“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

There is no denying that people spend beyond their means for a lot of reasons. Sometimes it can be unintentional- unexpected medical expenses a reduction in income can lead to speaking beyond your means by no inherent fault of your own. Looking beyond those unintentional reasons though, one of the most common and detrimental reasons both financially and spiritually is when an individual is a prideful spender.

Pride is a sin and can really put the brakes on your spiritual life. Nowhere can pride be more easily seen than in our financial lives. Sometimes it is hard for us to see our prideful spending though. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you have an issue with prideful spending.

Do I often purchase something only after seeing someone else with it?

This is the most common type of prideful spending, the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. Many people in our society define themselves by their material possessions. Because of this, when we see someone else with something nicer we begin to judge ourself as being inferior to that person.

We can combat this by taking to heart what Hebrews 13:5 shows us about where our true worth is, and it is not in our bank account. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” This verse perfectly contradicts the modern ideal that the more you have the better you are. If you begin a cycle of buying everything you see someone else have you will soon self-destruct financially. Claim your confidence in Christ, not in possessions.

Do I give charitably in a way to be noticed?

This is prideful spending very well disguised as charity. As with many things in life, we need to take a look at our motives. If you only participate in charitable giving when you are sure to be seen, or you always make sure that people know that you were the one bestowing a gift, your motives and your heart are in entirely the wrong place.

Christianity is a generous religion. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”. However, if your motives are wrong, even a good action can become sinful. In fact Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in Matthew 6:1 for doing exactly that, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

This can be resolved quite simply, by making a priority of giving anonymously. Do something for someone expecting nothing in return, not even a “thank you”. Do this by not even letting them know it was you who did the favor. In time you will grow spiritually when you humbly give of your resources.

If you sense that the sin of pride could be what is throwing off your goal of becoming debt free, ask forgiveness and seek to spend and give in a way that honors Christ and not yourself. If your finances have gotten out of control as a result of prideful spending, or through no fault of your own, call 877-232-5109 to speak with one of our Christian debt relief specialists today.

It is very well known that most people enjoy being around like-minded individuals. It provides common ground, shared interests, and a basis for expected values. This holds true in general peer-to-peer relationships as well as in business relationships.

As a Christian, it is great to be afforded the opportunity to find companies that have the same values as you. In some instances, it just doesn’t make sense to seek out a Christian company. Though it is always great to support a Christian company, whether or not the company who makes your coffee table claims to be a Christian company is not going to have much of an impact on your experience as a consumer. Other times though, it can totally transform your experience.

Here are 4 instances where seeking a Christian company makes sense.

Christian Daycare

Where you send your young children to school is a huge decision. These are the folks who are going to be giving your child their first regular social interactions. It is great to know that not only do the teachers/caretakers have similar beliefs and values to you, but the other children are probably being raised in a similar manner to yours.

Christian Counseling Services

Life get’s tough, and sometimes it is helpful to seek professional counseling to help us navigate those difficulties. For Christians, it can be incredibly helpful if the person who is helping you try to find the needed direction in your life is also seeking His guidance. Having biblical references accompany clinical suggestions can make the appointments doubly effective.

Christian Real Estate Agent

Buying a home is a huge deal, and while this one may not hold quite as much weight as the others, it can be very helpful to work with a Christian Real Estate Agent. For most people, their home will be the biggest purchase they make in their lifetime. It gives a great deal of peace of mind to know that you are working with someone who lives their life in accordance with Christian principals.

Christian Debt Relief Company

If you are struggling with your finances, a Christian Debt Relief company can help you to put you on track to reach your financial goals. Many debt relief programs are long-term and often last 3-7 years. Since you will be working so closely with the company and it’s financial advisors, it is very helpful for them to share your values and principles. Plus, handling your finances according to Biblical principals– such as including a tithe in your budget– is not always in line with suggestions made by non-Christian companies. When working with a Christian company you know that your counselor not only understands where you are coming from but even approves of it!

While we cannot help you with the first three, if you are in need of financial guidance and would like to work with a Christian company, please take a moment to speak with one of our Advisors for a free consultation.

