By Tyler Collins, March 1, 2024

Lifestyle creep is the idea that as we progress in our careers and make more money, our lifestyle also needs to shift. Our “needs” list continues to grow as our income grows. As a follower of Jesus, this concept is very dangerous. King Jesus Himself gives ample warnings regarding falling in love with money. The Scriptures tell us that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). Paul also acknowledges that in all things, with much or little, he is content (Philippians 4:11-13). Lifestyle creep is dangerous because it pushes back and rubs against the idea of contentment. God indeed gives us His creation to enjoy, but the temptation in our flesh is to begin to idolize and indulge in the creation over the Creator Himself. Christ wants us to be rich toward Him, not the world. 

So, how do we fight against lifestyle creep? We need accountability and friends pushing us to live according to the Scriptures, not the world. We need a few close friends who have access to our budgets, spending records, etc. It is in vulnerability that the Spirit can do His greatest work. We must yield ourselves to Him. Very practically, we need a few trusted friends who examine our finances regularly, and we have the freedom to ask questions and challenge one another. A practical application is to ask a few core friends to have the freedom to examine your finances and ask any questions.