Principles are important. Here, we draft an outline of foundational ideas that build the way we deal with money. This section is divided up into two parts: Biblical and Helpful. Biblical principles are actual scripture verses whereas Helpful principles are those that have proven to be beneficial, but a particular Bible verse has not yet been applied. Both sets of principles should represent a Christian worldview on the area of finance. This list is constantly being updated to reflect the truth of scripture and to provide wise financial observations that can be used in everyday life.

Biblical Principles

Debt

• The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. -Proverbs 22:7 NIV

• Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. -Romans 13:8 NIV

• 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. -Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV

Budgeting

• The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. -Proverbs 21:5 NIV

• Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ -Luke 14:28-30 NIV

• Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6:6-8 NIV

Giving

• “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse–the whole nation of you–because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the store house, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. -Malachi 3:8-12 NIV

Helpful Principles

Debt

• Avoid debt with focused intensity. Cut up your credit cards, insure your assets, and commit to not taking any more debt from this day forward.

• Destroy your debt. Get serious about wiping out your debt. Don’t be a slave to your FICO score, you shouldn’t be planning on borrowing more money anyway.

Budgeting

• It is better to store up money made this month and spend it next month. This was found through experience. In essence, this gives you a short-term one-month emergency fund, cuts down on spending loads of money on payday, and keeps envelope budgeting systems nice and neat.

• It is crucial to review your budget monthly, and modify if needed. This allows you to correct overspending and be more realistic in your budgeting methods. Attempt to lower an expense in one category if you raise an expense in another category.

*Note: This list is far from complete, it is only a starting point. Please check back as more principles will be added.

John

John officially launched TheChristianDollar.com on January 1st, 2010 with the intention to provide an excellent financial resource for biblically-minded individuals and families. Influenced heavily by Dave Ramsey, John started researching how he might better handle his money and help others in the process. John enjoys reading, writing, playing with gadgets, and spending time with his wife Courtney.

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