Christian Finance: The One Thing You Must Master and Resources that Will Take You There
The One Thing You Must Master
Summed up in one statement, the teaching of the Bible about Christian finance and money management, and more exactly, the teaching of Jesus elucidates that...
Own your money for God's sake rather than your money owning you.
"Money" can be interchanged with any of the following: things, possessions, treasures, toys, investments, time, property.
Master this maxim and you will be ahead of 98 percent of the crowd. Fail to master it and you will be an idolater. You've worshipped something else other than Jesus, and your life shows it.
Getting Good Advice and Finding Resources You Can Trust
Plenty of great advice and products concerning Christian financial money management exist (and I'll recommend some of them to you) A truckload of advice and products, even with the Christian financial label on them, aren't worth a baptist pastor hooked on porn.
Anything good will expand, elaborate, and elucidate that primary principle. God gave you something. Own, use, and enjoy it in a way that advances the kingdom. If you don't you will be "owned." If you are in serious debt, working hard with nothing to give away to the kingdom the good news is Jesus doesn't want you to be owned. However,
- Most people go to work because they have to.
- They work at a job they don't like
- They work more than they want
- They do this because they have to make a mortgage payment because they don't really own their house, the bank does....
...and the car
...and the other car
...and their college diploma
...and their boat
...and their computer which was bought on a credit card
...and the shirt on their back
...and their credit reputation, held over the fire if they don't pony up.
So really, when you go to your job, you're not working as a owner of money (things) on God's behalf. Instead you are working for the bank which owns all your stuff.
Why This Rots
And then you see a need you would like to give to. (You've never been really entertained until you've freely and without worry been able to give things away.) But you can't because you don't even own your money. It's spoken for. It owns you.
If you want to walk close to the King you're gonna have to start owning your stuff for His sake instead of giving it away to a bunch of jerks (in the form of interest, late payments, etc) who have made it their intentional aim to get you in so deep you can't get out.
Can You Believe This?
I counseled a couple a couple of weeks ago who got tight on money and started frequenting those money brothels (I mean cash advance places. Surely they'll be the first buildings to roll into the pit of hell when the earth finally gets its full repair by the Messiah.) Each one had two or three (for a total of 5 to 6) checks rolling through these houses of ill-repute at one time to the tune of $1400 a month just for interest. These are places for people who have blown their credit and can’t even get a silly credit card. (Guess who funds the cash advance places...credit card companies....)
The borrower is servant to the lender.
Three Essentials and Where to Get Good Advice for Each
Whether you have a lot of cash or a little, you will only be most successful for the sake of the King (and have a heck of a lot of fun doing it) if your Christian finance philosophy includes these three essential elements.
1. Manage well the money you already have.
Learn the basic principles of Christian money management
2. Make more money.
Maximize your income through legit Christian Business opportunities such as...
Christian home based based business work
Christian affiliate programs
3. Get rid of debt, which is slavery.
Follow the principles of Christian debt reduction including
Christian debt solutions
Christian debt credit counseling
Christian debt consolidation program through a recommended Christian debt consolidation company if necessary
I'm not here to teach you all the fine nuances of Christian finance. I can recommend you to others who do that and do that very well. But I do want to see you freed up so you can follow Jesus and get the money monkey off your back. Trust me, it feels great.
If your pain has motivated you enough, I know of a great Christian home based business opportunity that holds to integrity and honor.