Tired of Comparing? Finding Your True Worth Beyond NumbersSample

Day 3: Living Beyond the Numbers

What if we've been defining financial success entirely backward?

After reframing our resources as "assets under management," my wife and I realized we needed to rethink how we measured financial success. If accumulation wasn't the goal, what was?

That's when we created a new metric: "Net Given"—a running total of what we've given away over our lifetime. We still track our “assets under management” as a means of managing well what the Lord has entrusted to us.

But, we decided, that if we have to prioritize one financial goal over our lives, it wouldn’t be in how much we accumulated, but in how much we have given.

While the world measures success by what you accumulate, God's economy measures it by what you give. We determined that as Christians, our financial success shouldn't be determined by what we keep but by what we give.

Jesus addresses this exact issue in Matthew 6:19-21 NIV: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Here, Jesus directly contradicts our culture's definition of financial success. While the world encourages accumulating earthly treasures, Jesus instructs us to invest in heavenly ones.

Every dollar given to advance God's kingdom becomes what Jesus calls a "treasure in heaven"—an eternal investment immune to inflation, market crashes, and theft.

Jesus then reveals why this matters so deeply: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Our financial priorities don't just reflect our hearts; they shape them. When we track our "Net Given," we're intentionally directing our hearts toward heaven.

When we embrace giving as the measure of success, we position ourselves to experience the greater blessing Jesus promised.

Living beyond the numbers means we stop finding our identity in financial metrics and start finding it in Christ. We're no longer defined by our income, savings, or possessions. We're defined by our relationship with the One who gave everything for us.

And his freedom transforms how we interact with money. We can celebrate financial growth not because it increases our status, but because it expands our capacity to give. We can pursue financial wisdom not to accumulate more, but to steward better.

When we embrace God's definition of financial success as revealed in Scripture, comparison loses its power. We're no longer competing with others on accumulation metrics; we're partnering with God in generosity metrics.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Jesus' clear teaching about heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones. Help me align my financial goals with Your Word. Guide me to find my identity in You, not in financial metrics. Give me wisdom to steward well so I can give generously. May I measure success as You measure it—by faithfulness and love rather than figures and assets. Transform my heart to value what You value, remembering that "it is more blessed to give than to receive”.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Take the next step to measure what truly matters:

As a thank you for finishing the plan, I'd love to give you a copy of my award-winning book 'Simple Money, Rich Life'. It's packed full of biblical strategies to multiply your income, maximize your savings, and amplify your giving.

👉 See how to grow what God's given you here