As a college student, money is something that enters my hand on payday and then quickly exits my hand as rent, utilities, and school payments all come due.

It can be frustrating living paycheck to paycheck, but it is also a reminder of the sweet things in life. With little extra spending money, my investment in relationships and my dependence on God have both gone up.

As Christians, we can sometimes get roped into a “prosperity gospel” way of thinking. We think we should be well off because we faithfully follow God. However, the reality is that’s not usually the story. We struggle to make ends meet, which isn’t fun, but just may be a better condition for our characters than we thought.

According to Proverbs 15:16, it is better to have little and to fear God, than to be rich and encounter lots of trouble.

We think money is the key to happiness, but the happiness money can buy is very short-lived. It is better for us to be poor and learn that God is the true source of our joy, than for us to seek after the next thing money can get us. This doesn’t mean we can’t be rich and be committed Christians; it just means that whether we have little or plenty, we need to remember to always keep our focus on God.