Replace Financial Baggage With Truth

Did you bring baggage into your marriage? 

My wife and I did. We got married our senior year in college almost 48 years ago. When the baggage we brought with us was opened, incorrect philosophies about money flew out in all directions. They held us in bondage until we united under God’s philosophy of money.

Now, most of the financial problems you hear about today deal with behavior, and a lot of counseling revolves around behavior modification, but most financial problems are not how you behave with money; it’s what you believe about money. In other words, your financial condition is not the problem; it’s the financial lie that caused the problem. Paul told the Romans, “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

People can change their methods, plans, and techniques of handling money, but their real need is transformation. Good beliefs produce good behavior. When our belief system is transformed, our minds are unified, and the fruit we produce in marriage will bless each other and the world. Once you believe what God says about money, you can develop a Biblical philosophy of your finances. Dietrich Bonhoeffer expressed his philosophy like this: “Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected…hoarding is idolatry.” My friends, Jess and Angela Correll, simply say: “Debt’s bad, saving’s good, giving’s fun, and stuff is meaningless.”

If you need encouragement to wisely manage your finances, check out Crown’s budget coaching program. It can put you on the road to financial freedom. Go to crown.org and click on “Get Help Now”. You can start today at crown.org.