Comments on: Delayed gratification – Is it worth it?

By: Amy Wing

Amy Wing — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:07:21 +0000

Hi Amy,

I’m one of Sarah’s friends and saw a link to your blog on hers (and then a link to this from your blog)…

Well said and well written. My husband and I have been going through FPU and I agree that delayed gratification can create so much space in your life for God to move. It’s amazing when we begin to challenge the status quo and to live differently how it impacts other areas of our lives. Blessings to your family as you continue on this journey. Continue to inspire others and show them a different way!

By: Carnival of Debt Reduction » Welcome to the Carnival!

Carnival of Debt Reduction » Welcome to the Carnival! — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:35:42 +0000

[...] Christian Personal Finance advises delaying gratification to avoid debt. [...]

By: Sonia Cushing

Sonia Cushing — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:18:02 +0000

I think the article is very well written. From many of the people I see, they view their ‘keeping up with the Jonses’ lifestyle as a necessity, not a choice. When we step back and look at what God wants from us, it’s clear that he wants our hearts and our souls….this is sadly often forgotten, or simply complicated by many. My family has been blessed with a job for my husband that is stable enough, and provides enough so I can, thankfully, stay at home with our three (soon to be four) children. It isn’t always easy, and the choices do get hard, but keeping in mind where God wants us to be makes it so much easier.

To Jenny, if you are feeling ignored by the body of Christ, remember this, “for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:32:26 +0000

I appreciate the thought, really I do, but it was all lost on me when I came to the part that referred to the 6 figure income and living on 75% of it. I live on a disability and am just short of making a 5 figure income. Quite frankly, I would feel like I was living high on the hog to go up to the 25% that the writers of the article are referring to. If you can do it, all the power to you…just keep in mind what Jesus said numerous times about people like me, and there are more of us than the middle class would like to admit. I didn’t choose this, I am not an addict of any sort, and I really feel ignored by the body of Christ!

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:39:30 +0000

Thanks for the explanation Amy! I agree with what you’re saying, especially when it comes to worldly possessions. I like to use the “5 year rule” for most non-essential purchase. What will my life be life in 5 years with/without this?
Most possessions don’t even last 5 years!

By: Amy Sullivan

Amy Sullivan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:32:28 +0000

Hi Joe,
I agree with you that you can still have debt and live inside God’s Word IF you are still putting Him first. But many people today get INTO debt for and over worldly things (fancy house, car, vacation, clothes, etc) to impress others and live without sacrifice. That is the sin. That is not putting Him first.

Debt is really a foothold to Satan. He uses debt to bring worry and frustration into the mix, not to mention the priority of working hard and long to pay back those debts. Debt really can be a wedge between us and God.

I think that is why faith and your personal relationship are so important. Through faith, God convicts us as individuals so we can grow more in His Son (see Romans 14). For my husband and me, God is very clear. The things we would buy with credit are worldly things for worldly reasons and would push us farther from God. When we live without debt, we will have more free time to serve because we won’t be working 40+ hours to pay off anything.

Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think in Matthew, “Give to Caesar what is Casesar’s” refers to taxes.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:41:53 +0000

I’m only somewhat in agreement with delayed gratification. Mainly because the things you will want to do later in life will be markedly different than the ones you want to do now. So although you have the freedom to do what you want when you’re older, you are also sitting on a pile of regrets for things you wanted to do when you were younger.

I’m also curious about your thoughts concerning the scripture verse “The borrower is slave to the lender,” Pro. 22:7. Although many people were slaves and many continue to be today, that doesn’t preclude them for serving God. So although you have debt you are not living outside of God’s word.

Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Matthew 22:21

By: Craig Ford

Craig Ford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:32:56 +0000

I love the idea of delayed gratification. In fact, I think you’ll find that the things you are waiting to have in the future really don’t matter as much as you once thought. That is ultimate freedom.

By: kenyantykoon

kenyantykoon — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:21:07 +0000

people that believe and live the delayed gratification mantra are the lot that laughs last. I learnt about it some time ago and i have been living it daily. Forgoing a present pleasure for the expectation of a better future one always means that you never get short changed in any way, be it financially or in any other aspect of life. Like for instance i dont have a car and being a petrolhead(a person that is literally addicted to the roar of midengined cars) i have decided to forgo going into debt to get a car and invested that money in the hope that in the future, i will buy one when i can fully afford a GT car without having to literally sell my soul to the banking institutions for some cash. This goes for a myriad of other things in my life

By: Kacie

Kacie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:36:20 +0000

I do hope it’s worth it! We’ve been debt-free since May. We have our emergency fund, and now we’re saving up money to buy a house. We’ll be taking on a mortgage, and our goal is to put at least 10-20 percent down on a 15-year mortgage.

We’ve made short term sacrifices hoping that the long term will be better.