Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

According to the real estate industry's Multiple Listing Service, in the Las Vegas area alone:

• 946 homes for sale are valued at $1 million dollars or more
• 17 of those are worth over $10 million dollars
• Only 27 of the 946 have been sold so far in 2009

People bought these homes when money was cheap and credit readily available. These people lost their way. They raised their lifestyle, spent too much, and got into a lot of debt.

The decade of 2000-2009 will be known as the decade of the McMansion, when many folks got into more house than they could afford. Now, the housing market is undergoing a very painful correction. Recovery will be slow.

By following God’s financial principles and living within your means, you avoid financial problems and have the ability to give to the Lord to advance His kingdom. The home God has for you in heaven can’t be destroyed or foreclosed upon. Treasures in heaven are truly secure (Matthew 6:20).

Matt Bell is my guest today. Matt is a nationally recognized speaker on personal finance topics and the author of 2 books, Money, Purpose, Joy: The Proven Path to Uncommon Financial Success, and Money Strategies for Tough Times. Visit Matt's Web site at MoneyPurposeJoy.com.

Matt says he lived the story of the prodigal son. He inherited $60,000 from an uncle and had good intentions for its use.

He created his dream job, didn’t keep track of the money, and ended up $20,000 in debt.

Matt says he went through a difficult time, but God drew Him to Himself, and gave Matt a passion for learning and teaching God’s financial principles.

Matt says money is a spiritual issue. To handle it wisely, we need to go back to God’s truth. God knows our needs and promises to provide for them.

Matt advises:

1. "Fix" your credit card payments - to speed paying off a balance, pay the same amount each month regardless of what the credit card company asks for as a minimum payment.
2. Avoid is a debt settlement, which is rife with many fraudulent companies
3. Get on a spending plan, recognize you're managing God's resources
4. Seek out opportunities to bless others

So often we try to do things on our own financially. We get trapped in man’s economy, and focus on outside appearances. Matt discovered God’s economy, and the joy that goes with it.

God said not to be overawed by the things of this world ( Psalm 49:16), like the McMansions in Las Vegas. One day all the homes of this world will be destroyed, they’re only temporary
If we know God, we should look forward to our eternal home which is permanent.

Effectual Giving

It is not the amount of money given that concerns God, because He owns it all; it’s how the money is being used that’s important.

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Responding to God's Mandate

Sometimes generous givers are tempted to think that all they have to give is money.

• Read More

Bottom Line Discipleship

You can’t serve the Savior and all that stuff on an equal footing. One has to take precedence.

• Read More

Setting Dreams in Motion

When it becomes clear that God is redirecting our efforts, what can we do so our natural determination does not become a liability?

• Read More

Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes