Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook (29 page)

(E
CCLESIASTES
4:9-10).

Don’t
begin with difficult situations. Help the person face his or her fear in small increments.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance”

(J
AMES
1:2-3).

Don’t
constantly ask, “How are you feeling?” Help the person see the value of having other interests.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others”

(P
HILIPPIANS
2:4).

Don’t
show disappointment and displeasure if the person fails. Encourage him or her and compliment his or her efforts to conquer fear.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act”

(P
ROVERBS
3:27).

Don’t
say, “Don’t be absurd; there’s nothing for you to fear!” Instead, say, “No matter how you feel, tell yourself the truth, ‘I will take one step at a time.’”

“The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction”

(P
ROVERBS
16:21).

Don’t
say, “Don’t be a coward; you
have
to do this!” Instead, say, “I know this is difficult for you, but it’s not dangerous. You have the courage to do this.”

“A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction”

(P
ROVERBS
16:23).

Don’t
say, “Quit living in the past; this is not that bad.” Instead, say, “Remember to stay in the present and remind yourself, ‘That was then and this is now.’”

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”

(P
ROVERBS
16:24).

The greater our fear, the less we are controlled by faith.

The greater our faith, the less we are controlled by fear.

—JH

1 Peter 5:6-7

Colossians 3:2-3

Psalm 27:1

1 John 4:18

Philippians 4:7

Deuteronomy 31:8

Psalm 23:4

Psalm 46:1

Isaiah 41:10

For additional guidance on this topic, see also
Anger, Codependency, Critical Spirit, Decision Making, Depression, Forgiveness, Hope, Identity, Manipulation, Phobias, Prejudice, Rejection, Self-worth, Stress Management, Worry
.

H
as money mastered you, or are you master over your money? Do you continually find yourself in the red and fear you’ll never be in the black? Are you in the deep, deep ditch of debt? You can find freedom through sound biblical principles for wise money management and solve the dollar dilemma.

If you live a godly Christian life, you will experience financial gain and prosperity.

According to God’s Word, godliness is not a means to financial gain. The Bible warns about “false doctrine” taught by false teachers.

“Who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain”

(1 T
IMOTHY
6:5).

Money is the root of all evil.

No, money can be used for great good. It is actually the
love
of money that is wrong.

“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”

(1 T
IMOTHY
6:10).

If I just have enough money, I will be satisfied.

Satisfaction with your financial situation does not come from the amount of money you have, but wisely managing what you have.

“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless”

(E
CCLESIASTES
5:10).

You must borrow money and pay it back in order to prove financial responsibility and establish good credit references.

Borrowing and paying back money is not always necessary to get credit. Most lenders are more than anxious to extend credit in order to collect inflated interest rates over an extended period of time. Why?

“The borrower is servant to the lender”

(P
ROVERBS
22:7).

How do you know whether you are trustworthy in the way you spend money? You must first desire to please the Lord in every way that you manage the financial resources He has given you. Before you purchase anything, ask yourself:

— Is this purchase a true
need
or just a
desire?

— Do I have adequate funds to purchase this without using credit?

— Have I compared the cost of competing products?

— Have I prayed about this purchase?

— Have I been patient in waiting on God’s provision?

— Do I have God’s peace regarding this purchase?

— Does this purchase conform to the purpose God has for me?

— Is there agreement with my spouse about this purchase?

The Bible says,

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”

(1 C
ORINTHIANS
4:2).

Dig yourself out of your ditch of debt by determining to manage money according to the following five biblical principles. They will help put you (and your checkbook) on the road to financial recovery, and guide you on the Road to Transformation so that even your money management is marked by Christlike maturity!

Remind
yourself—God owns everything!

“The world is mine, and all that is in it”

(P
SALM
50:12).

Recognize
God as the source. He provides all you possess.

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the L
ORD
your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth”

(D
EUTERONOMY
8:17-18).

Realize
God wants you to be content with what you have.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want”

(P
HILIPPIANS
4:12).

Review
what money symbolizes to you.

— Security?

— Significance?

— Self-worth?

— Status?

— Power?

— Independence?

— A means to helping others?

— Other?

Once you discover the needs you expect money to fill, call Philippians 4:19 to mind—especially when you are tempted to spend needlessly:

“My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Rest
in God’s presence no matter what your financial circumstances.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’”

(H
EBREWS
13:5).

Start
by transferring ownership of everything to God—mentally and emotionally.

“‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the L
ORD
Almighty”

(H
AGGAI
2:8).

Separate
yourself from the sin of greed.

— Repent and confess if your trust is in money.

— Remind yourself of the consequences of financial bondage.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”

(L
UKE
12:15).

Set
a new goal for managing your finances.

— Get counsel from someone with financial self-control.

— Commit to staying on course with God’s plan for your finances.

“We make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it”

(2 C
ORINTHIANS
5:9).

Stay away
from temptation by controlling your thoughts.

— Avoid thinking you can occasionally indulge yourself.

— Avoid thinking that you can do whatever you want, self-sufficiently.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it”

(1 C
ORINTHIANS
10:13).

Recognize
your accountability to God for how you spend money.

Accountability means:

— Knowing exactly what comes in.

— Knowing exactly what goes out.