A Moment With Pastor Fred

I heard on the local evening news credit card debt has reached a 10 year record high. COVID seems to be partly to blame – along with rising inflation. Credit card debt is a bad habit to get into. Sue and I fell into that trap early in our marriage. Looking back, it wasn’t that high, but it was then, and it caused unnecessary pressure. I’m glad we paid it off quickly. Since then, we have paid our credit card off each month – carefully watching what we put on it.

There is a tension between knowing that we are called to steward the wealth God provides with the fact that life is just plain expensive. As believers we need to budget our money, control our expenses, give generously to the church and set some aside for the future. But let’s use some occasionally to treat ourselves to something nice. My pastor-mentor used to say, “It’s only money.” God has given us all things richly to enjoy.

Years ago, we showed Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. It was extremely helpful. The church owns the DVDs – which can be borrowed. The biblical principles Dave articulates has helped thousands get out of debt. And yet no one is advocating hoarding. It is our Christian duty to take dominion over money – if we don’t, we will surrender our  resources to the enemy. Prov 21:20, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man  devours all he has. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”