December 11: Honest With Money in Small Things

How honest are you with money, especially the small amounts nobody would notice?

Money is one of the places where recovery gets tested quietly. In the drinking years, money often went sideways. Spent on alcohol. Hidden from a spouse. Borrowed and not paid back. Lies about where it went. Some people pawned things or took what wasn’t theirs.

Sobriety doesn’t automatically fix those habits. Old patterns can linger in small ways. Rounding the expense report up. Keeping extra change the cashier gave you. Buying something and hiding the receipt. Telling your spouse it cost less than it did. Putting off a debt you could start paying.

Jesus said that whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much. And whoever is dishonest in very little is dishonest also in much. Small things aren’t small to God. They show what’s really in a person’s heart. They also train your heart, for better or worse.

December puts money front and center. Gifts. Travel. Parties. The pressure to spend can be huge, especially if you’re trying to make up for past holidays when you weren’t present. That feeling is understandable. But going into debt to buy forgiveness rarely works. Your family wants you, sober and honest, far more than they want expensive gifts.

Practicing these principles in all your affairs means bringing your money into the light. Be honest with your spouse about spending. Make a holiday budget and stick to it. If you owe people money from the old days, make a plan to repay it, even slowly. Give something to your church or to someone in need, even a small amount. Generosity loosens money’s grip on your heart.

And when you notice small dishonesty, fix it. Go back and pay the difference. Correct the receipt. Tell the truth about the price. Each small correction builds a little more integrity.

One thing today

Write down a simple holiday budget and share it with your spouse or a trusted friend. If there’s one small money dishonesty you’ve let slide, set it right today.

A prayer

Lord, I want to be faithful with little things, money included. Show me where I’ve been less than honest. Free me from the pressure to buy what only You can give. Teach me to be generous and truthful. Amen.

All our affairs includes money. See Step Twelve.

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