Your Daily Bread

YOUR Daily Bread Keep momentum on 2020 financial gains

By Terry Frisk to treat ourselves for the hard work and sacri-

The past year has significantly impacted our fice we have encountered, I also believe these lives in many ways. One positive impact has treats should be in the form of experiences that been on our personal finances. While some enrich our lives. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said: people found themselves unemployed, their “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on finances were buoyed by increased unemploy- earth, where moth and rust destroy and where ment benefits and stimulus payments. For the thieves break in and steal, but lay up for most part, people continued to receive similar yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither income compared to the pre-pandemic and moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do spent less on commuting, travel, entertainment not break in and steal. For where your treaand other activities that were limited due to the sure is, there your heart will be also.” pandemic. Jesus is conveying that our desire for material

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center possessions stands in the way of our relationfound that 30% of American adults report their ship with God. As our world starts to reopen family’s finances have improved over the past year. According to the U.S Bureau of Economic Terry Frisk and we become more optimistic about the future, there will be growing desire to resume Analysis, personal savings rates skyrocketed old spending habits. How do we overcome this to 33% of income in April of last year and has remained at desire? Plan ahead and consider these tips: historically high levels since. In addition, after ten years of 1. Recognize that your income is a blessing from increases in credit card debt, Wallethub reported the total God. He has entrusted you to use your money wisely to serve amount of credit card debt deceased $82.9 billion in 2020. It Him. He wants you to achieve a balance between giving, savhas truly been a unique year. ing and spending so that you do not become a slave to money.

Hopefully, these newly developed financial habits will contin- Attain this balance through prayer. ue as we emerge from the pandemic. While I believe we need Continued on page 29