For traditional Christians who live their faith, debt can be a burden that provokes self-doubt. As the Bible says in Proverbs 22:7,"The borrower is slave to the lender. When you are in debt to another, you enter into a slave/master relationship with your creditor." And credit card bills, medical statements, car notes and more can feel like a physical burden, causing stress and depression. For those who have been saved and who wish to live a faith-based life, Christian debt relief may be the answer.
Christian Debt Relief - How is it Different?
The concept of Christian personal finance is relatively new. Financial planners who have accepted Christ as their savior are just as qualified as non-Christians to give financial advice, but with the added quality of understanding the unique needs that come with Christian debt.
For instance, Christian debt help will never involve asking you to sacrifice your tithe. To an outsider, the donation to God is viewed as an "extra" that can be cut until the bills and loans are cleared out. To a Christian debt relief specialist, the meaning of that tithe is understood, as a covenant between you and the Lord to help bring up the church and its message, and to give over your financial life to God to receive His blessings.
Christian couples who practice traditional biblical roles in marriage may wish to keep the wife from working for wages. A Christian personal finance expert would not suggest that the helpmeet go out and earn an income, but instead would work with the couple on different strategies to keep her on the home front but to also help reduce expenses and bills.
Finding Debt Relief from Dave Ramsey and More
A Christian debt counselor will also help you to stop accruing new debt. As it says in Deuteronomy 28:12, "The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow."
Dave Ramsey is one financial advisor who is popular with Christians and non-Christians alike for his sound, practical advice. He offers seven steps to financial freedom:
- Put $1,000 in savings for an emergency fund.
- Start "snowballing" debt
- Put 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings.
- Invest 15 percent of pre-tax income in retirement accounts.
- Save for your children's college.
- Pay off your mortgage.
- Build personal wealth and be generous with giving to charities.
He counsels people to do whatever it takes, within their belief systems, to get out of debt. Finding Christian debt relief means maintaining your faith while handling the worldly issues of personal finance - not sacrificing your ethics.
Christian Debt Help
So where do you turn for Christian debt help? Many Christians who are buried under consumer debt go online and seek out Internet-based Christian personal finance experts who are not local. Why? Shame.
There's no reason to be ashamed, and finding a company with offices in your area is actually a smart move, to get the personal touch that comes from meeting directly with a money counselor. Christian debt help exists for a reason; people in your situation need assistance to understand how to break the pattern of debt and to follow the Bible's teachings on borrowing and lending. Use this information to research your options, such as debt consolidation, and find the best financial advice for a debt-free future.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
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