Article Display
Email  |  My Account  |  Donate
Remember, "the large print giveth and the fine print taketh away." Read that document carefully before you purchase.
Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others—never finish paying that! (Rom. 13:8, Living Bible)
Few of us lie awake nights worrying about a major world economic collapse any more than we lie awake worrying about our planet’s getting wiped out by an asteroid from outer space. But thinking about our own families and what may happen if Dad doesn't get a good-paying job is another matter.

When your family is smothered with bills you cannot pay, the entire issue of debt and financial survival becomes intensely personal. Who cares about the conditions of world banking if your local bank stamps your checks "IF" — insufficient funds?

Bringing this whole issue into focus, is there anything that you can do personally to make your financial position stronger in the future? There is! Seven straightforward guidelines can help you become a survivor rather than a victim in difficult times.

Guideline #1: Find out how much you owe and what you are paying in interest on your outstanding obligations. Don't be like the friend who didn't bother to even open his bills as they came. Unopened he tossed them in the trash can. "Why bother to open them," he sighed. "I don't have any money to pay them, and they make me feel bad."

Guideline #2: Get help now. For years I have encouraged churches to set up a stewardship department made up of successful businessmen who can give of their time in helping families and young couples get a handle on their finances. To me this is the application of faith with works, as James described. If we who are of the household of faith can't apply Biblical principles to needs today, who will?

Guideline #3: Budget your income. Have a budget and refuse to spend what you don't have. Don't be like the fellow who said, "I've got a budget and I'm going to live within that budget even if I have to borrow money to do so!"

Guideline #4: Get out of debt. In simple terms, debt is your inability to pay what you owe when it is due. The primary exception to this is your home, which in all probability will increase in value over a period of time. Easy credit has been the nemesis of our day. Buy now, pay later. But few think about the cost involved in paying later. Even the purchase of a home may put you in the debtor column, so before you buy anything better find out what the conditions are.

Remember, "the large print giveth and the fine print taketh away." Read that document carefully before you purchase, and if you don't understand what you are signing, better get someone whom you trust to explain it.

Guideline #5: Start paying cash for what you buy. Larry Burkett offers a recipe for getting out of credit card debt. He says, "Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, grease a cookie pan, toss your credit cards on it, and bake ten minutes or until done." Another friend suggests that if you must use credit cards, freeze them in blocks of ice, and when you want to use them, think about that purchase while the ice melts.

Guideline #6:
Work together as a couple and family. When you married, you made a commitment to each other, and money is part of that commitment. Almost always when a marriage is in trouble, money has been a weapon used to hurt the other person.

Guideline #7: Acknowledge that what you have belongs to the Lord by including God in your budget and giving. Failure here probably began your downhill slide to trouble. Go deeper into investigating what God says about money and our lives. You will discover there is wisdom in the "Book of the ages" which can get you out of debt once and for all.

Resource reading: Luke 21:1-4.

Copyright © Guidelines, Intl.
All rights reserved.

Author Biography

Harold J. Sala
Web site: Guidelines International Ministries
 
Speaker, author and Bible teacher, Dr. Harold Sala founded Guidelines in 1963 and has served at its helm since its inception. Pioneering the five-minute commentary in Christian radio, Dr. Sala’s daily “Guidelines-A Five Minute Commentary on Living” is broadcast in 49 of the 50 states and is heard the world over in a variety of languages. Sala, who holds a Ph.D. in biblical text, has authored over 55 books published in 19 languages. He speaks and teaches frequently at conferences, seminars, and churches worldwide. Residing in Mission Viejo, California, Harold and his wife, Darlene, have three adult children and eight well-loved grandchildren.
Read more...

About Us

The online ministry of cfaith has been helping people discover faith, friends and freedom in the Word since 2000. Cfaith provides a unique and comprehensive collection of faith-building resources for the worldwide faith community.

At cfaith, you can strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of the Word of God by digging into the vast collection of teaching articles, streaming audio and video messages, and daily devotionals. No other website offers such a unique and extensive collection of spiritual-growth resources aimed at helping you grow in your knowledge of the Word.

Read More...

 

 

Support Us

Why support cfaith?


(All contributions are 100% tax deductible)


SUPPORT CFAITH WITH ONE CLICK!

For every Internet search you make using
goodsearch, cfaith will receive one penny!

GS Logo 250x38

Contact Us

Business Hours:


Monday—Friday: 9 a.m.—5 p.m. CST
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Phone:

(763) 488-7800 or (800) 748-8107

Mailing Address: 

CFAITH.com
9201 75th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

 

Login Form

Please ignore the “Secret Key” field; it is not needed to log in to cfaith.

Login Change Article

Spring360x442
You need to enable user registration from User Manager/Options in the backend of Joomla before this module will activate.