Losing Financial Weight

It is early morning and you decide to embark on a long hike. You have the proper clothing and the weather is wonderful. The only thing left to do is to pack your backpack for the trip. The biggest challenge that you face is packing the essentials while keeping the weight low. Weight is the enemy of the journey. Weight takes more energy and slows you from reaching your goals.

Life is a journey in which we choose what we carry. The essentials are dictated by our responsibilities. The extras are our choice. Many people choose to carry extra weight in the form of debt. Debt adds weight to the journey and places people in bondage.

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Prov. 22:7

Most of the families that I coach understand the need to get out of debt. However, before we discuss becoming debt free we need to evaluate what placed us in our current position. The biggest trap for debt is the thinking “it’s only”. We think, it is only $20 per month or it is only $150 per month. We tend to approach debt in a segmented fashion, looking at each individual component and not the entire picture.

This segmented approach to money hinders us from seeing the true picture of our financial situation. We tend to separate debt by type. We rationalize some debt as good and other debt as bad. For instance, most people see a mortgage as good debt while looking at credit cards as bad debt. Both, however, are debt that needs to be eliminated and paid.

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” Rom 13:8

As you review your financial picture, I would like you to focus on some specific areas and ask yourself some hard questions. The answers to these questions will help reveal your thoughts and beliefs about debt.

1. Has debt ever hindered your relationship with God?
2. What percentage of my net pay goes to pay debt?
3. How much interest am I paying each month to the bank?
4. Do I believe that I am doing OK because I can manage my monthly payments?
5. If I did not have debt, what would I do with the money?

I wish I could give you a magic formula for debt elimination. There is none. It took time to get into debt and will take time to get out. Once someone is focused though, debt freedom is within their grasp and most people are surprised at how quickly they can accomplish it. However, debt was created by habits and to get and stay debt free means that these habits must change.

The Golden Key

Most families believe there is a secret to obtaining financial soundness. As a financial coach, I hear stories of how people would have the best of intentions, but their situation never seems to change. They resign themselves to a belief that as long as they can pay their bills and have a little left over at the end of the month, they are doing fine. Sure they would like to do better and handle their finances better, but for some reason, they can never really find that golden key to unlock the pathway to financial stewardship. The challenge is not in their financial situation, but their beliefs.

What you believe has a direct impact on your financial life. Your beliefs are determined by your focus and how you see the world around you. Beliefs are not just a mental note of how something is supposed to be, but a deeper value system that we hold. For instance, we all know intellectually, that we are to eat healthy and exercise. Even though most people know what needs done, few do it. I believe the reason is their belief in how they see themselves and their situation.

What you focus on has a tendency to grow. This is true for almost anything in life, but is especially true in finances. We tend to look at the problems that we face and invest a lot of emotional energy towards them. We choose to invest our time and energy in the negative situations instead of the positive goals. You will never achieve financial stewardship and financial soundness by only focusing on the problems. The Bible puts it best when Paul says,

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phil 4:8

Your current financial situation was caused by the choices that you made in the past. So in a sense, your current financial situation is a reflection of your past choices. Your choices were determined by what you believe and your beliefs were set by how you see the world around you. This is great news. By changing the focus, you change your future.

Let me give you an example that may help illustrate my point. If debt is an issue for you, get some help putting together a game plan to get out of debt. Follow the game plan, but invest your energy in what you will do when you have all of the money that you were spending on debt. Focus on where you want to go and not where you find yourself currently.

Many people struggle with this because it tends to go against what they believe a Christian should do. There is nothing wrong with having some goals in life as long as it passes the test. Are your goals and ambitions true, noble, right, pure, admirable or praiseworthy? Then focus on them and spend your energy thinking about them.

Most people think about their struggles and situations and cannot understand why those situations never change. Throughout these emails, my primary goal is to help families retake charge of their financial lives by becoming the steward that God intended. We will work on clearing the obstacles that stand in your way, while we help adjust some of the common beliefs that deal with money.