Dave Ramsey’s Financial Wisdom From Proverbsדוגמה

Day 9: Seek Wise Counsel

Consider This: It’s important to have someone to talk to about money issues and decisions.

On the first day of every year, people make resolutions about how things are going to be different this time around. Unfortunately, few of those resolutions survive past the second week of January.

Polls consistently show that two of the top resolutions involve losing weight and managing money. How many times have you started a new year planning to exercise more and spend less? The reality, though, is often the opposite of what we hoped for: Our waistlines get bigger, and our net worth gets smaller!

To be honest, resolutions are a joke! We know life would be better without extra pounds and credit cards, but we just can’t say no. Why can’t we follow through with our January 1 resolutions? Because without teeth, resolutions are nothing more than wishes we make to ourselves.

But we can give them teeth by sharing them with someone else. That’s called accountability, and it’s one of the most powerful motivators for change you can imagine. In Proverbs 15:22, Solomon challenged his readers to build accountability into their lives. He understood that the worst crashes often happen when we’re flying solo. We can make a lot of plans, but our chances of failure increase when we try to go it alone.

On the other hand, “many advisers” (today we call them accountability partners) lead to success. When we’re willing to hear and heed the advice of others, we can prevent a landslide of future headaches. And if you’re married, being able to talk with your spouse about money is vital. That’s why Financial Peace University spends time helping couples learn how to talk to each other about their finances and stop having money fights.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we let someone else run our lives or that we have to follow through with every suggestion. But it does mean that we let others speak into our lives and—for a moment, at least—entertain the idea that we don’t know everything about every situation. We’re teachable.

Who are some people you trust? Family members, lifelong friends, pastors, fellow church members, leaders and coworkers can all serve as guides for your money questions. Find a few key people and let them hold you accountable to your financial goals. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Accountability is biblical—and it works!

Handling money can be tricky, but the good news is you don’t have to do it alone. One of the reasons we created Financial Peace University was to give people a safe place to interact and develop relationships with a small group of people committed to managing money wisely and working toward their financial goals. Married or single, we all need someone trustworthy in our lives to help keep us in alignment. Visit fpu.com to learn more about bringing these small groups to your church.

Reflection Questions: Who do you have in your life to talk with about your personal finances and money decisions? If you’re married, how comfortable are you having money talks with your spouse?