Thoughts on Work and The Christian Dollar (2012)

If you’re reading this, perhaps you’ve signed up for the newsletter at The Christian Dollar. Or maybe you’re a first time visitor to this website and are wondering what all of this is about. Some of you are repeat visitors, and check back often because you know me and want to see how things are going. This isn’t going to be your normal article everyone. These are my thoughts on the state of The Christian Dollar and my work.

So for all of you who might care even a smidgen, please read on. But I’m going to warn you ahead of time, I might ramble on and on.

I don’t know about you, but I constantly think about my purpose. Why am I here? What am I supposed to do? Where do I fit? Moreover, what is the objective of The Christian Dollar? And why do I write for it and invite others to share financial information?

Some would say, “Well, you do it to make money through advertisements.” Yes, it’s my full time job. You’re right. But there’s more to it than that.

Others would say, “Well, you do it because you want to help others with their financial situation.” Yeah, that’s true too.

Am I being selfish? Giving? Both?

Is making a profit by taking care of others selfish? Are my motives pure? If you’re visiting this website for the first time, you might be asking yourself these questions.

Let me share a couple of things I believe . . . .

I believe in finding a job you love.

Believe me, I know what it is like to work somewhere you really don’t want to be. I know many of you are currently working for a company you don’t like and wish you could quit in a jiffy. You’re probably not very productive anyway when you’re working somewhere you dislike.

Now, there are times in our lives when we should temporarily work in a job we don’t like. Maybe we need to in order to provide for our families, or perhaps we just haven’t sat down to brainstorm other possibilities. In times like these it is important to temporarily work so that we have some ground to stand on. Key word: temporarily.

I’m very blessed to have a job that I absolutely love. I work here on The Christian Dollar and on several other websites editing, writing, and working on social media. I believe that there is great purpose in my work. And although I don’t receive much feedback from readers on how I’m doing, I know that eyes are reading what I’m writing and that just might make someone’s day a little bit better.

I believe in reaching as many people as possible with alternative financial principles.

Saying that there is no such thing as “good debt” is controversial. Rejecting credit cards outright seems foolish to many. But I believe in these things because I see the fruits of putting them into practice. And I want others to get a taste of how beneficial it is to live life this way.

One of my main goals is to grow this blog. Not only will it increase my income so that I can continue working on things I believe in, but it will help many more people find these principles.

I believe in connecting with The Christian Dollar community.

I want to hear from you. I want to know if this website has changed your life for the better. I want to know how I can SERVE you.

But I also want to have a conversation with you, the reader, as a friend. I want The Christian Dollar to be a place where people gather to not only read about financial topics, but to talk about them. So I’ll be finding more ways to do that in the coming months and years. Facebook and Google+ are a few solutions, but more has to be done. I’m totally open to ideas so please send them my way in the comments!

I believe that there are multiple voices that need to be heard.

I’ve often struggled whether or not to make this website solely about what I’m learning. Having a place where I’m the sole contributor might help you get to know me a little better. And who knows, I might have a place like that in the future. But I think The Christian Dollar needs to have a mix of voices from the Christian community. I’ll be writing more often, but we also have some great writers on board who are very much worth reading.

I believe this is a place where you can learn to improve your finances and as a result give more than you ever imagined.

In order to help others, you have to be healthy yourself. If you’re going to give more than you ever imagined (to people who truly need it), you’re going to have to have your finances in order. The ultimate goal here is for us to learn together how to help others.

I believe earning an income, raising your income, and being successful can be GOOD things.

We all need income to operate in life. Just like I make money by referring you to products and services I believe in, you too should find a job where you believe in what you’re promoting!

It is not evil to make money. It’s necessary to make money to buy food, help your family, and give to others. Income is essential! But with more income comes more responsibility. So I think we all need to remember that it is not our money we’re managing, it’s God’s. That will help us in the long run.

I could go on and on, but I know you have a life too. Hopefully you now have a better sense of my motives, my heart, and my vision for The Christian Dollar. I promise you I won’t be perfect, but I also promise you I’ll try to make this a place you’ll want to return time and time again.

I’m ready for some constructive criticism. What can I do better here? How can I make The Christian Dollar a place where you want to return? What questions can I answer? Let’s talk! Leave a comment below.