In God We Trust? -_-

I am currently halfway through a devotional on debt and it led me to see that we, as a nation are not acting as good stewards of our blessings.

It's funny how our nation prints on money "In God We Trust" but we don't trust God with our money. Capitialism is actually a very unGodly way of living. I'm not saying it's going to change or that I don't like the thought of making millions for doing no manual labor, but it isn't right. America's preoccupation with spending money that we don't have on things we don't need to impress people we don't like has our national debt at a new all-time high every year.

Not only that, but our businesses aren't run in a Godly manner. Aside from all the corruption, these businesses and creditors are holding people as financial slaves for life. The Bible specifically says that God said a Godly nation (Israel) would have a year of forgiveness every seven years in which borrowed land would be forgiven and returned to its owner if it was not paid off. Imagine if America were built on that divine principle. True, the companies wouldn't be as rich, but wealth would be more evenly distributed, there would be less stress, less materialism and ultimately less crime.

Lastly, I want to touch on tithing. We are HORRIBLE at tithing. I don't do it like I need to. Very few people do. But when it's time to visit the liquor store, we quickly find $15 for a fifth of alcohol. And that is why God gives us free will. But how can you expect Him to bless you with a lot when you won't even bless him with a little of the great abundance he has given you? That's like Someone paying for your cookout whole cookout (Side note: Happy Memorial Day. Thanks troops). When I say "whole," I mean buns, condiments, plates, meat, sides, cups, drinks, DJ services, park rental, EVERYTHING! And when it's all said and done, you decide He can even get a plate because you want to serve everyone who didn't put in (including yourself) first. How much sense does that make? When we tithe, we're giving Him a bit of His blessing back out of honor and respect. When we don't tithe, we are saying that we don't respect Him. But then we go back and ask Him to pay for our cookout again next weekend.

Because we choose not to know and/or follow His Word, we, as a nation which falsely claims Christianity, we put ourselves into this recession. Maybe we really need to live by that which we print on our paper and coins. And you can say "That's not the American way," and I will have to agree with you. But then I will also say that with time, the only thing that is constant is change. It is on our generation to decide if we will take our change in the right or wrong direction.

Scriptural evidence:
Romans 13:8 (love is all we should owe)
Prov. 22:7, I Cor. 7:23 (debt is slavery)
II Kings 4:1 (debt enslaves our families)
Deut 15 (debt cancellation/generousity)

I am sure there is more in the Word about this but, as I said before, I am only halfway through the devotional.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Thinking About Marriage? Think About Money.

I was just sitting around thinking about money management and it's connection with relationships. In thinking about this, I realize that, though money cannot buy me love, one's inability to make the sacrifices necessary to be financially stable can definitely put a strain on, and ultimately break, the bond that love has built.

I was talking to Desireé (my girlfriend for those who haven't been reading) last night about money and our relationship and the emphasis I put on it and why I like to be so financially structured and things like that. (That last one nearly turned into a run on sentence. Thankful for Ms. Exum and Ms. Buck in second and third grades). I told her that if ever I was at a point where I was just being lazy and consistently wasn't taking care of my responsibilities, I wanted her to leave me. Not because I don't want to be with her but because I am well aware of the stress and strain that fiscal irresponsibility can put on a marriage and a family.

Though I am no where near engaged, this is something that, as college-aged people, we must think about. We need to be cognizant of what it is to have good credit. We need to be able to budget our money and stick to that budget. We need to be able to curb desire and impulse because what we want is not feasible at that time. It is often said that "bad habits die hard," and I am a firm believer in that. But they can die. It takes time and practice. I will be the first to say that I am not always the best with money. But I am very good with it. I am good at making my money work for me. And I am learning more and more from Des all the time because her parents taught her a lot of things that I was unaware.

You have to find someone who will strengthen you all around. If you both bring God, a good credit score, an education, a job, and discipline into a relationship, you can't go (too) wrong. And even if one of those is missing, if you have determination, you'll find a way to fill the void.

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown

Time is Ticking

Yesterday I was sitting at lunch w/ some of my co-workers (7 young ladies and 2 other young men) and the conversation somehow moved toward wedding rings. The figure $15,000 got thrown out. Then 10. Then 5. I was then told that a ring should at least be 2 and a half months of your salary. If I come out getting 40/year, the ring will fall right between that 5 and 10. Then I went to the movies last night to see Sex in the City II and it was, of course, all about marriage and families. So I was sitting around thinking, "Wow. When I get out of school, I am going to really have to get prepared to give my family a comfortable life." But then I was thinking, I don't want to be that father and husband who throws money instead of time at problems. Based on my timeline (which means nothing to God), I have about 7 years to get all my shit together before little D3 is running around. So from now on, I am putting $1 into savings for my future every day of every year on top of the 20%/check that already is in the budget. Life is moving fast. I've got to stay ahead of the rest.

Litera scripta manet. - Unknown