Single Mom, you were created in God’s image for good works. Just because your life has
experienced disruption and pain doesn’t mean you are no longer capable of accomplishing much.
In fact, you have been entrusted with the job of diligently stewarding what God has provided, by
working with excellence and spending with wisdom. Working as an image-bearer of God, you
can eliminate debt, create margin, improve your credit score, grow your net worth, and,
ultimately, gain dignity which positively impacts your role as a mother.
Work as Unto the Lord.
Your work ethic reflects your commitment to the Lord. The way you handle your job and money
impacts your life and that of others. Consider these passages from the Bible, recognizing that
what was written for men in these verses applies to you and your circumstances, too.
“Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand
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before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29 ESV)
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10a ESV)
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17 ESV)
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the
Lord, you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
(Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)
Work is one way that you reflect God’s glory to a watching world. Although there is no
guaranteed formula to keeping a job, one thing is certain: The less you contribute to your
company, the greater your risk of getting laid off (or fired). Customers, fellow employees, and
managers know who is really committed.
Many in the world are increasingly satisfied with mediocrity. You should strive to live by higher
standards by associating with those who challenge you to be your best. Learn from them. Ask
questions, set goals, and seek accountability. Understand that your work provides income that
you must handle responsibly. It has been entrusted to you, so manage it with excellence.
Four Principles Leading to Excellence
I serve on the board of Foundations for Farming in Zimbabwe. They train thousands of people
with four simple operating principles: 1) on time, 2) at standard, 3) without waste, and 4) with joy. If I were to translate those farming principles to work and financial stewardship principles,
they might look something like this:
On-Time: Plan and prepare in order to avoid being late on anything at work or with money. Set short-term and long-term goals doing everything in a timely fashion. At work, be on time, obey company rules, and focus on your job during working hours.
At Standard: Take no shortcuts, but in all that you do, be honest and honorable. Whether in work or your personal finances, rise above mediocrity, and demonstrate integrity. Be faithful at your job and with the work with which you have been entrusted. If you are a full-time mom, manage your home with wisdom and virtue. If you are an employer, set an example of excellence. If you are an employee, stay busy. Look for ways to serve the company. The more diligent you are, the more valuable you become.
Without Waste: Wisely steward your time, energy, relationships, opportunities, and money. A budget will reveal “holes in your bucket,” enabling you to correct and eliminate loss. This will grant needed margin so you can confidently give, save, and invest.
With Joy: Work with a joyful heart full of gratitude for all your blessings. This will replace self-pity, bitterness, blaming, excusing, and complaining and enable you to work with excellence. Learn to steward money wisely, and joy will reduce any fear and stress.
Do things right so you won’t be tempted to cover up later. Make sure your decisions and actions
line up with the Word, not the world. Allow your work to be a reflection of your faith.
“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of
God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5b-7 ESV)
If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus Christ, then you are a daughter of the King. Can I challenge
you to take control of your financial situation while trusting the One who is ultimately in
control? If you follow the simple principles and practices above, you will experience less stress,
more joy, and greater peace. These rewards are the priceless rewards only He can provide.
Chuck Bentley is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, the largest Christian financial ministry in the world, founded by the late Larry Burkett. He is the host of a daily radio broadcast, My MoneyLife, featured on more than 1,000 Christian Music and Talk stations in the U.S., and author of his most recent book, Money Problems, Marriage Solutions. Be sure to follow Crown on Facebook at Crown Financial Ministries and check out the website at www.crown.org.
The Life of a Single Mom is a national, faith-based, nonprofit that exists to see that no single mom walks alone. To date, the organization has worked with hundreds of churches to start a single mom’s support group in cities throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as having served hundreds of thousands of single mothers with a variety of programs. Offering a large array of books, curriculum, training materials, online instructional videos, podcasts, newsletters, life skills education, and more, TLSM is one of the largest single mom organizations in the U.S. The robust selection of single mom programs focus on empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and parentally through Single Mom University, Single Moms Across America, the National TLSM Single Moms Conference, boot camps, and a variety of other programs. For more information, visit www.thelifeofasinglemom.com.
