My Total Money Makeover

DaveRamsey.com

Recently, I finished my July book, "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.

Wow.

What do you say? Other than I have been for much of my life VERY "financially illiterate."

Liz and I in recent years had begun to live on a budget, meaning, tracking every penny and planning our expenses, really out of necessity. For so long we had "more month than money" as Dave talks about. We had to get our spending under control. We had taken great strides to getting out of debt and becoming more financially secure through what we had read in the Scriptures, Crown Financial Ministries, and listening to Dave on the radio. But we still had (and have) many things to learn.

"The Total Money Makeover" revealed where we were still compromising in our monthly budgeting, and showed our lack of specific vision for the future. The book confirmed much of what we have learned, but it gave us greater clarity for now and the future and strengthened our resolve to become better money managers, and ultimately better stewards of what God has given us.

I have lived in la-la land regarding money for much of my life, not  really knowing how money really works and not seeing the deceptive traps I was in. In reading the Scriptures I have learned such things as "the borrower is slave to the lender," and "owe no one anything except to love," and that it's diligence and hard work that brings wealth as opposed to get rich quick schemes.

I also learned in 1 Timothy 5:8 that he who doesn't take care of their own household "has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

That one hurt. Bad.

I overspiritualized money by not really giving it my concern or attention, and yet all the while wanted more of it and not enjoying the situation we were in.

The spiritual thing, in fact, is to get out of debt, take care of your household and your future, and position yourself for giving!

So through tears, joy, despair, inspiration... I finished The Total Money Makeover.

Now it's time to have one.