Sharpened Together - Week 5

Key Scripture: 
Judges 6:24
 Gideon built an alter there to the LORD and called it "The LORD is Peace". 

Growing up I lived through seeing a bad side to debt. That it started out as manageable but changed to be restrictive and then oppressive. I ended up wanting a stable, peaceful life. I could see that lack has a burden, doing nothing gets nothing and that chasing wealth has its own risks and they could result in real damage. Now, in retrospect, I can better see God’s hand in my life. Back then - what I had was hope! As I became an adult, the things I wanted to get sorted out were marriage, money and a place to call home.

The Bible says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10). I wanted to be trustworthy. I had little! I came into the workforce in the depths of the 1990s recession. I had low income, a difficult employment market, no prospect of handouts, no inheritance to look forward to. What I did have was a strong drive to provide for my family. Progress came slowly, often through mistakes, but always through learning.

I found debt a necessity to get a home. Paying down debt brought increasing peace - not just financially, but emotionally. “The borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). I did go through that cycle several times, but it was always with less risk overall.

My intent was good, but I was untrained and largely unguided. My learning came over time. Often, I worked at implementing just one learning really well. For a long time, it seemed I was not making any great progress. Small, consistent habits compounded over time. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance” (Proverbs 21:5). The opportunities change with the times, but consistent good habits are always useful.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is contentment. It provides freedom. Learning to live on less is not easy, but it brought me peace and clarity. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). I came to understand choosing a life simpler than I could afford was empowering. That helped me make better decisions for the longer‑term.

How to transfer on those things that made the difference was the challenge. I’d seen that wealth could spoil people. That people with little could have great joy and be generous with little. I arrived at the conclusion that the best thing I could do was hand on the tools and knowledge I’d learnt, so they could have it to draw upon as appropriate… and that everyone needs to find their own peace - the true peace - the peace for all circumstances and all times.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7