Fran & Jesus on the Job - Finances
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010The audio portion of this broadcast is no longer available on-line.
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Send to friendDo you ever struggle with finances? Our friend Fran has some important lessons to learn about managing her money. I tell this on-going story as though Fran is having a personal conversation with Jesus throughout her day, because the fact is, as Christians, we do have his presence all the time. We need to learn to practice it more, and hopefully Fran will help us learn how to do that.
After Fran gets the kids in bed this evening, she says to herself, "It's the first of the month. I've got to write checks tonight."
One of the toughest aspects of being single for Fran is the total responsibility of the finances, which now rests on her shoulders since the death of her husband, Jim. Of course, it's particularly difficult because there's hardly ever enough money to pay all the bills. She and Jim had moved into their home three years before he died, but on her salary the mortgage payment is pretty steep.
"Well, what bills will I pull out of the hat this month? Good grief that phone bill is ridiculous. And this dental bill for Alice. All she had was one small cavity; you'd think from this bill she had a new set of teeth put in," Fran fumes.
"Oh great," she exclaims, "I'm $200 short this month. If the kids just didn't have to eat, I guess we could get by!"
"But don't forget," Jesus says to her, catching her by surprise, "I've promised to take care of you. You will not be brought to shame, or go hungry, or miss anything you need."
Fran wasn't aware of his presence until he spoke to her, and then she felt a little annoyed. "Yeah, but I still have to pay these bills and that takes money."
"Well, Fran, take a look at your bills. Which ones can be eliminated or reduced?" Jesus asks in his calm and logical manner.
"Well, this cable TV bill—I guess that could be eliminated. But the kids enjoy the Disney Channel," Fran rationalizes.
"Yes, but they have a lot of good Disney videos, and your mom has bought them several Bible videos," Jesus reminds her. "Don't you think that's enough?"
"Yeah, you're right. It's just easy for me to plop them down in front of the television when I'm tired or busy," Fran candidly admits. "But I'll cancel the cable tomorrow."
Looking through the rest of the bills, she says, "There's really not much else here I can do away with. I know I could sell the house and live somewhere cheaper, but..." That's the one thing Fran doesn't want to think about. "I love my home, Lord," Fran says. "And I don't think it would be wise to move the kids."
"Fran, it's time for you to seek counsel," Jesus says to her. "Remember Proverbs 20:18: 'Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.' You need to wage war against these financial woes. They're causing you a great deal of stress and it's getting worse, not better. So, seek some counsel."
"Guess I need to sell the house," she says, but the thought depresses her. This house has become a part of her and she doesn't want to give it up. She feels anger start to rise up in her, just thinking about it.
"It's just not fair," she thinks, as tears start down her cheeks. Looking at her wedding picture on the desk beside her, she remembers life with Jim. "It's just not fair. Why did Jim die? Why did God take him from me? It's just not fair?"
Fran puts her head down on the desk, and the sobs shake her body, as the pain and loneliness flood her memory. Suddenly she sits up and says out loud, "Lord, it's just not fair. I didn't do anything to deserve this," and all the anger she feels comes pouring out.
"I understand," Jesus replies, quietly.
"How could you understand? You've never had to raise two kids by yourself?" The words come out of her mouth before Fran can stop them.
"I understand loneliness; I was rejected by my closest friends," Jesus reminds her. "Even my Father turned his back on me as I hung on the cross. I understand because I've experienced every kind of pain that you have, Fran."
The room gets very quiet, as Fran's sobs subside. She thinks again of how much Jesus suffered for her, and feels very ashamed at her outbursts. "Lord, I'm so sorry..." she begins, but Jesus interrupts her.
"No need to apologize, Fran. You're complaining to the right person," Jesus says, as he reassures her of his love. "Remember David in Psalm 142? Why don't you read that right now?"
Fran opens to Psalm 142, and begins reading:
I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way...Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; ...Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.
Fran's spirit is much calmer as she finishes the Psalm. "Thanks for understanding, Lord," she says.
"Fran," Jesus says, "Since I know what you think anyway, you might as well tell me. Then at least we can deal with it."
Fran tries to smile. "David says 'set me free from my prison;' I feel like I'm in a prison, too. A money prison. Because of the lack of money, I've got to sell my house, uproot my kids, change my life - if I just had more money all that wouldn't be necessary."
"Fran," Jesus says to her, "money is not the answer to your problems."
At work the next day, Fran’s phone rings. "Mrs. Langley," the voice says.
"Yes," Fran replies.
"Mrs. Langley, I'm calling for Dr. Carrow. I wanted to inquire about the bill for Alice's dental work. It's past due and we were wondering when you might be able to pay it?"
Fran is stunned as she realizes that this is a collection call. "Uh," she mutters, very embarrassed, "well, I know it's a little late, but I'll try to pay right away. I'm sorry, it's just that so many bills have come due this month—I'm sorry."
"Are you saying then that you'll get a check off to us soon? When can we expect it, Mrs. Langley?" the cold voice asks on the other end of the phone.
"Uh, well," Fran tries to think, "I'll try to get a check off this week."
"Then we can expect full payment this week, is that right Mrs. Langley?" he continues.
