A baker’s dozen of worthwhile ways to spend/invest your money in 2023 …

A profound statement made by Dr. LeRoy Lawson decades ago that I’ll never forget (and have often repeated) was this: “Show me your checkbook and I’ll show you your priorities.”

Considering few people write checks today, that’s a dated comment!

But still an insightful one.

Let’s bring it up-to-date: Show me your spending (how, or on what, you spend your money), and I’ll show you your priorities.

How we spend our money reflects what is important to us.

But did you know most Americans don’t have a very accurate idea about how they’re spending their money? According to CreditDonkey, only 32 percent of U.S. households prepare a monthly budget; and of those households, 70 percent take the time to check their spending against their budget each week.

Money is just one resource God enables us to make to provide for our living on this planet. He doesn’t demand it all be saved, but He certainly doesn’t want us to squander it. A simple study of the Bible teaches us God wants us to be good stewards of all He provides us with, which includes our money.

It’s the start of a new year, and a new year in which you’ll spend plenty of the money you earn or receive. Let me suggest a “baker’s dozen” of worthwhile ways to spend your money that are more investments than simply “spending”:

1. The kingdom of God. Jesus taught us this, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need,” Matthew 6:33. The first investment we should make with the money we have is in God’s kingdom. That can be regularly supporting your local church, and then giving to other kingdom work such as missions, the planting of new churches, and contributing to parachurch organizations.

2. Care for your family. This should be a “no brainer” for all of us, and it is for many, but not all.

Most of us have as one of our leading priorities a commitment to provide for the basic needs of our families … but again, not all of us. And increasingly, we see more and more people struggling and suffering with significant needs but being ignored by their families (and too often even by their churches). The Apostle Paul had harsh words for those who neglect to care for their families: “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers,” 1 Timothy 5:8.

3. Invest in people. While taking care of your family should be a “no brainer,” extending interest and care beyond your own family should also be a “no brainer” for followers of Jesus.

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality,” Romans 12:13.

“Remember this — a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, ‘They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.’ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you,” 2 Corinthians 9:6-10.

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2.

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too,” Philippians 2:4.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone — especially to those in the family of faith,” Galatians 6:9-10.

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’ — but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless,” James 2:14-17.

“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God,” Hebrews 13:16.

“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion — how can God’s love be in that person?” 1 John 3:17.

4. A personal Bible study library. One of the greatest investments you can make in life are in a few simple tools to help you grow in your knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. This could include a good study Bible, Bible dictionary, concordance, Bible atlas, a Bible commentary, books that are geographical and cultural helps, and books on doctrine can be helpful tools in your personal study of God’s Word. Many of these resources are available online, but having the tools you need to help you learn as a student of Jesus is worthy of investment.

5. Making memories with loved ones. This can often be done without spending money … things like great conversations over coffee, or a lingering walk at sunset can be ways you draw closer to your loved ones. But making the time, and spending the money, to make cherished memories with loved ones is an investment you’ll want to make every year.

6. Nurturing relationships. Spending the gas to go see a friend, meeting friends for dinner, etc. all cost something. Spending time and money to nurture the relationships in your life (or create new ones) is a priceless investment.

7. Healthy nutrition. An excuse many people use for consistently eating junk food, or food of poor nutritional value, is that “healthy food” is too expensive. For some it may be, but that argument is more false than true. There are numerous studies on this subject; one of those studies, conducted by the Harvard School of Pubic Health, states that “The healthiest diets cost about $1.50 more per day than the least healthy diets.” For most Americans, the choice of a poor nutritional diet has more to do with desires and choices than the means to consistently supply healthy nutrition to themselves and their families.

8. A good bed. Having a consistent, healthy sleep pattern is critically important to your health in every way — physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Yet, so many people have terrible quality beds because they don’t want to spend the money on a good bed that will help them get a good night’s sleep. It’s an understandable temptation to not spend money on a good bed, because the bed that’s best for you can be expensive … but not in the long run, when it comes to your overall well-being (and considering the average person spends one-third of their life sleeping). This may be the year you need to have a “Goldilocks moment” and find the bed that’s just right for helping you have a consistent, healthy pattern of sleep.

9. Gym membership. You have one body for this life, and your physical fitness refers to the “ability of your body systems to work together efficiently to allow you to be healthy and perform activities of daily living.” When you allow your fitness to wane, you allow your capacity to function to fade. An investment in a gym membership – if used, consistently and properly – can be a priceless investment as a means of keeping yourself fit for all the life God intends for you to live out. And considering many gyms offer memberships for as low as $10 per month, this investment is doable for most Americans.

10. Hiring a Personal Trainer. Most of the people who do “splurge” on a gym membership barely and/or rarely use them. A key reason is, upon arriving at the gym they suddenly realize they don’t know how to exercise effectively and use most of the gyms resources correctly and to maximum benefit. Hiring a Personal Trainer (PT) can remedy all of that, and can be one of the best investments of your life, for your life. By hiring a Personal Trainer, you gain access to their expertise. The PT can design a workout regimen customized to your personal fitness and health needs, help you set fitness goals proper for you, teach you how to exercise efficiently and effectively so that you can get (and stay) fit. If you can’t afford a lengthy training regimen with a Personal Trainer, you can hire a PT for just a few sessions and request they use that time to develop a workout regiment that meets your needs, and then teach you how to exercise correctly and effectively, and how to use gym resources correctly and effectively.

11. Continued learning. Someone once said you begin to die when you stop learning. While not fully accurate, there’s some value in the thought. Whether it’s continued education in your profession, learning new skills, honing old ones, or especially learning something new, it is an invaluable investment to be a lifelong learner. Investing some money in continuing your personal and spiritual development is not money squandered.

12. A good pair of shoes. This may sound odd, but having a good pair of shoes can protect against multiple potential serious issues, from back problems, to protecting joints and minimizing impact on them, and better supporting or even improving your functional performance. Some of those aches and functional issues that develop can be traced back to bad footwear. Spending a few dollars more for a good pair of shoes is actually a wise investment when possible.

13. Respite/vacation. The old saying of “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” doesn’t begin to capture what can really be the outcome of all work and no play. God didn’t design human beings to be all work, we need rest, relaxation, and recreation.

Now, it’s true that we like to indulge on the far spectrum — we’re addicted to entertainment and making life as easy as possible. But some people do make life overtly, and overly, about work without adequate rest. A wise use of some of your funds each year is to make sure you have adequate respite/vacation to keep yourself spiritually, mentally, and physically healthy so that you can do great work that glorifies God.

Conclusion. The above doesn’t include some basic wise stewardship investments for yourself, like creating and growing a savings account, investing in a retirement account, having adequate healthcare insurance, investing in an educational account for your children, etc. Every life is different. You have more resources than some, less than others. The suggestions above don’t fit every life the same way; the key is simply being a wise and good steward of the resources God blesses you with, including how you spend your money. After all, how you spend your money reflects what is important to you.

Scotty