Sunday, October 19, 2003 am
FAMILY PROBLEMS 2 – MONEY
Today we want to talk about financial problems. This is a good subject to begin this study with because:
v It demonstrates many aspects of problems like the fact that some times they are beyond our control but usually they arise as a result of poor financial management.
v Also in this example we find how to address dealing with various problems within the family from God’s word. In the case of money, most of the answers come from practical instructions that are not exclusive to the home, but apply to every Christian in every walk of life. Thus we learn to apply the principles of God’s word to every aspect of our lives.
v When we get into financial problems it is usually because we have failed to put God first in our lives, thus we see the importance of priorities
I. The
Problem of Money within the Family
A. Facts about money and debt
1. We are living in a society that is in great debt. Our nation and state are in debt and that causes many to rationalize that debt is acceptable. Nationally, total consumer debt is over 5 trillion dollars (4).
2. Individually, we are in debt. While creditors have made it much easier to get credit (and to rely on credit) problems have arise. 50 million credit cards are issued annually (4)
One article pointed out that the average credit card balance today is about $9000 (I assume combined in a family) as opposed to $3000 just 10 years ago (1). Another source says the average American carries $5,800 in debt (2)
3. Americans abuse money. For every dollar earned, $1.22 is being spent. (1)
92% of disposable income is spent on payment of debts (4)
4. If you only pay the minimum payment it will take you several years to pay back a debt with interest rates averaging about 18.9%, with some as high as 23%. (2)
An example, $8,500 paying 3% of the balance at 15% will take you 18.9 years to repay. At 20% it would take you 24.25 years to repay. (3)
5. Bankruptcy has increased by 44% in the past 10 years. (1) In 2001, more than 2 million bankruptcies were files (3). 1 in 3 people are having trouble managing their debt.
(1) These facts are from an article, Debt Management, America’s Debt, by Renee Dietz, via
http://www.canville.net/debtmanagement/americasdebt.html )
(2) http://www.american-debt-consolidation-loans.com/history_of_credit_81.html
(3) http://www.debtadvisory.net/consumerfacts.html
(4) http://www.getdebtfree.com/truth_about-debt.htm
B. Money and marriage problems
1. Only about 5% of marriage breakups are a result of money.
a. In my research I found no reliable statistics to say that money is the number one cause of divorce. Though many sources say it is the number one cause.
b. There was a study in the year
1950 where “non-support” (the inability of the husband to provide basic
expenses for a family) was the primary cause of divorce based on a 1948 study of
women only & focusing on post-WWII America.
http://www.csus.edu/news/101701moneydivorce.htm
Obviously this is not an accurate indicator today because of so many societal changes. And it is readily admitted that more research needs to be done.
c.
One article stated, “"Money is the one thing that people say they
argue about most in
marriage, followed by children (Stanley & Markman, 1997). But, there is a
lot of reason to believe that what couples argue about is not as important as
how they argue (Markman, Stanley, & Blumberg, 1994)."
-- From a September 25, 1998 posting on the Smart
Marriages Archive, probably by Scott Stanley
2. But that does not change the fact that money can and does cause problems within a marriage and family.
a. Poor financial management will cause problems, many of which are sinful – such as poor stewardship, failures to honor your debts, etc.
b. Money becomes a source of many (and in some marriages – most) arguments.
c. It can cause stress, worry, depression and other mental factors that Christians are to strive to overcome.
d. It can lead to other problems (such as poor communication) which WILL destroy a marriage.
d. The OTHER side, in which there is plenty of money, can cause a different set of problems – materialism, greed, discontentment, rejecting God, etc.
C. What do these statistics and facts have to do with God’s word and our study? They serve to get our attention to the problems that money. When we have money problems it affects the way we serve God and our marital relationships.
II. Dealing with Financial Problems
A. God’s word has much to say about money
1. The scriptures contain more than 700 direct references to money. Two-thirds of the parables of Jesus, and 1 out of every 6 verses of the gospels concern the right or wrong use of material possessions (4)
2. 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil…”
3. Romans 13:8 says to “owe no one anything except to love one another.” Note that the point here is that you need to pay your debts.
4. Covetousness is a sin –
a. 1 Timothy 6:9, a warning to those who desire to be rich
b. Colossians 3:5 – covetousness is idolatry
c. Ephesians 5:3-5 – no covetous person will have any inheritance in the kingdom of heaven.
Covetousness actually means to have a strong desire for something. It is generally understood as the idea of wanting that which belongs to another. Often credit purchases are made impulsively because we “have to have” what someone else has.
5. The book of Proverbs continually addresses money
a. Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.” (borrowing)
b. Proverbs 28:20-22 – “A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress. A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” (desiring riches)
c. Proverbs 21:20 – “There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.” (saving)
d. Proverbs 15:6 – “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.” (honesty)