thing when no one is looking, we will be able to be trusted when people are looking.

Stewardship is mentioned in the Bible quite a bit actually. The basic message that I have gotten from the Bible about being a good steward is that God has entrusted me with things down here on earth and it is my responsibility to do something good with them.

How to be a good steward

1. Realize that God owns it all

It can be easy to forget that God create the world we live in and us as well. He created the air we breathe, the sun that warms the earth, and plants and animals for food. He is the one that gave us our brains to think, he placed different gifts and skills in each one of us and gave us each unique personalities.

It is only because of His great mercy that he doesn’t just prove to me how dependent I am on Him when I start to think I really accomplished something on my own ;). As we understand that, “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,” (Psalm 24:1) we can see that we are merely temporary possessors (or stewards) of things that He owns.

We are born with nothing and we take nothing with us when we leave. It all just gets passed on to someone else. The amazing thing is that we have the opportunity to “store up for ourselves treasures in heaven” by giving some of those items that we temporarily possess down here.

2. Stewards can only serve one master

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Matthew 6:24

I have found from my own life that my decisions about money reflect who I am serving. At the most stingy and greedy moments of my life it was painfully evident who my master was. I tried to convince myself that I was serving God, but in truth my decisions were made on their financial impact rather than on my faith in God. It’s one of those areas that we will all have room to grow in.

I remember patting myself on the back after an act of generosity that I was proud of, only to be shown, moments later, of two other areas of my life that I was being greedy in. It’s humbling, but it is also encouraging to know that we will never “arrive” and that God doesn’t expect that of us. He knows our weaknesses and our strengths. He knows what we are capable of and while I earnestly want to please Him, I am so thankful for his forgiveness when I mess up.

3. Use resources wisely

As stewards we have a responsibility to use what we have been given wisely. Just like in the parable of the talents, it is up to us how we use what we have been given. We can choose to bury it like the “lazy” steward or we can make more from what we have been given like the “good” stewards.

As far as managing our finances go, there is a tricky balance between not being wasteful like Jesus talks about in John 6:12 and not living with a poverty mindset. It is easy to fall towards one of the extremes, and it is challenging to walk in the balance. That balance is what we should be seeking in the practical areas of being stewards of our finances.

The great thing is that as we prove ourselves faithful in small things we will be given more and bigger things to be stewards over.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'”

Matthew 25:21–22

What lessons have you learned about being a steward?

Got any other bible verses about stewardship you can think of?

Lessons from the Parable of the Ten Minas

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lessons from the parable of the ten minas

Since it involves the distributions and use of money — called “minas” — the Parable of the Ten Minas (or Ten Talents) is often interpreted from a financial angle. I actually don’t think it’s truly about money, though it does contain some obvious lessons about the resources we are given.

Let’s start by taking a look at the parable.

Luke 19:12-26 (NIV)

He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

Is the Parable about Money?

Though Jesus uses money in the parable, it’s unlikely that He was talking about it specifically, particularly in regard to growing it. We have to remember that Jesus came into the world not for money, but for people. The money reference therefore was most certainly only symbolic.

Consider also, that if Jesus had any money at all the Bible doesn’t tell us as much. As well, we have no examples in which Jesus sends his disciples out with money that needs to be grown in order to honor Him. Clearly, He was using this parable to describe something other than money, even though money is used to tell the story. Pure speculation on my part here, but maybe Jesus was using money because He knew that it would help His listeners to understand what He was trying to tell them.

A common non-monetary interpretation of the parallel — and the one I believe to be correct — is that Jesus was describing how the Kingdom of God would flow, and what our responsibilities would be in helping it do so.

Very briefly, the king in the parable is Jesus Himself (“…went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return”). The two servants who grew their minas to five and ten, were those followers who embraced the mission and multiplied what they had been given. They would each be given cities to rule over (great in the Kingdom).

The servant who hid the money in fear was given the same resources, but did nothing with them because He didn’t really believe (or even disagreed). Finally we have those who didn’t want Him to be king — the citizens of the country he visited. They would be killed (the Judgment) for their lack of belief in him.

Using the Time and Talents You’ve Been Given

The minas in the parable, I believe, are representative of resources God gives us to do the work of the Kingdom on Earth. First, there are spiritual resources. It starts with the gift of salvation; once we have it we’re to tell others of it (sharing). Then there’s revelation. Each of us have varying degrees of spiritual revelation. We can think of it as spiritual understanding where God opens our eyes to various teachings, and it’s a way of reaching out to others on a different level.

We’re also given resources in the form spiritual gifts. In Romans 12:6-8, the Apostle Paul lists some of these as prophesying, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leading and showing mercy.

