Values & Vision

A practical and Scriptural guide for keeping your heart anchored and your priorities straight as the tide of consumerism rises.

(Part 2 of a 4-Part Series. See Part 1 here: https://www.prairiedusttrail.com/post/Dominion-or-Subjugation-Part-1)

By Rosemary Hayda

In Part 1, we:

• established the importance of using the strong words of, and Biblical definitions of, dominion & subjugation

• learned that “True liberty is living as we should, not as we please”

• learned that we all have a choice to make:

• either prevail against, or will be brought under the yoke of bondage, of the wave of Black Friday consumerism.

As you read through and, perhaps, decide to apply, this counsel & exhortation for your heart & mind (which are 1), please do so…

A) In the LIGHT of our Creator’s perfect Word, wisdom, & actual intelligence:

"My son, attend to My words; Incline thine ear unto My sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life." Mishle/ Proverbs 4:20-23

B) In the LIGHT of these 3 important Truths:

1. TIME is your LIFE.

Time is our most precious commodity. TIME=Your LIFE.

"See then that you walk exactly, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are wicked. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the desire of יהוה is." Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:15-17

• [redeeming: Strong's G1805 – exagorazō: to buy up, i.e., ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss (improve opportunity):-redeem]

2. MONEY is an expression of VALUE.

Money purchases= Your Values & Priorities

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Mattiyahu/Matthew 6:19-21

3. THEIR’s or YOUR’s.

You are either building the ‘house’ of the world’s richest people & their giant companies, or you are building your ‘house’.

"And Ěliyahu (Elijah) came to all the people, and said, 'How long would you keep hopping between two opinions? If יהוה is Elohim, follow Him; and if Ba‛al, follow him.'" Melaḵim Aleph / 1 Kings 18:21

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." Mattiyahu/Matthew 13:44

(Note: Income vs. Expenses is also known as Production vs. Consumption)

Let’s begin.

BEGIN

• with gratitude & thanksgiving for what you already have. [Tehilliym/Psalms 100:4]

EXAMINE

• what you already have. How many clothes, entertainment things, kitchen-gadgets, shoes, tools, toys, etc. do you/your family/your children have?

• How often do you wear/see/play with/use them? Do you need more? Or, want more? Do you even see things as needs vs. wants? [Mishlĕ /Proverbs 6:5; Marqos/Mark 8:36]

FAMILY

• second. If your family has needs not being met, those priorities must be met second, after tithing. If you’re not tithing, you can’t afford not to. [Mal’aḵi (Malachi) 3:8-10; Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 5:8]

FINANCIAL

• Security or Instability? Which word describes your/your family’s finances? Which struck a chord in your heart when you read it? That’s your answer, if you’re unsure. [Ya’acob/James 4:13-17]

Quick Financial Stability Checkup

(Answer YES or NO)

1. Do you have an Emergency Fund? (3-6 months expenses in Cash savings)

2. Are you out of Debt? (including, but not limited to: cars, credit cards, loans, mortgages, etc.)

3. Are you covered with Life Insurance? (income replacement for salary; additional benefits to use while alive (yes, alive) if one gets sick; death benefit to provide for surviving spouse & children)

4. Do you have money working for you/growing while you sleep?

If you answered “No” to some or all of these questions, you could choose to improve your financial situation.

"Wants" shopping is not recommended.

STATISTICS to Enhance Your Considerations:

• % of U.S. Workers living Paycheck to Paycheck:

• (1997): 31% (2024): 63% (8/2025): 67% (Source: PNC Bank survey)

• Less than 25% of U.S. households are debt-free. (This also means 3 out of 4 people reading this have debt.)

• Average debt per household:

• (2020): $91,398 (2025): $105,056 (Source: Motley Fool Money)

Stay tuned for next week’s Part 3 of this 4-Part Series…..