Dave Says the Bible Says It's Wise to Save

My wife and I have gone from having almost nothing to making about $90,000 in the last few years. The problem is that I can’t get her interested in saving money. What’s worse, her father is the preacher at our church and he has convinced her that he knows the Lord is coming back in our lifetime. Thinking this, she says there’s no reason to save because it will all be gone anyway. What can I do?

I’m all for people living their lives according to God’s word. But the Bible says that no man knows when the Lord will return. So, I get pretty leery when a guy – especially a preacher – tells me he knows when it’s going to happen.

The Bible also tells us very clearly that it is wise to save, and the Bible does not contradict itself. So basically, if you don’t save you’re being foolish. Still, it probably wouldn’t be a great idea for you to run and tell your wife that financially she’s behaving like a fool.

This is a touchy situation in other areas, too. Right now her dad’s theology is ruling your marriage, and that’s not good. Husbands and wives should grow in their faith together. I think you guys should sit down with a good marriage counselor and, for the good of your family, come to an agreement on a new place of worship.

I mean, even if her dad is right about this – and if he turns out to be right, I’m pretty sure it’s not because he has inside information – there’s some stuff going on here where he’s interwoven his own ideas and spiritual authority in with your household authority.

My company makes me use my personal credit card for overseas travel. They take care of my expenses, but sometimes they don’t send the money until after the payment is due. Does this affect my credit score?

Unless you pay on time instead of waiting for their money, you bet it affects your credit score. It’s your card! You signed for it, and it’s in your name. Every late payment affects your credit bureau score.

I don’t know who you work for, but this is a very dangerous and bad practice – both by you and your company. Your company is using your credit and abusing you in the process. Talk to them about furnishing you with a corporate card. Better yet, a corporate debit card! If your employer is going to send you overseas, or anywhere on the road, it shouldn’t cost you money or cause you problems.

My husband and I both work, and we just bought a great house for $150,000. He makes $50,000 a year, and I make about $30,000. We’ve been getting lots of different mortgage life insurance offers in the mail. They say they will pay off the house if one of us dies. Do you think we should take advantage of this?

No! These kinds of offers are terrible unless you’re uninsurable, because most mortgage life insurance policies are a lot more expensive than term life insurance.

You and your husband both need about eight to 10 times your annual incomes wrapped up in good, level term policies. Forget that overpriced stuff. These will take care of you both, and the house, for a lot less if something unthinkable happens.

My company makes me use my personal credit card for overseas travel.

Frankly, I’d advise that if one has a little savings, one can get a nice rebate or mileage card, and enjoy a 2% bonus on the money you’re reimbursed. Have a couple thousand in savings to float the difference isn’t that hard, and the rebate becomes real earnings.

And don’t wait until your return to submit the expense report.

I didnt see where Ramsy shows that the Bible instructs us to lay up treasure. Just the opposite

Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...(Matthew 6:19,20)

We should take care of our own, but that doesnt require $1M in an IRA.

Thinking this, she says there’s no reason to save because it will all be gone anyway. What can I do?

Remind her of the Parable of the Brides Maids. Those who weren't ready did not have any Oil nor their wicks trimmed. Does she want to be like one of them?

The Lord wants us to be good stewards of his resources for His approval.

Also Historically, folks have stopped all activities to foolishly wait on the Lord in the past. It happened in the year 1000. Everyone went to the hills to wait upon the Lord. Many suffered when it didn't happen. It happened again a few years later upon supposed recalculations. Folks suffered again. Harold Camping predicted it twice in 2011. Do we want to be twisted in the wind every time someone makes a prediction?

The Answer is that we are called to be good stewards no matter what. The Lord indicates that we should invest our faith in activities and serving Him with Gladness (and not serving ourselves). Good Stewardship requires faithfulness in all our doings.

Let us be found to be faithful with the resources He has given us to further His Kingdom.

Almighty God operates on his own schedule, not on any mortal being’s.

Bible prophesies could be fulfilled in AD 2012, or AD 20012, or AD 200012.

Don’t rush God, or view him through a mortal timescale. The pastor in question is being an idiot, and a very poor father to his daughter.

Also Historically, folks have stopped all activities to foolishly wait on the Lord in the past. It happened in the year 1000.

I think that was incorrect, in AD 1000 Western civilization was using Roman numerals, not Arabic numerals. The Year M (1000) is not seen as the nice round number that 2000 (MM) was seen as twelve years ago.

http://www.raptureready.com/rr-date-setters.html 1000

"This year goes down as one of the most heightened periods of hysteria over the return of Christ. All members of society seemed affected by the prediction that Jesus was coming back at the start of the new millennium. None of the events required by the Bible were transpiring at that time; the magic of the number 1000 was the sole reason for the expectation. During concluding months of 999 AD, everyone was on his best behavior; worldly goods were sold and given to the poor; swarms of pilgrims headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem; buildings went unrepaired; crops were left unplanted; and criminals were set free from jails. When the year 999 AD turned into 1000 AD, nothing happened."

You don’t think the transition from CMXCIX to M was seen as something at least mildly significant? Even if they simplified and write IM, it would at least seem noteworthy.

I don’t know one way or another on end of the world predictions at the time, but the idea that ir passed without comment (and without someone going off the deep end) seems unlikely.

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