We also have skills that can be used to spread the Gospel. We’re all spread across the employment and business spectrum and that gives us a chance to witness to those who don’t believe. God can use us where ever we are. In addition, by being good at the occupational work we do, we display integrity to those around us. And sometimes, we can even use our work skills to help others. Think about an accountant who helps another believer (or non-believer) with his tax returns, or a repairman who helps with repair work at church. Each of us can witness wherever we are and in different ways through our skills.

Finally, there’s time. We don’t always think of it as a resource, but it is. We can use what time we have to volunteer at church, to help our neighbors, and to witness to others.

Each of these are resources that have nothing to do with money. I think this is what the minas symbolize in the parable.

There Might be a Money Connection . . .

Does money fit into this parable at all? Even though it’s not as important as we may interpret it to be at first glance, I think it’s in there too.

Like all the items listed above, money is also a resource. It can be used to further the Kingdom. Money can be used to do this by using it to support the church, to help the hurting and by supporting outreach ministries. And if it frees up the holders time, it can allow him or her to do mission work or to participate in outreach efforts closer to home.

There’s also the matter of stewardship. Like all resources, money is to be grown and preserved (as opposed to hoarded). Properly managed, money can be used as a resource in the advancing of the Kingdom. By having money, you can be in a position to help others and provide the financing to spread the Gospel.

Money isn’t the mina, but it is a component.

Whatever the mina is, whether it’s revelation, spiritual gifts, talents, time — or money — our greatest goal should be to use it to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. And when our lives are over we’ll hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

What do you believe this parable is about? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!










Why Integrity is Important in the Workplace

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Why Integrity is Important in the WorkplaceIn his book The Millionaire Mind, Thomas J. Stanley asked 733 millionaires to rank 30 factors which led to their success.

The number one attribute, “being honest with all people,” tells volumes about the importance of integrity in the workplace: it is more than living out good moral principles – it is also critical for succeeding in the business world.

Corporate Integrity: It Starts at the Top

I used to be affiliated with a construction company whose owner ordered the workers to cut corners in every way possible without getting caught.

Some foremen were even chastised for taking extra care to do a good job.  Did this philosophy work?  No.

The company did make money, but the employees who took pride in their work went elsewhere, leaving a workforce who simply was not trustworthy and a company which had a shady reputation.

When a new owner set a policy of always doing things right, the company slowly began to grow.

Those who continued to cut corners were dismissed and a new vitality began to emerge as the employees felt good about themselves; they began to love their jobs and became proud of who they worked for.  Guess what?  This company continues to flourish today.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Individual Integrity: We Are All Accountable

Writer and speaker Nicky Gumble punctuates this truth in the following story:

A man named Gibbo used to work as a clerk for Selfridges.  One day the phone rang and Gibbo answered.  The caller asked to speak to Gordon Selfridge, who happened to be in the room at the time.  When Mr. Selfridge instructed Gibbo to tell the caller that he was out, Gibbo handed him the phone and said, ‘You tell him you’re out!’  Gordon Selfridge was absolutely furious, but Gibbo said to him, ‘Look, if I can lie for you, I can lie to you.  And I never will.’  That moment transformed Gibbo’s career at Selfridges – he became the owner’s most trusted employee.

Integrity, for Gibbo, was so deeply ingrained that he disobeyed his boss without hesitation.  Yes, he might have been fired, but I am guessing that Gibbo wouldn’t have wanted to continue working there anyway.  In this case, however, his integrity was instrumental to his ascent at Selfridges.

Why Integrity Works

It is no surprise that employees with integrity shine.  They do not undermine their fellow workers, they work just as hard whether they are being watched or not, they can always be counted on to do their best, and they will be honest enough to admit it if they have made mistakes.  They won’t pass the blame, but they will share the credit.  They are an inspiration to others, creating a positive and upbeat work environment.

If you were in charge of hiring and networking, wouldn’t you dig beneath the surface of a potential employee’s resume to learn of their integrity?  Of course you would.  Therefore, if you are that employee, your services will be coveted, both when you are hired and for years thereafter.

How Are You Doing?

  • Do you leave work early when there is no possibility anyone else will find out?
  • Do you accept full responsibility (or your share) when things don’t go well?
  • Do you share the credit when things go right?
  • Do you confront wrongdoing, even if it means confronting a supervisor?
  • Do you hide legitimate income to avoid paying taxes on it (such as not reporting cash payments)?
  • Do you claim tax deductions you can’t document?

Another Test

Because we tend to be blind to our own shortcomings, I challenge you to ask a friend – one with integrity – to tell you honestly whether you are more like Gibbo or his boss.

The answer is critical to your future success.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

Luke 16:10 (NIV)

How important is integrity in your workplace?  What can you do to make a difference?  Does your employer encourage and model integrity?  In what ways?  If you are a boss or supervisor, how well do you model integrity?  Leave a comment below!