The Best Lifestyle Ever

With retail companies and the media constantly tempting us to “‘buy now, pay later,” it is easy to desire a lifestyle that may be beyond our financial means.

For instance, Australia has seen an influx of Teslas as delayed shipments now start to arrive. And whilst some car owners may be able to afford these luxury cars, many will have gone beyond their means.

But over the past few years, the social movement toward living in tiny houses has gained traction. These tiny houses are usually no more than 400 square feet and require occupants to be radical about what they acquire. But many have shared that learning to live a more simplified life has brought them freedom and joy. 

How we live, and how we aspire to live, can have a direct impact on our relationship with God. The apostle Paul cautions Timothy: Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Tim. 6:9-10).

An accumulation mindset can lure us toward living an unsustainable lifestyle and away from trusting God to meet our needs.

As sojourners travelling through this world, Jesus instead cautions us to live in light of eternity. Matthew 6:19-21 says: 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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Wealth, in and of itself, is not bad if we acknowledge that, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are to endeavour to be good stewards of everything God has entrusted to us.

Howard Dayton warns us in his book Your Money Counts that, “every possession requires time, attention and often money to maintain it. Too many or the wrong types of possessions can demand so much time, energy or money that they harm our relationship with the Lord and others.”

Living simply, and within our means, brings with it lightness and freedom. It gives us more time to nurture our relationship with God and enables us to further focus on cultivating the lifestyle He desires for us most.

The Lord calls us to live a godly life. 

A lifestyle that honours Him and loves others… A lifestyle that shares with those in need… A lifestyle that emulates Jesus in every way.

Is this the kind of lifestyle we desire above any other?

Yours in His Service,

Gwenda Jayawardhana

Founding Member, Compass Australia

P.S. The Building Your Finances God’s Way discipleship study is a great place to start your journey into discovering your best lifestyle—the one God intended for you. Register for this small group study today!

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Gwenda Jayawardhana is a founding member of Compass, Australia.

Before being called into ministry, Gwenda was a CPA and worked as a management accountant for an engineering company for three years. 

In 2017, Gwenda graduated with a Master of Divinity from Malyon Theological College in Brisbane, Australia, and served as a chaplain at residential aged care community Carinity Clifford House for two years.

Gwenda is a member of the Compass Australia board and has voluntarily served on the ministry’s team since 2015. She is also the Associate Pastor for Connect Groups and Teaching at North-East Baptist Church in Nundah, Australia.

Gwenda and her husband, Prasantha (PJ), who serves as board chairman for Compass Australia, have three children, Taruna, Rasika and Prashan.