Momentum is a gloriously dangerous thing. It can either propel you forward or cause you to crash. If you have made it this point in the process (not just the seminar), then you have created a lot of possibilities that will either greatly enhance or deter your personal, marital, and spiritual life. But either way, at this point something significant will happen.
While debt is a powerful negative force of slavery (Prov. 22:7), money is a powerful neutral force. Well-managed money does not necessarily equal a well-managed life. There are plenty of rich people who have intense mid-life crises and accomplish little of eternal significance with their assets. At the same time, there are many in the lower and middle socio-economic classes who live with great peace and impact the world for God in profound ways.
The point is this; a budget is a means to an end. We make a budget for the same reason we buy a plane ticket – to get somewhere. While the destination is usually clearer when you buy a plane ticket, the amount of movement (ticket-geographical; budget-character) is about the same. The goal of this chapter is to ensure that you experience both aspects of freedom (financial and spiritual) that God intends from implementing the financial wisdom Scripture prescribes.
This evaluations (Evaluation – Debt and Savings) is designed to help a couple assess whether their approach to debt and savings is aiding or interfering with their desire to have a gospel-centered marriage.
Several of the plumb lines from the third section of this seminar will include:
- We’ve must hate or fear debt more than we love or trust stuff.
- If all we spend is our life, then debt is presuming upon days you are not guaranteed (James 4:13-17).
- Debt is robbing tomorrow to artificially inflate today; expectations increase as opportunity decreases.
- Debt is a form voluntary slavery (Prov. 22:7) and we are commanded by God to live free (Gal. 5:1-2).
- Either we love God and love people and use money. Or we love money and use God and use people.
- A financial plan is for our heart what braces are for our teeth.
- We are most like God when we are giving.
- Temporal investments generate fear; eternal investments generate peace.
Creating a Gospel-Centered Marriage: Foundations
Topics: Budgeting in a Way that Enhances Your Marriage
Dates: August 4 and 11, 2012
Times: 4:00 to 5:30 pm and 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Location: The Summit Church, Brier Creek South Venue
Address: 2415 Presidential Drive; Durham, NC 27703
Cost: Free