Fran is embarrassed and angry at this whole conversation. She slams the phone down. She has never been so humiliated in her life. The rest of the day is pretty much a wipe-out, because Fran can't think of anything else. Several times during the day, Jesus tries to get her attention, but she's so wrapped up in her problem and self-pity that she is not even aware of his presence.
She stops to fill the gas tank on the way home, and the attendant says to her, "Lady, these two tires on the back, well there's hardly any tread left. You oughta' get some new tires soon, I think."
Fran can't believe her ears. Then, as she arrives home, Drew rushes up to her. "Mom, what happened? We can't get the Disney Channel anymore?"
"Oh, Drew, I cancelled the cable service today," Fran replies. "We can't afford it anymore."
"What do you mean we can't afford it? We've always afforded it before," Drew asks.
"Now, listen to me son," Fran grabs him by the shoulders, "I'm doing the best I can. I have to cut costs, and we can do without cable television. What's more, we're probably going to have to sell the house and move to a cheaper place."
As soon as she says it, she knows she said the wrong thing.
"Move to another house? Mom, we can't leave this house. Mom..." Drew looks at Fran with fear in his eyes, and tears start to roll down his cheeks. She is ashamed at how she has upset him unnecessarily.
She releases her grip on his shoulders, takes his hand, and leads him to the sofa. "Oh, Drew, I'm sorry I yelled at you," she says, as she takes him in her arms. He cries freely.
"Mom, I don't want to move. This is our home. Mom, where are we going to move?" Drew's fears and anxiety pour out.
Hugging him close, Fran says, "Drew, I don't know where we'll move. But I don't make as much money as your Dad did, Drew, and I can't afford this house."
"Please Mom, please, don't sell the house, please," Drew begs, as Fran holds him, unable to answer because of the tears in her own eyes.
Later in the evening she calls her mom and talks about selling the house. Her mom suggests she talk to her Uncle George who is an officer at a local bank. So Fran dials George's number, and explains her predicament to him. He assures her he'll be glad to talk with her and they plan to meet at his office tomorrow.
Fran feels relieved as she hangs up. Somehow it helps just to have someone to talk to who knows about finances and stuff.
"I'm glad you called George," Jesus says to her quietly.
"Jesus," Fran says rather sheepishly, "well, yeah, it was my Mom's suggestion...." She pauses. "Actually, it was your suggestion, wasn't it? Yesterday you told me to seek advice."
"Did you see what I did to poor Drew tonight? I really dumped all my frustration on that kid," Fran confesses.
"Yes, I was hoping you would talk with me about it first," Jesus answers. "If you had talked to me, I don't think you would have dumped on Drew."
"I'm sure you're right, Lord. I'm sorry," Fran says.
"Well, Fran, money has power. And it is one of the most difficult areas for my children to learn to trust me," Jesus says. "Remember this, Fran: Money problems are either going to cause you to be worried and frantic or they are going to cause you to learn to trust me more. It's your choice."
Fran mulls that over in her mind. "It's my choice, you say? Either I can continue to act and react like I've done today, or I can refuse to get upset and pray more about it and trust you. But when I feel that panic set in, I just can't avoid it," Fran tells Jesus.
"Feeling the panic doesn't mean you're not trusting me," Jesus says. "But at that point of panic, you must make a choice either to continue in panic mode or to trust me. Remember, if you go by your feelings, you'll often be in trouble. In spite of the panic feelings, you can trust me, even in the midst of them."
"It brings to mind that verse I learned when I was a kid in Sunday School: 'What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee," Fran says. "David said, 'I will trust in you.' Guess that's what you mean when you say I have to make a choice, huh?"
"Yes, Fran," Jesus says, "regardless of your feelings, if you will set your will to trust in me, you'll discover that the fears subside. And when the fears subside, then you can think correctly and hear my voice and know what to do. But when fear takes over, trust goes out the window and you're going to find yourself doing and saying all kinds of things you wish you hadn't."
"Wow, that sure happened to me today," Fran says, as she re-thinks her day. "I blew up at everybody. I was out of control." Fran spends a little more time reading her Bible and talking with Jesus, and then goes to bed with a quiet spirit.
The next day her talk with Uncle George encourages her. He explained she had some options she'd never thought about. She could refinance her home at a lower interest rate and cut her payments by almost $150 a month.
He also pointed out that she could claim another deduction on her income tax and have an extra $40 to $50 in her paycheck, instead of getting a refund check each year. He also gave her the name of a friend in real estate who could give her some good advice on selling her house.
As Fran drove home, she said to Jesus, "I do have some options, don't I, Lord? Thanks for putting Uncle George in my life to help me. Now I just need to know what is the best thing to do."
"Well, Fran, keep praying for wisdom and seeking good advice," Jesus reminds her.
"And keep cutting back on costs, right," Fran smiles.
I think God deals with all of us through money. If that's where you are now, learn to trust God, not money. Determine that you will seek good advice and be a good steward, but you will not live in fear of the lack of money. As Jesus pointed out to Fran, this is one area where many of us have great difficulty really trusting God. He has promised to supply all our needs, and he never fails.
