My daughter and I spent the day together and as always we had many things to chat about. One topic we touched on was the difficulty of living on one income. My daughter agreed that there is a very real pressure to conform to a high standard of living, even among Christian couples in the church. The pressure is very real to drive a certain type of vehicle and to live in a certain type of neighborhood. A couple is often looked down upon if they have not obtained this standard of living. And of course, if a family is living on just one income the chances are that they are not able to reach this standard of living without going into serious debt.

Our talk reminded me of a book I read recently that taught how necessary it is to draw a line in our minds where we say ENOUGH when it comes to buying more and more stuff. They recommended coming to a place where a person can look at what they own and say to themselves... this is ENOUGH. I can be content with having this much and need no more. I've noticed that my parents and older friends live this way, especially those that lived through the depression. I rarely see them buying new furniture or appliances or gizmo's for the house. Mainly, their shopping consists of food and occasionally clothing.

The Bible has drawn that line called, Enough! The line has been drawn with food and clothing.

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Can you imagine that? Living in America and being content with only food and clothing? Think about it. God's Word says that with FOOD and CLOTHING we are to be content. Look at all that is surrounding you in your home. How much more we have than what God has said we need to be content. Yet, how many times a month do we hear the words coming out of our mouths, "When we have a little bit more money I want to buy....!" or "If I just had a little bit more money I could get....!"

I've spent a lot of time over the past years studying how to live within my husbands income. Being able to stay at home to raise my children meant the everything to me and my husband. My husband did not make a big income and I knew that I had to make sacrifices in order to stay home. Now that my children are grown and finances are not as tight as they used to be, I still find myself searching websites and articles for ideas of stretching a dollar. Yet, rarely have I come across any teachings on what a person's heart posture must be in order to live on one income.

One of the definitions for contentment in Vine's Expository is "to be enough for a thing" or to be 'satisfied with.' This falls right in line with what I read earlier in that book. There must be a line drawn... a NO given to too many wants.. because our flesh is never satisfied and will continue to always want more. That is the way of the flesh. It's never content.

I've been using this teaching lately when I am tempted to buy things that are unnecessary. I will remind myself that I have ENOUGH because I have food and clothing. Nine times out of ten I find that I really do not need the item and generally I can think of a way that I can make due with what I have.

1 John 2:15, 16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

I've watched so many families over the years become enslaved to discontentment and because of it they have either had to give up their dream of being at home with their children or they have put themselves under an enormous pressure of debt which has sapped the joy of them being at home. Learning the art of contentment is one of the keeper at home's greatest secrets to living on one income.

Luke 12:15: Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Paul reminds us in v. 13 that we can do ALL things through Him who gives us strength.