"A man of noble birth went away from home for a time and appointed some of His servants to invest a certain amount of money each. When the man returned home again, he asked his servants what had become of his money. The first servant had earned ten times the original amount. 'Well done, my good servant,' the master replied. The second servant had earned five times the original amount received. Meanwhile, the third servant had only kept the money in a cloth, without investing it. The master asked him, 'Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?' He then instructed those nearby to take the money from the third servant and give it to the faithful and wise first servant who had multiplied his master's money ten-fold.”
God is pleased when we use wisdom in all areas (Matthew 10:16), and particularly in the area of finances. He rewards the faithful and blesses the work of their hands (Isaiah 62:11; Revelation 22:12).
Financial trouble starts with overspending--spending beyond our means. Some couples eventually find themselves in such a financial bind that it becomes a personal strain. It can destroy their marriage relationship and even cause divorce.
There are several methods people use to cope with such trauma. The"ostrich method," for example, is an attempt to simply ignore the whole problem. Bankruptcy may be filed as another easy escape method; however, there are cases where this is a valid option (a lawyer would determine if this is necessary). Perhaps an attempt at a "religious escape" may occur. This happens when phrases such as,"Don't worry about it, God will provide," or "Satan is attacking us," are used in place of balancing the checkbook or controlling spending.
In a nutshell, the answer to financial difficulty (as a long-term solution) lies in developing a suitable family budget and sticking to it! This budget does need to be realistic and one that works for you; not for someone else. Each person's financial situation varies to some degree, along with their priorities and needs. For example, a family of six would require a much greater allotment for food and clothing than a single couple maintaining a good, healthy budgeting system.
A small inexpensive booklet we would strongly recommend you read is Family Budgets that Work by Larry Burkett. This should be available at your local Christian bookstore.
If you would like more personal assistance, please call, e-mail or write to our Planned Giving.
May God bless you and give you wisdom as you continue to prayerfully seek Him in the area of personal finances.
Balancing
Sometimes I feel as if I'm walking a tightrope
and for a balance pole I need control
control over my temper control over
my impulses control over my emotions.
Help me keep my balance, Lord,
give me the patience, the power,
the perspective to gain more control
so that I can get from here to there without falling.
From the book
"Because I Love You"
by Alice Joyce Davidson
Crossroads is happy to help. In fact, that's the whole reason we exist as a ministry. The daily 100 Huntley Street telecast and the 24-hour-a-day Telephone Ministry line are here for the same reason. You may want to call us as you are reading this: 1-866-273-4444
God loves you and we love you! Please give us the privilege of doing our best to help more. For further ministry, you may contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre by writing to:
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
Attn: National Ministry Centre
PO Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4M2
