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Key Bible Verse: If your wealth increases, don't make it the center of your life (Psalm 62:10). Bonus Reading:Matthew 6:31–33

In a coffee shop on New Year's Day, we were talking about our plans for the year, like vacation and how to pay for the children's education. Out of the blue Jo said, "Would you be open to selling our house and buying something smaller?"

I asked why she wanted to move from our three-story dream home with a view of the Colorado front range. She said that climbing up and down the stairs hurt her knees. But more importantly, "We've talked about someday, when the children are grown, being free to work in other countries as God provides opportunity. Now the tax laws allow us to sell our house, buy a cheaper house, and if we put all the equity into the new house, there's no capital gains tax. We can get a significantly lower mortgage, and if we accelerate payments, we can be completely debt-free in a few years. Then we'll be flexible to go wherever, and do whatever, God wants us to."

Jo's thinking was brilliant! I felt this was the Holy Spirit guiding us. A year later, we moved into a smaller ranch-style home that saves wear and tear on Jo's knees. It doesn't have the view I so loved, yet we're content—evidence that God is guiding us.

—Al Janssen in The Marriage Masterpiece

My Response: How open am I to guidance about my lifestyle level?

Thought to Apply: I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ.

—David Livingstone (Scottish missionary, 19th century)

Adapted from Marriage Masterpiece (Tyndale, 2001) by permission.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

O Lord, work in my life so that I live by the values of Your kingdom rather than my society's consumer mentality.

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