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Friday, April 6, 2012

Dave Ramsey Comments On My Post About His New House, His Debt Philosophy And Giving, Part II

Continued...Posted By Peter Anderson On June 21, 2011 (9:26 am) In christianity, money

Good Stewardship

In his comments Dave mentions that the money is all God’s in the first place, and that they ask God for guidance on what to do with HIS resources before they do anything.   He mentions that like the rest of us he doesn’t always get a clear answer as to how to proceed, but seeking God’s will is important.
So what does good stewardship mean?  It means using what God has given us in accordance with his will, and using it wisely.  It also means working hard so that we can feed ourselves and our families, while having enough left over to help others as well.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

 

Wealth And Things As Tools Used For His Kingdom

Dave mentions that they consider their house, and their wealth in general as a tool to be used for His kingdom.  I think that’s a great way to look at how we should view the material things of this world – as merely tools given to us by God to be used to further his kingdom. When they become ends in themselves, they can become more important and we can start to lose our way.

 

Importance Of Prayer And Seeking God’s Will

Far too often we negate the power of prayer, and don’t even think to seek God’s will for our lives, and in our decisions.  When that happens our own sinful motives far too often crop up.  Ramsey touches on the importance of prayer, and seeking God’s will for your life and the resources he has entrusted you with.
We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes,  but the LORD examines their motives. Commit your actions to the LORD,  and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:1-3

 

God Can Use The Wealthy (And The Poor)

I was reading in my Bible study this week about several very wealthy men in the bible – and how they were men after God’s own heart.  There was King David, King Solomon, and then later on I read about some New Testament Christians who had wealth and used it to help others in need.  God can use those who are obedient to his will.
For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means "Son of Encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles Acts 4:36-37
Those who have much are called to give much.
We all also remember the story of the widow who gave sacrificially out of faith as well, and how Jesus contrasted that with the showy giving of the pharisees. While God hasn’t entrusted us all with the same financial resources, we can all use our resources to give glory to him.    We should try to avoid giving in order to gain approval from the world or other men, but instead give with godly motives.

 

Humility And Our Need For Prayer

Despite the fact that I believe it’s OK for a Christian to be wealthy, I believe, and I believe Dave understands, the need for humility and a constant seeking out of God’s will. If we aren’t constantly seeking his will, the things of this world can quickly become an idol in our lives, and the money and wealth can become more important than our relationship with Christ.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.  He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight.  Luke 16 :13-15
As the verse says, God knows our hearts.  When we try to justify ourselves in the eyes of others, and use money and position as a justification of our worth, and not our relationship with Christ, that’s when we start to focus more on ourselves and our own self-importance, and not God. It’s something we all need to guard against.

 

Conclusion

Whether or not you agree with Ramsey’s decision to build such a large house, I think there are things to be learned from this situation, such as our need for Christ, the importance of prayer and God’s guidance in our lives, and our need to be justified only in Christ, and not in the eyes of others through our money and possessions.  We need to focus on Christ.

MsMoneyGuru

1 comment:

  1. Very good perspective. Focusing on Christ when you're neck deep in bills is a good way to successfully navigate the treacherous waters that is debt! Great blog!

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