Money Wise: Becoming Free

Note: I originally wrote this and other posts about our finances on a personal blog but have decided to share them here. The original publishing date is shown below.  

4/9/14

If you couldn't tell already, I love Dave Ramsey. I listen to his podcast nearly everyday, and I always feel more motivated to pay off our debt and be smarter with money. Almost every day on the show he features a "Debt Free Scream" which is when someone, usually a couple, comes on the show and tells Dave how and why they paid off well of their debt and then they countdown and scream "we're debt free!!!!" It's awesome and so inspiring.

One day a couple came on the show to do their scream and Dave started asking them what made them decide to do it. The wife started talking about how she had bought a new car, a really nice new car, and how even though they were paying off their other debt, she was hanging on to that car. She said that she realized after a while that she didn't like what that car said about her. It wasn't really the car itself, it was that she was keeping it because it made her feel good, it was a status symbol and she realized she bought it so that she could look good to others, not because she really needed it. She had made that car more important that anything else in her life. She realized that she didn't like how that idea reflected on her and she decided to sell the car and help her family get out of debt once and for all.

Of course we need things, and its even ok to just have some things that we like and want. But the point that really stuck with me was that it can be so easy to put our things before God. Suddenly a car or a house or some nice clothes or whatever become more important than Him. I think sometimes Christians feel like being rich is bad because then if means you are prideful. But, I don't think being rich is bad at all, its just how you feel about and what you do with those riches that makes the difference.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

Part of the reason getting out of debt is so important to me is because I don't want to be a slave to money. Some might argue that getting an education is an acceptable reason to go into debt, but even if it is, debt is debt and I just don't want it in my life anymore. When you have debt it can prevent you from doing all the things you would like to to do, including lots of good things like donating to charities, developing skills and talents, and improving your family situation and lifestyle. Money is a tool, you just have to learn how to use it properly.