Living: How to be content during economic hardship

*If you face financial anxiety, how can you avoid making unwise decisions?

Web Editor | ConsumerConnect

“Because of the high cost of living and the uncertainty about the future, my wife and I decided to move abroad to find better work. We intended to bring our children later.

“However, our new life was more difficult than we expected, and we couldn’t send for our children as we had planned.

“I was told by the brothers back home that our children were rarely seen at Christian meetings or in the field ministry.”​ –Samuel A.

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Many of God’s servants live in areas where there are limited job opportunities or where there is widespread poverty.

Because of these circumstances, some have made decisions that they thought would improve their situation without considering all the consequences.

Some have left behind their spouses or minor children, and have moved abroad in search of a better life.

Others have invested in get-rich-quick schemes that left them worse off financially.

If you face financial anxiety, how can you avoid making unwise decisions?

The secret of contentment

Apostle Paul learned what he called “the secret”​—how to be content despite his circumstances.

He wrote: “I know how to be low on provisions and how to have an abundance.

“In everything and in all circumstances, I have learned the secret of both how to be full and how to hunger, both how to have an abundance and how to do without.”​ —Philippians 4:11, 12.

Note that Paul had to learn to be content. Let us consider four Bible principles that can help us to do the same.

Bible Principle #1: “Let your way of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: ‘I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.’ ”​—Hebrews 13:5.

How this principle helps. Love of money may drive you to compare your financial situation with that of others.

Such love robs people of peace and contentment. If we fight against that love and learn to appreciate what we have, we will find contentment and peace of mind.

What you can do. Focus on what you have, and on what you can realistically afford rather than on the lifestyle that others seem to enjoy.

Remember, Jehovah promises to provide necessities for those who put spiritual matters first. (Matthew 6:24, 33)

He makes no such guarantee to those who put the pursuit of money first in their life.

Always appreciate Jehovah’s provision of the basic necessities. Paul wrote: “Having food and clothing, we will be content with these things.”​—1 Timothy 6:8.

Bible Principle #2: “Never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to wear?’

For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing.

Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”​—Matthew 6:31, 32.

How this principle helps. When we have confidence in Jehovah’s care and support, we may worry less about the what-ifs, such as “What if things get worse?” or “What if I cannot provide for my family?”

Eric, from Ghana, admits that he had such thoughts.

Now, though, he has adjusted his view.

He said: “Contentment doesn’t mean that we deny the reality of our struggles.

“Rather, it means that we choose to focus on what we can control and that we are grateful for what we have, even during hard times.”

What you can do. Pray to Jehovah about your specific needs, and ask him for wisdom. (James 1:5)

Talk to mature Christians about your situation, and consider how they have dealt with similar hardships. (Proverbs 20:18) Take note of how Jehovah provides for you each day.

This will help to reduce your anxiety about the future and help you to focus on your present needs. (Matthew 6:25-30, 34)

Never forget the words of the psalmist David, who said: “Many are the hardships of the righteous one, but Jehovah rescues him from them all.”​—Psalms 34:19.

Bible Principle #3: “The shrewd person sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.”​—Proverbs 27:12.

How this principle helps. Advertisements and social media posts may present opportunities to get rich quick that can be enticing when you are struggling financially.

However, many who have invested in such schemes have ended up disappointed. (Proverbs 18:11; 1 Timothy 6:9)

Shrewdness will help you to avoid such traps.

What you can do.

The Bible says: “The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step.” (Proverbs 14:15)

So if someone promises that you can make a lot of money very easily, be extremely cautious.

Do thorough research before making any decision.

And by all means, do not allow your heart to be seduced by get-rich-quick schemes or offers that would require you to engage in dishonest practices.​—Proverbs 28:6, 20; Jeremiah 17:9.

Bible Principle #4: “Who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it?”​—Luke 14:28.

How this principle helps. A job opportunity might solve some problems but create others.

When you count the cost of any offer you receive​—weighing both the pros and the cons—​you can make a wise decision and spare yourself the harmful consequences of making a hasty one.

What you can do. Carefully think through any opportunity that comes your way.

For example, moving abroad might increase your income, but it might increase your cost of living as well.

Also, consider the emotional and spiritual cost if you were to leave behind your spouse or children.

Further, take into account how your Christian activity might be affected.

Will you still be able to serve Jehovah “with your whole soul”?​—Luke 10:27.

The brother from the opening image conducts family worship with his wife and young children.

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The benefits of contentment

If we learn the secret of contentment, we will grow ever more convinced that Jehovah loves and cares for us all. (Psalms 34:8)

We will gain ever greater appreciation for his daily provisions and for his loving care.

Samuel, quoted at the outset of this article, found that to be true.

He says: “After praying to Jehovah for wisdom, my wife and I decided to return home, resume our previous jobs, and take care of our children.

“We now have a routine of studying the Bible with each of them and taking them to meetings and in the field ministry.

“Being focused on spiritual things has reduced my anxiety.

“We do not regret our decision to return home.”

Never forget that we serve “the happy God” and that his holy spirit can produce joy in us​—regardless of our circumstances. (1 Timothy 1:11; Galatians 5:22, 23).

Soon, he will bring about a world in which there will be an abundance of good things for everyone.​—Psalms 72:16; 145:16. (Piece adapted from JW.ORG)