Seeking out a Christian company does not always make sense in todays world. The more important the decision is though, the bigger of a factor it becomes.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:6-10

There are many reasons individuals find themselves in the midst of financial difficulties. Some of these reasons are unavoidable such as medical expenses from an illness or a job loss. However, oftentimes financial difficulties are the result of some poor choices made along the way.

At the root of these poor choices, discontentment is often found. After all, the desire to have a nicer car, bigger house, more advanced degree, nicer or longer vacations, better clothes or to live in a nicer area very often stem from discontentment with a current life station. Discontentment can very easily lead to the accumulation of excess debt, and eventually financial hardship.

Several years ago, a study stated that Americans who made $25,000 yearly felt they needed at least $54,000 to attain their American dream while individuals who made $100,000 felt it would take at least $192,000. The interesting point about these numbers is that each group of individuals felt it would take almost twice as much money as they were currently receiving in order for them to reach their financial goals. In other words, no matter how much money a person made, they felt they needed more to be content. While this story is a few years old, the message is still valid today.

Here are a few actionable suggestions on how to become financially content:

Lower your expectations

Unrealistic expectations set yourself up for disappointment and failure. Be reasonable with your goals and work hard to achieve them.

Image credit cnn.com

Help Others

Few things are more meaningful than helping someone in a time of need. Whether it be something as simple as lending an ear or something much more, getting outside of ourselves and our circumstances will almost always lead to renewed gratitude. This is one we can learn from the Pope.

Trust God

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”- Philippians 4:11-13

This verse shows what God desires we understand about contentment. He teaches in His word that we should strive to be content with our situation in life. Does this mean we cannot strive to better our circumstances and work to move up in the world, or should never own anything nice? No, this simply means that God wants us to only acquire what we can afford and to be pleased with what gifts we have been given.

If you are finding that you are overwhelmed with obligations from your past discontentment, you may want to seek help through the FaithWorks Financial Christian debt management programs. Once you have gotten out of debt, you can then strive toward living a financially content life.

No matter where you are in your financial journey, those who practice Christian debt management principals will often share similar traits. Perhaps you are doing great with your financial goals and have had the burden lifted off of you. Maybe you’re struggling with your obligations and are in need of a Christian debt relief program. Either way, your personality will most likely change as your financial situation changes.

Consider these common traits of debt-free people and discover if you are already living in the freedom, or take a glimpse at what lies ahead of you on your journey.

Practical:

They tend to understand the meaning of value in every item they purchase. For the individual living on an average American income, practical purchasing decisions are a must have trait for anyone who wants to live a debt free life.

Self-reliant:

Being debt free means that you do not have to rely on credit cards from month to month. A cash-only system means that you are self-reliant, and more importantly, God-reliant in your spending habits.

Patient:

Debt-free people deny instant gratification to continue staying out of debt. The temptation to impulse-shop may arise from time to time, but out of control spending does not exist for those who become and stay debt-free.

Self-confident:

It is easy to get down on yourself when you are struggling financially. Once you are utilizing Christian debt management principals, you will regain your self-confidence by taking care of your debt.

Responsible:

Catastrophes are unpredictable, but in most cases, debt-free people set enough money aside in their emergency fund that they can survive the difficult days.

Charitable:

Since there is no longer a huge credit card bill each month, debt-free people often experience an increased ability to share with others, lifting everyones spirits and helping others in their time of need.

Not materialistic:

Luke 12:15 states, “…‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’” Those who are free of debt acknowledge this and usually live within their means, the way God intended His children to live.

If you read this list and found yourself wanting to be on the other side of the fence, contact a Christian debt relief counselor at Faithworks Financial today so you can start developing these traits in your own life.

It may seem unusual to bring the term “abundance” into a conversation about Christian budgeting and implementing responsible Christian financial planning, especially if you are struggling to make ends meet.

As Christians, we sometimes fail to understand the true meaning of living under abundance. Our culture tends to equate that term with the dictionary version that describes abundance as “an excessive amount of something”. Abundance is better viewed as a sufficient amount for immediate needs, plus a surplus. The amount of food in a well-stocked cupboard, for example, may likely be an abundance as it meets our needs and will not be depleted by our immediate needs. We would not be likely to consider that excessive, though.

An Old Adage Lends Itself to Christian Financial Planning

The old “a penny saved is a penny earned” mindset can be much too easy to forget!

