Managing Money God’s Way

In my previous post on Friday, I talked about being in financial bondage.  In that post, I stated that financial bondage is “the state of being captivated or overwhelmed by money matters, including mental or spiritual concerns.  In today’s post I want to share with you what I feel are the 9 symptoms of financial bondage.  If you have one or more of these symptoms, you more than likely are in financial bondage.  All the verses I quote below are from the New International Version.

9 Symptoms of Financial Bondage

• You have a Get rich quick attitude.  Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.”  You know who you are.  You are out buying lottery tickets, or looking up every get rich quick scheme you can find on the internet.
• Overdue bills, late fees.  Proverbs 3:27-28 – “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.  Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”-when you now have it with you.”  Paying your credit cards late?  Incurring late payment fee’s?
• Making minimum payments, over-limit fees.  I would say this one is ok if you are working on paying off your debt utilizing the debt snowball method, because you are paying more than the minimum of something to get it payed off.
• Cash advance on one credit card to pay the payment on another.
• Worry, envy, resentment, bitterness, pride, rebellion.  Hebrews 12:15 – “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
• Conflict in relationships.  Proverbs 15:16 – “Better a little with the dear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.”
• Lack of sharing.  Ecclesiastes 5:13 – “I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:  wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.”
• Hasty decisions (not counting the costs; operating without a plan).  Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
• Result:  unmet needs in the family; overcommitment to work; unplanned emergencies.  Proverbs 21:20 – “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”

While writing this article I had to stop and think for a few moments, and come to the conclusion that I AM in financial bondage at this time.  My wife and I are working towards becoming debt free, but somethings have happened recently that have caused a few setbacks and have caused me to display some of these symptoms.

Please let me know if you have recently suffered from any of the above symptoms.  Keep coming back, as we work through this together!