Financial Discipleship - the Bible on CounselSample

Sometimes when I counsel people with deep financial problems, I am incredibly saddened. I know that if only these individuals would have sought counsel early on from someone with a solid understanding of God’s way of handling financial matters, they would have avoided untold pain and heartache.

Two attitudes keep us from seeking counsel. The first is pride. Our culture regards seeking advice as a sign of weakness. The second attitude is stubbornness, characterized by the statement, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is already made up!” We often resist seeking counsel because we don’t want to be told we can’t afford what we already have decided to buy.

God encourages us to use a gift He has provided for our benefit — godly counselors. In Proverbs 19:20 we read, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (NIV). Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” And Proverbs 15:22 tells us, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

If you are married, the first person you need to consult is your spouse. Frankly, it has been a humbling experience for me to seek the counsel of my wife in financial matters because she has no formal financial training. Even so, she has saved us tons of money with her wise counsel.

I have committed to never proceed with a financial decision unless my wife agrees. The husband and wife should agree because they both will experience the consequences of the decision. Even if their choice proves to be wrong, there are no grounds for an “I told you so” fracture in their relationship.

(excerpt taken from Set Your House in Order, Howard Dayton, 2022)