When we find ourselves in a situation where we have unexpected money (we’ve yet to meet such a thing as “extra money”), the perspective from which the blessing is viewed has a tremendous impact on how it is managed. To view the funds as being extra or excess makes it much easier to simply spend on a luxury item. We’ve all probably said it at one time or another- “I only spent $100 at the grocery store instead of $140, let’s eat out tomorrow night!”. Viewing that instead as abundance may allow us to put that money to better use.

A Bible Perspective on Finances

In the book of Matthew, we read the account where Jesus feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, and are amazed at the multiplication factor. This story has a surprise relation to Christian financial planning.

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:19-21(NIV)

Something that is often overlooked is the fact that the remnants were gathered. There were no unnecessary leftovers.

The twelve baskets of broken pieces remaining after everyone had eaten are not random happenstance. Perhaps the remnants were a blessing for the twelve disciples based on their work feeding the crowd. This signifies that Christ not only provides for immediate needs, but He is an immense provider on a continual basis.

Too often we think of the money that is left after we pay the bills as “extra”, whereas that abundant portion should be used wisely for immediate needs, and future needs that will follow. To put this into practice, when we find that we are under-budget and have unbudgeted monies available, those funds should be put to good use. Whether it be tithed, added to your Christian Debt Relief Program, or fund some other good measure, the important thing is that it be put to good use.

The disciples realized that the people needed to eat. They also knew they could not meet those immediate needs, and they turned to Jesus for relief, asking Him to send them a way to feed themselves. Instead, Jesus provided a way for the people to eat and the disciples to receive a blessing from the abundance. We learn that with Christ, there is abundance, not excess.

If you find that you have an abundance of funds remaining in your Christian budget, consider that to be God’s money. Help build His Kingdom and keep Christian financial planning at the center of your financial strategy.

If your financial challenges seem as impossible as feeding five thousand with a handful of fishes and loaves of bread, allow a Christian debt relief counselor to help you explore a Christian debt relief program with you today.

Arm Yourself Against Bill Collectors with the FDCPA

Through our experience in offering Christian Debt Relief programs, we have come to learn that whether you are in great financial shape or are up to your ears in debt, some things are universal. Most individuals that we speak with have heard the horror stories about harassing bill collectors. Bill collectors have been known to make incredibly outrageous statements in hopes of collecting on a past due account.

In hopes of putting an end to these unscrupulous collection methods, the Federal Trade Commission implemented the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, better known as the FDCPA. Knowing your rights as a consumer can help you to handle phone calls from bill collectors and give you the knowledge that can keep you from being the target of unethical and even illegal collection methods.

We aren’t attorneys and cannot offer legal advice, so use this as a jumping-off point and consult with an attorney if you feel your rights have been violated.

Here are a few of the basic protections offered by the FDCPA.

When and Where A Debt Collector May Call-

A debt collector should not make any phone calls prior to 8 AM or after 9 PM unless given prior permission by the debtor.

Also, a debt collector should no longer attempt to reach a debtor at their place of employment if they have been notified, whether it be through verbal or written notification, that their employer does not allow such communication.

Types of accounts that are covered by the FDCPA-

The FDCPA covers consumer debts such as credit cards, auto loans, medical bills and mortgages. The FDCPA does not cover business debts.

How to stop phone calls from bill collectors-

If a debtor provides a written request to cease communications the collection agency should cease all collection efforts aside from the following:
o Notification that collection efforts are being terminated
o Notification that the agency intends to take legal action

Statements that a debt collector cannot make-

A debt collector may not use or threaten to use violence or other criminal means to harm the debtor, their reputation or their property. Also, a debt collector may not use obscene or profane language.

One of the most common violations is the frequency of the phone calls. A debt collector may not call repeatedly or continuously with the intent to annoy or harass the debtor.

While the FDCPA has helped to promote ethical collection tactics, rouge bill collectors still use less than professional methods to collect past due debts. Knowing your rights as a debtor will allow you to stay armed and protected in the event that you are the subject of harassing collection efforts.

If you feel that your rights have been violated, please speak with one of our Christian Debt Relief specialists about a prepaid legal service offered by a third party company. You may qualify to be compensated up to $1,000 under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.