Financial Responsibility

Scrooge and the Cratchit Family


What is the best way to encourage Believers, both Seasoned and Beginners, to use wisdom about how they make, spend, donate and save money? There are many approaches, and some work well and others do not. More importantly, some violate the basic principles of the scripture and others are very consistent with the Bible.


The Bible does not talk about how to live in a wealthy Capitalistic Society like the USA because no such thing existed then. Poverty was rampant and common people used bartering and farming as the primary means of surviving. Now, we in the West have the opposite problems that existed in the days of Abram, David and Jesus.

We have too much and they had too little. Solomon was one of the wealthiest men on earth but even poor people have more today than he had then. Most of us have in door toilets, running water, heat in winter and air conditioners in summer.

So, how do we approach the matters of money in a culture of too much? Our problems are obesity and more things than we can store in our homes.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer some 30 churches in Cincinnati are doing a series on "Materialism" to combat people who have too much.

The program is called "Consumed," an intense sermon series and accompanying Bible study created by Crossroads Community Church in Oakley.

"We tried to identify what are the spiritual needs of our community, and we felt that it's being on this treadmill of buying things and judging and being judged by what we have and how much money we make," said Crossroads Pastor Brian Tome. "We're not even American people anymore; we're American consumers. It's a dominant influence in our lives, and it's hurting people."

More than 30 other churches have joined with Crossroads to follow the journey simultaneously. The pastors are meeting to discuss each week's theme, and then each will deliver his own message to congregations and incorporate it into additional church activities.

"We, as pastors, really want to make a difference in the city, and by linking arms with other churches and taking this journey together, we can do that," said Pastor Matt Massey of North Star Vineyard. The church meets Sundays at 9 and 10:30 a.m. at Loveland Junior High School.

What do you think about this? Will it be effective?


Will Christan's consume less as a result? (I assume that is one goal although the article does not say.)





Will people love God and neighbor more?





Will they lose weight?





Are folks going to put more in savings? (A huge need in America.)





Will giving rates rise? (The percentage of giving is pretty small now.)





I would love to hear your take on this!


PS Perhaps the most famous Christian attempt to motivate people to share their money is the book, The Christmas Carol. Scrooge was converted and opened his heart to others. The drawing above illustrates his changed heart.

Politicians

The debate among five Republican pols tonight was pretty good. At least they are not promising every citizen and illegal immigrant on earth a free education and free unlimited medical care forever. The Democrats are seemingly trying to out do each other in false promises.

But, still, it does not appear that the debators are taking seriously the huge number of people who are hitting sixty every day and what that will do to Medicare, Medicaid and taxes. Can you say, "Break the bank?"

I need to examine more closely the statements of these men. I know what the Dem's are saying and, since I can count, know it cannot work. So, let's just elect a nice person who will lie to us because we demand it instead of an adult who will tell us the truth.

Debt and Poverty

Last week a group of Christian leaders got together to share what is happening in our lives. The issue of financial freedom came up and I was happy to hear that several of them have both a weekly emphasis upon financial issues along with semi annual or quarterly video sessions about the need for Believers to use their financial resources wisely.

Some have a "Creed" about financial and practical resources they ask the congregation to read each week. This emphasizes that finances are important not only as a tithe but as resources for living.

Rex Schrolucke, Pastor of Trinity Christian Fellowship, is using a 13 week DVD series by Dave Ramsey to teach his, Financial Peace University materials. Rex was very positive about the practical ways his people have benefitted from the training.

I recommend Dr. Ruby Payne's book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty as a great resource. It has helped me understand how background and culture influence our approach to financial issues.

Many churches and Christian groups give money and resources to the chronically poor without realizing they might be making the problem worse for the current and future generations.

City Cure of Cincinnati uses Dr. Payne's approach in an ongoing ministry to help people break the cycle of generational poverty. Contact them at:

Roger Howell
rhowell@cityministries.com
http://citycure.org/
(513) 345-1023

What have you found helpful to get people out of debt and poverty? Let us know.

Better Relationships

The central focus of Sweeten Life Systems is to enhance the relationships of individuals and organizations. It is impossible to have healthy relationships in the office and factory is they are dysfunctional at home.

The Families at Work Institute and has a lot to say to the situation we face today in America. To read the entire report go to: http://familiesandwork.org/site/research/reports/3wbooklet.pdf

Today’s U.S. workforce and workplace are in transition. In Families and Work Institute’s (FWI) nationally representative study of the U.S. workforce, the National Study of the Changing Workforce, we find dramatic changes over the past 25 years.

To begin, the workforce is aging.

In 1977, just over a third of the workforce (38%) was over 40-years-old; today, more than half (56%) is (over 40).

Women today play an increasingly vital role, making up nearly half of thewage and salaried workforce. In addition, work hours for many employees are climbing and jobs have become more hectic and demanding.

Life at home has also changed with an increase in the number of dual earner couples in the workplace (from 66% of couples in 1977 to 78% today), which has created pressure among working families.

55 percent of employees feel they don’t have enough time for themselves,

63 percent feel they don’t have enough time for their spouses

67 percent feel they don’t have enough time for their children.

Repercussions of these trends are being experienced by employers as well. FWI data reveal that

39 percent of employees are not fully engaged in their jobs,

54 percent are less than fully satisfied with their jobs

38 percent are somewhat or very likely to make a concerted effort to find a new job in the coming year.

Employers are challenged to recruit talent, engage and retain workers, and maximize productivity.

How can employers accomplish their goals and continue the high productivity if families are so stressed that individuals cannot function well? What can we do? It is clear that additional family counseling alone is not enough.

I am a Family Therapist who has spent a great deal of his adult life counseling couples and families. I also founded two counseling centers and one in-patient psychiatric hospital to treat distressed people. Crisis counseling is not nearly enough!

The only answer is for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to establish centers that will actually teach people how to develop healthy relationships. We need hundreds of churches in each city that are so concerned about individual children that they equip adults how to be good parents.

I am happy to see "Divorce Recovery" groups springing up in a few of the 5,000 or so congregations in Greater Cincinnati, but that is too late. We know the major causes of divorce and we know how to teach people to avoid one. Why do so few churches and community organizations do anything to prevent divorce?

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It is possible to prevent problems. It is also less expensive and less traumatizing to everyone concerned. Why not do it???