OFFICIAL SITE OF WOMEN UPLIFTING WOMEN MINISTRIES
And Women and Men Uplifting Ministries, International
AND FORGIVE US OUR MONEY DEBTS! 1.Ps. 37: 21 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 2.Prov. 22: 7 7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. I ran across this article and found it very interesting. For so long in this Christian walk we have done everything we could think of to grow our ministries. We have sold dinners, raffles, candy, washed cars, and required that our membership go beyond even Bible Principles to obtain our goals. We have torn down and placed our own people in oppression with our desires and wants. As I look around today at the dwindling Church; I often wonder when someone will get it. When will we realize that people become a part of God’s Kingdom to be set free, and not to be bound and oppressed? Several years ago I had a felt a great burden to help in Africa and started a chicken project. Every two weeks; I gave from my own monies to purchase chickens, and to have the chickens cared for properly. I knew that this vision came from God; because I was able to supply the money without any stress, and what they asked for came without any complications. As I strived to teach those in Africa the proper way to be good stewards over that which God was sending; I kept knocking my head against the bricks. As I begin to pray, God spoke to my spirit; and He let me know what I had done was to begin the project, and the people were to follow through. I was not to carry the project to completion, but to turn it over to the people of Africa to run. God allowed me to walk away without feeling an obligation that was not required of me. Sometimes we just go pass where God has asked us to go, and we crumble. I believe it is also knowing what God has called you to do, and whose you are that allows you to make wise decisions. As God spoke to my spirit, I turned it all over to them and let them move forward or not on their own for I had done what God expected of me. From that experience I have learned to go as far as God desires of me, and He somehow lets me know immediately when I have gone too far. I now really enjoy my Christian walk; and do not walk in others expectations for me, but continue moving forward with what God expects of me. This is such a great place for any Christian to be. Please read this article for it provides many truths for each of us, and it will help us to see why we are where we are right now – in debt and feeling helpless. _______________________________________________________________________ If Americans had followed biblical financial principles, they could have lessened -- or completely avoided -- the worst recession in decades, two prominent Christian money management specialists said. “Debt may not be a sin, but it is certainly a curse,” said Randy Rowechamp of Crown Financial Ministries. Dave Ramsey, author of Total Money Makeover and other money management books, agrees. “There has been a common myth spread across America that debt is a tool and should be used to create prosperity, but God tells us something different. According to Proverbs 22:7, ‘The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender.’ God shows us his obvious disdain for debt,” Ramsey said. And debt is something American families understand. According to Federal Reserve estimates, household debt stands at 124 percent of after-tax annual income, down from a peak of 133 percent in 2007, but up sharply from the 60 percent prior to 1986. Greater debt and smaller incomes yield predictable results. Bank loan defaults have increased steadily from 0.76 percent in 2006 to 3.77 percent currently. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently announced, “From a technical perspective, the recession is very likely over.” But from a practical perspective, Bernanke conceded, economic recovery will be slow. Christian finance involves more than financial recovery. “In all economic times, Christians should be good stewards,” Rowechamp said. “The way we do that is to learn what God has to say about all of our financial resources.” Unfortunately, churches have taught inadequate financial principles. “Many churches focus only on giving when they teach congregations about honoring God with their finances,” Ramsey said. “But handling money and thinking about money in a godly way is much more than a tithe check. The Bible tells us that we are stewards of God’s resources. By definition, a steward is not an owner, but a manager; someone who takes care of the possessions of someone else. Handling your resources God’s way not only includes giving, but also budgeting, saving, sacrificing, and making wise decisions with your money.” Rowechamp agrees churches have not taught money management principles. “One problem is that pastors were not taught about money management in seminary,” he said. “And the second problem is that many pastors are, themselves, as much in debt as any other family.” By engaging in common-sense biblical principles, even families with significant debt can become financially free. “Financial freedom, for Christians, is when they can choose to quit working and pursue a ministry they feel led to, or when they can choose to keep working and support ministries they feel passionate about,” he added. Just because Christians understand a good money-management principle doesn’t necessarily mean they put them into practice, Ramsey observed. “What to do isn’t the problem. Doing it is. Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge. Most of us know what to do, but we just don’t do it,” he said. “If you can control the person in the mirror, you can win with money. But some people are so immature that they are unwilling to delay pleasure for a greater result. If you will make the sacrifices now that most people aren’t willing to make, later on you will be able to live as those folks will never be able to live.” To become financially independent, families first must total their indebtedness. Second, say the experts, they must establish a $1,000 emergency savings fund and use credit cards only if they can repay in the same month. Next, families should begin paying off loans. According to Ramsey, the goal is changed behavior. People should repay smaller loans first, regardless of the interest rates, because success reinforces good behaviors. Ramsey cautions against debt consolidation. “Debt consolidation is nothing more than a con because you think you’ve done something about the debt problem, but all you’ve done is move it,” he said. “A friend of mine who works for a debt consolidation firm estimates that 78 percent of the time, after someone consolidates his credit-card debt, the debt grows back. This happens because the debt is still there, as are the habits that caused it. You can’t borrow your way out of debt.” As they retire debt, families should commit more to savings, Ramsey suggested. Then, they should pay off their mortgages early. Families whose debts have been submitted to collectors should secure a financial adviser. “You should set your payment priorities, not let collectors set it,” Ramsey said. “It is their job to make you angry or scared, and they do that job well. They know that if they can get you all worked up that you will act on that emotion and do something stupid like pay them instead of buying groceries. Take care of necessities first -- food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and transportation. After these, figure out how much you can pay on each of your debts.
“Tell the collectors you are going to send them payments of what you can each pay period, and do that. If they say that’s not good enough, tell them that it is all you can give them right now. Trust me; they will cash the check for that amount.” Ramsey suggests, “Debt … prevents our churches from realizing their full potential and maximizing their impact. It is important for the church to lead by example and learn how to successfully manage church finances so that they can build their church debt-free. This will encourage church members to learn how to live a debt-free life so that they give like never before and help the church grow.” Don Campbell, the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s stewardship director, also believes the church needs to teach total life stewardship but believes we need to start with children. “We aim our stewardship at adults and even then we tend to focus on giving,” he said. “Total life stewardship involves every area of life. In the Garden [of Eden], God made us stewards of creation. We need to start teaching that to children.” Campbell said that while Crown says “that the tithe should be given regardless, I differ with them a little bit. “I would say you must begin where you are.” If you can give 2 percent, then give it and learn that God is faithful with your 2 percent. Grow from there as you learn the principal of giving. People who learn the principle that we can’t out-give God don’t stop at 10 percent.” Jim White is editor of the Religious Herald. _________________________________________________________________ I believe as we learn our financial responsibilities to ourselves, our families and our churches we will not become a slave to nonsense. We will begin to allow God to grow us and use his wisdom to bring us to where we need to be. I pray that this article has helped you in some way. God bless. Humanitarian Organization in Maryland |
