seank.mitchell@yahoo.com

The other day, I was chatting with a good friend over the phone. He is having financial problems, doesn’t have a steady job, and is desperate to find one. At one point in the conversation he commented on the example of Saint Francis and how much he admired him. I then reminded my friend that he himself had something very much in common with Saint Francis. It was my friend who, about two months ago, had a steady job and was living in a completely different city. It was at that point he heard God calling him to resign from his stable job to relocate to a city full of the unknown. That was all he heard. I couldn’t help but to see the similarities, and, after seeing them himself, he couldn’t help but to be encouraged. At the same time, I can’t help but to embrace the challenge of the legacy of Saint Francis that is now being lived out within my friend. 

We’re all familiar with the story of Saint Francis Remember how he heard God’s call and laid down everything he owned to serve God in poverty? He and the others who followed his lifestyle created an order of people who lived for God out of hearts filled with childlike trust. It is safe to say that Saint Francis’ life has had a gargantuan impact on the spiritual condition of many, both before and after his earthly death. Through the lens of his life, we all get a glimpse of what authentic discipleship looks like. Authentic discipleship trusts God, follows God, and lives for nothing but to answer God’s call to service. It is virtually of no consequence if this disrupts our financial planning or not.

I have often wondered what Saint Francis would say if he could see the financial plan I have set out for my life, or what he would encourage me and others to do with our current financial decisions. For example, I am facing a crucial decision today that has the potential of stripping certain comforts from my life. What would he tell me to do? Though he is not here in front of me, I have his legacy to help me, to assist the contemplative approach to personal finances. Based on that legacy, this is what I imagine His mantra for personal finances would be: 

1. Discipleship consists of both discipline and spontaneity. Therefore, it is fine to have financial goals, plans, etc, but never forget that spontaneity is a vital element of the Gospel of Jesus. When God calls, we must respond, and our response should be immediate. The followers of Christ had to respond immediately, and our spirituality should embrace this sacred path. For example, what if God calls you to take a position that pays less money than you currently do? What if He calls you to give a large sum of money to a cause that will help clothe and feed the poor of society yet would cut into your pre-set budget? These are only two possibilities of many. Always remember: we are followers of Christ first - planners second.

2. Do not be afraid. The Lord said this many times to his followers. He is saying the same thing to His followers of today. Do not be afraid of being spontaneous, of taking certain risks, of being more charitable this month than you were last. Don’t let the fear of loss, scrutiny, or financial insecurity hinder you from embracing the wonder, adventure, trust, and worship that is yours as a child of God. Do not be afraid of life. 

3. Be community minded. Don’t get so locked in on your own monthly budget that you forget about the Kingdom of God. When you are doing your budget, remember the poor, the neglected, the Church, the orphans, the diseased. All of these people and causes need our help, and God has called us to help them. By sharing our lives with other others, we put ourselves in a wonderful position to share the great news to which we are heralds. 

There you have it. That is what my imagination envisions Saint Francis saying over a conversation regarding the convergence of money and Christianity. While my imagination may not deal me any more than that, I think I have more than enough to think about and manna with which to live. 

Copyright Sean K. Mitchell

Sean K. Mitchell is a creative writer and author of the The Financial Pilgrimage, a book that doesn’t just talk about money management but communicates a fresh, financial approach to discipleship that mixes discipline with spontaneity. For more information on the book or to contact Sean, visit www.thefinancialpilgrimage.com.