Here are my three main motivations:

Do what you are called to do 

Most of us will have to work 50 years, from 20-70, so you might as well do something you like and do something that you are good at. 

When in you incur debt, you become a slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7).  If you are in denial about this, let me ask you a question.  How much of your paycheck goes to paying debt?   What if you lose your job; does your debt go away?  You are still a slave to your lender until it is paid in full. 

Is God calling you to do something or to go somewhere?   Is your financial situation holding you back?  “Sorry God, I can’t start this ministry in (fill in the location) because I’ve got this debt.”  By the way, saying “No Lord” is an oxymoron. 

Financial freedom also allows you to work in a job that you like.  If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you really don’t have a choice on how much you like your job because you can’t afford to step away and find something else. 

I have been there.  You know, that knot in your stomach that you feel on Sunday night when you hate your job?  I lived with that for a long time.  That feeling goes away when you like what you do.

Find what you are good at.  This took me a long time because the ‘good at’ list was so short.  Now that I know what I am good at, I can now look at job postings to see if they fit my strengths.   Artistic ability is not my strength, so I need to trash my Project Runway application for next season. 

Change your family tree

You actually can do something about it.  No matter what your parents or grandparents did (or didn’t do) with their money, you can change your family’s financial legacy.   There are some things I can’t control, like my unbelievably great looks or the guy who cuts me off the on ramp on the Interstate.  I can, however, control my family’s financial future by the decisions I (and my wife) make. 

There’s hope:  according to the book, The Millionaire Next Door by Dr. Andy Stanley, 80% of all millionaires are first generation.  These are people who have decided that enough is enough and are living proof that something can be done to change it.  Millionaires do a lot of things that may surprise you, like drive new cars and wear flashy clothes.  I would highly suggest reading this book. 

You may not realize it now, but your entire family will get on board once they see you.  Parents who are serious about changing their lives get instant buy-in from their children.   Those kids will want their own savings account and will want to do this right along with you.  Now you are starting to change your family.

Give

If working in your strengths and changing your family tree isn’t enough reason to get going ASAP on changing your financial life, consider the giver you can become. 

Being able to give adds a whole new purpose to your work and to your life.  My wife and I have been tithing since college.  This was back when we were making a couple of hundred dollars a week.  Paying 10% ($20.00 a week) wasn’t too painful.  Now that we make more, this habit has continued.  We would consider it painful not to tithe now.  

I would challenge you to tithe no matter what phase and step you are in.   Actually, read Malachi 3 and God challenges you to test Him with your tithe.  No other place in the Bible says for you to test God, so He must be pretty serious about it. 

Too much Bible talk for you?  You can still give your money to charity or an organization that is near and dear to your heart.  I challenge you to send money to a place that feeds hungry children or houses orphans.  I guarantee you that it will add a whole new element to your life. 

Are you motivated now?   Let’s begin.