Prosper With Money

Last night my wife and I were reading our devotionals together and the topic was forgiveness. While both of us have a lot to learn in this area, I wanted to take a few minutes and discuss what forgiveness means when it comes to financial infidelity. Financial infidelity seems to growing as my counselors and I are dealing more and more with one spouse hiding money or debt from the other spouse. As I have been studying financial infidelity, it have become clear that it is not a male or female dominate problem, but seems to happen to either sex just as often.

Let me first give you the typically case that I work with. One spouse is the keeper of the household books and the other spouse just is not involved in any financial decisions. One or both of the household income becomes reduced (layoff, pay cut, no bonus, commissions are down) and the other spouse who handles the household finances feels to ashamed to cut life style or feels that they have been left on their own to deal with the problem. When this happens, it usually leads to credit card debt or hiding of money for a “rainy day”. Something comes up (usually an emergency) and when there is no money to pay for something the spouse who has been hiding the debt has to come clean.

I know that once both spouses have found out about the problem, most if the time they are ready to tackle to problem head on but there is always some hurt due to not having a spouse helping together with the money, or one spouse racking up credit card debt and the other spouse not having clue.

Just like with any other issue that you would deal with in marriage communication is the key. Financial infidelity is almost always caused by lack of communication and could have been avoided completely is both spouse were on the same page. Do not be afraid to talk to you spouse about money, if they will not listen than at least you have done all that you can. Remember, in the first 7 years of marriage the number one cause of divorce is money fights and money problems. Do not let financial infidelity take your marriage. As hard is it to admit that both spouses are at fault, forgiveness needs to happen from both spouses. Talk to your spouse today about your finances so that you can take control of your finances and work together as a team!

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I came across this quote the other day in one of the books that I am reading. I thought that it was perfect with everything that is going on around us, from tax tea parties, new health care legislation, and losses of personal liberties due to court rulings.

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master” – George Washington

I thought that this was fitting coming from a Founding Father.

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If you have been listening to Dave Ramsey’s radio show on WDCX 99.5 lately, you may have heard him talk about a free lesson of his Financial Peace University program.  Port of Grace Church (Port Colborne, ON) & Wesleyan Church of Hamburg (Hamburg, NY) will be running a free lesson. We here at RKL Financial would like to make it available to your congregation and the community. 

We will be watching the DVD of Dave Ramsey presenting the topic of “Super Saving”, the first lesson in the series.  We also will have a brief discussion afterwards. I realize this is short notice (and Easter Sunday), but I thought you might be interested in putting this information in your bulletin, or announcement, or even just tell someone in your congregation who might be struggling financially. 

Thank you very much.  If you have any questions about this, about running FPU in your church, or anything Dave Ramsey related, please let us know! We are here to help!

Where (Ontario):
Port of Grace Church

26 Charlotte St

Port Colborne, ON 
Date: 
Tuesday April 6th, 2010

 Time:
7 pm to 9 pm

Leader:
Shaun Somers
Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor  
Where (WNY): 

Wesleyan Church of Hamburg

4999 McKinley Parkway
Hamburg, NY

Date: 
Thursday April 8th, 2010

Time: 
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Leader: 
Ryan Loos
Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor 

Contact Information:
877-58-PEACE

info@RKLFinancial.com

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First, let me say that I understand that the government wants our money back from TARP. What they should have done is never have given TARP out in the first place. Listen, even if the government does set in place extra taxes on the 50 largest financial institutions that took TARP, who do you thing is going to end up paying the additional taxes that Obama is proposing. I can answer that question for you you. We will, we will end up with increased fees and less services at these financial institutions. We have to remember that these financial institutions are public companies and not non-profits. They will make a profit and the consumer will continue to pay more in fees to cover the additional taxes. Keep your check books balance to reduce overdrafts and make sure you know what banks are in your ATM network. If you are with one of the 50 largest financial institutions, I recommend you switch to a small local bank or a credit union. Look for a bank or credit union that is active in your community that and that you would not have a problem recommending to someone else.

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Financial Peace University (FPU) consists of a 13-week video curriculum taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey that incorporates small-group discussions to encourage accountability and discipleship. Most financial programs are boring, with confusing information and monotonous instructors. Financial Peace is very different! It is highly entertaining for everyone, with a unique combination of humor, informative financial advice, and biblical messages. 

Financial Peace University Winter 2010 

Start Date: Monday February 15th (every Monday for 13 weeks)  

Time: 7 pm – 8:30pm 

Cost: $100.00 per household 

Coordinated by: Ryan Loos, Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor  

Host: Clarence Church of Christ Church 

Location: 5375 Old Goodrich Rd., Clarence, NY 14031 

Start Date: Wednesday February 10th (every Wednesday for 13 weeks)  

Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm 

Cost: $100.00 per household 

Coordinated by: Ryan Loos, Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor 

Host: Wesleyan Church of Hamburg 

Location:  4999 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg, NY 14075  

Start Date: Monday February 22nd (every Monday for 13 weeks)  Time: 7 pm – 8:30pm

 Cost: $125.00 (CAD) per household

 Coordinated by: Shaun Somers, Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor 

 Host: Welland Brethren in Christ Church

Location: 50 Lincoln Street W Welland, ON L3C 5J1 

 For more details or questions on FPU call 877-58-PEACE or Email FPU@RKLFinancial.com.

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Shaun Somers our Canadian counselor recently received an email from a concerned member of a local church about the debt that they were preparing to enter into. See below to Shaun’s response and as it describes both Shaun and my feelings on debt in the Kingdom of God.

“”….some have argued…. lack faith if God wants to give us the best, we should not be afraid to trust God.” Here’s the thing, I 100% agree with the quote above – we need to trust God.  But I think trusting God means just that, looking at His word and His principles about how to handle money.  To me, trusting God would mean setting a goal of a property worth $2.5M (or whatever) and resolving to get it WITHOUT DEBT.  But “we’ll have to wait too long” some people will say.  Well, who’s to say how long God will have you wait?  And if that is His will, so be it. Perhaps you should have had a target like this 10 years ago, perhaps not.  But taking a debt shortcut now is not the answer, in my opinion. Proverbs 22:7 says “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” (NASB) Does your church wish to be slave to the bank? Debt changes relationships, and not for the better from my experience. So again, my suggestion would be to avoid debt altogether.  Failing that, taking a very small mortgage would be best.  Taking on a huge debt with a congregation as small as yours seems quite “reckless”, as you say.  Any suggestion that individual congregants take on debt to then loan to the church would be in my opinion beyond reckless to the point of foolhardiness.  I don’t aim to offend here, because I know that those who brought up that idea are trying to help, but I cannot stress strongly enough that that is not a good plan. This matter of moving up in church size is no small thing, and will require much deliberation and prayer on the part of your church leaders and congregation.  I encourage you to continue to express your concerns about any plan that requires debt as a part of the solution. “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his
neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 May God richly bless you and your church.”

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