During our first few years of our marriage Tara and I did not make good financial decisions. We found ourselves struggling every month and debt was taking control of our life. It was easy to separate our spiritual walk with God from our use of the resources he had given us. The stress of our financial reality grew until we finally found some help through attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. We learned not only good money management skills but also an understanding of how we use those resources was important to God. Seven years later we had paid off all our debt and were able to buy our first home. Moreover, we were able to give generously as we saw needs around us.
The Bible speaks about money as much as any other subject. Money is amoral. What makes money good or bad is how it is used. All of our possessions have been given to us by God and he expects us to be wise stewards of it. I heard a preacher once say, "The good news is that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and can provide all we need for ministry. The bad news is he has put it in your pockets." Money is necessary in this world. It is necessary for the church to take the name of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
Debt has become a huge problem in our culture. Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender." Because of debt we are working in order to pay someone else. They have the power over us. Debt keeps us from giving. Interest from debt keeps us from benefiting from the totality of all we earn. It rewards instant gratification and then makes us pay past its usefulness in our lives. Debt is also the number one reason many Christians give for not tithing. It reveals a heart issue, not an income issue.
The purpose of building wealth is so we can give it away. If we use our wealth to enslave others or to be extravagant in our living, we are missing the reason God has entrusted us with it. If wealth is a way to take care of your children, you are missing it as well. I have witnessed more times than I can count children burning through inheritance much like in the story of the Prodigal Son. When we use the possessions that God has entrusted with us to build his Kingdom, we will find great joy. I find it fulfilling to be able to give generously to Kingdom causes all around the world. Don't excuse your poor management of God's provisions in your life by believing God doesn't want us to have more resources than we need. Only when we become good stewards of all he has entrusted to us will we be able to give generously. Learning how to live on less than you make will transform your life. Dave Ramsey says, "Don't be normal. Normal is broke. If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else."
Tara and I are leading a Financial Peace University class starting on February 19 from 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM. There is a cost for the class, but it is a small investment for your financial freedom. We have some partial scholarships available if it is needed. Email Pastor Michael if you have that need, pastor@dnbc.org. You can register for the class here: fpu.com/1157563.