The Beginner’s Guide to Changing Your Money Scripts
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The Beginner’s Guide to Changing Your Money Scripts: What We Can Learn from a Runner
When I was living in England, I started watching runners like Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram who ran a sub-4-minute mile on a regular basis. They were simply amazing. Of course, they trained like no one else, but one of the things I came to learn eventually as I followed track and field was how long it took for runners to break the 4-minute mile barrier.
Human beings didn’t break the 4-minute for a mile until 1954! Back in those days, athletes didn’t believe that it was physiologically possible for a runner to break the 4-minute barrier for a one-mile race. People didn’t think the heart could handle such a pace.
Then May 6, 1954, happened. An Oxford medical student by the name of Roger Bannister became the first person to break the “four-minute barrier” with a time of 3 minutes 59.4 seconds in a dual meet at Oxford on that day.
What was even more amazing is that once the unbreakable “four-minute barrier” was broken, other athletes started to break the “four-minute barrier” too. Weeks after on June 21, 1954, an Australian runner by the name of John Landy ran a mile in 3:58. The next season a few more runners ran a sub-four-minute mile, and within three years, 17 runners did the same.
Tracks didn’t change. Running shoes didn’t change. Even training didn’t change. The only real thing that changed in the mindset of in the runners was that running a sub-four-minute mile was possible.
What do we think is possible? What do we think is not possible?
The Beginner’s Guide to Changing Your Money Scripts: What We Need to Learn from the Bible
One of the challenges I work through with people on a rather regular basis when it comes to money and personal finances is with money scripts all of us have. These money scripts are generally unconscious, and as Brad Klontz describes in his research, they tend to revolve around three categories often with negative consequences: money avoidance, money status, and money worship. You might want to check out Dr. Klontz’s book, Wired for Wealth: Change the Money Mindsets That Keep You Trapped and Unleash Your Wealth Potential.
According to Dr. Klontz, these are the 10 common money scripts, and I see these with my clients.
More Money Will Make Things Better
Money Is Bad
I Don’t Deserve Money
I Deserve to Spend Money
There Will Never Be Enough Money
There Will Always Be Enough Money
Money Is Unimportant
Money Will Give Me Meaning
It’s Not Nice (or Necessary) To Talk About Money
If You Are Good, the Universe Will Supply All Your Needs.
Whether we are followers of Jesus or not, we all have money scripts we aren’t aware of and we get played by our scripts over and over again. Only when we are aware, can we begin to rewrite those scripts by the truth of what the Scriptures say.
One of the statements I hear the most from clients, Christians and non-Christians is, “I am bad with money.” I tell my clients to stop listening to that statement as such statements usually serve to both psych themselves out as well as give them the permission to just give up or not try at all.
As Christ-followers seeking to mature in our discipleship journey, I believe we need to start accepting responsibility for our thoughts. To stop listening to ourselves by discovering what those scripts are, and start speaking to ourselves with the truth of God’s Word. Romans 12:2 reminds us clearly how to practically start applying the gospel of Jesus Christ into our lives, to stop conforming to this world but be transformed by the renewal of our mind.
The Bible has a lot to say about money, wealth and possessions, and our Lord Jesus Christ said a lot about money during his ministry years.
Are our money scripts mainly formed and maintained by our larger culture and family of origin, or as Christ-followers, are we committed to being transformed by the renewal of our minds through what Bible says about money, wealth, and possessions?
Randy Alcorn’s Money, Possessions, and Eternity or Managing God’s Money: A Biblical Guide might be a good place to start. Or you might want to check out Compass’s Navigating Your Finances God’s Way to learn God’s perspective of managing money and possessions.
Ready to Start?
Are you ready to get started? Contact me at paul@jangfinancial.com if you want to help disciple your congregation as God-honoring stewards from a biblical perspective, or if you yourself want to grow as a steward seeking to practically manage the finances better to hear from our Lord upon his return, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21, 23)
Paul Jang
Pastor | Personal Financial Coach to Individuals & Financial Discipleship and Generosity Specialist to Churches
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Paul Jang served as a full-time ordained pastor for close to 15 years in Bergen County, NJ. Currently, he serves as an associate pastor at the Church Gathered & Scattered and as a personal financial coach and a financial stewardship ministry consultant for churches at Jang Financial Coaching LLC (jangfinancial.com), he serves Christ-followers and churches position toward financial peace, independence, and generosity. He is a certified Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coach, a Financial Discipleship & Generosity Specialist with Compass, finances God’s way, and a member of Christian Stewardship Network. Paul has been serving as a financial counselor for about decade and enjoys running while listening to a good audiobook on anything financial. He is happily married to Joy and committed to raising 3 future stewards in God’s Kingdom.
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