I’m having a hard time thinking of how or even IF to write this entry. My heart is sad and actually feels heavy so I may just delete it after typing it all in ….. we’ll see if it shows up or not. I’ll be as surprised at the ending as you are.
Beginning with some background - John and I listened to and read Larry Burkette’s Money Matters and almost all of his books, including his suspense novels. I love the way he presents truths, very gently but firmly.He was our generation’s Christian financial guru.Today’s Christian financial guru is Dave Ramsey, who openly admits he learned from Larry Burkette and the two gurus’ messages mesh. It makes sense, both use truths and principles that are Biblically based.
BUT, (yes, my thoughts usually have a but in there), I have a hard time listening to Dave Ramsey’s broadcasts and cds. He’s very blunt, almost sharp and uses modern language that I’m not comfortable with - not ‘cuss’ words but slang. Yet one thing I highly respect him for is when his daughter over drew her checkbook he told her she LIED to the banker and would have to go down and apologize to him in person.
First of all, how many people would think of overdrawing a checkbook as lying? He explained that when she wrote a check she was saying she had that amount of money in the bank to cover it. Since it bounced, obviously she did not have that amount of money to cover the check she’d written and signed her name to. Another word for this is fraud. Another definition of fraud is lie.
Such a little thing. I mean, the first time, couldn’t he have overlooked it? After all, she apologized to him and said she’d never do it again. Such a little thing.
BUT he wanted her to know, to LIVE, the scripture, “he who is faithful in little will be faithful in much.” She went down and personally apologized to the banker. It is an experience that is imprinted on her heart and mind. Do you think she is likely to overdraw her checkbook ever again? Don’t you know she’s going to take seriously anything she signs her name to and take her name itself seriously?
Still, as much as I respect Dave Ramsey’s life experiences and teachings I’ve had trouble with his wording and his presentation of the truths, feeling he was speaking too strongly to some people. UNTIL this weekend. I guess I’m still flabbergasted cause I don’t know how to even explain.
Sunday after church someone told me he’s going to ‘just’ let his car go back. I wish I could say I’d heard remorse or sadness (not in losing the car either), or regret or disappointment in overextending himself but I didn’t. I hope I misread his words. Instead the words I heard were, “The beauty of it is if the car can’t be paid for, I can just let it go back.” His reason for a $600 month car payment that he found out he couldn’t afford is ‘the car is awesome.’ BUT truth is God is awesome; a car is transportation.
Now I know why Dave Ramsey speaks so bluntly, plainly and strongly to this generation. He has to cut through the cotton in their ears. With each lie the devil serves us he must give a ball of cotton to stuff in our ears.
I wish I could believe the contrast to this story represents the majority of American population- right now I doubt it, but I did recently meet them. They are a young couple, actually the same age as the man above, who have 3 children and are choosing to live responsibly. The wife came for a Homesteading Economics class last month. They’re successfully living the Dave Ramsey plan and progressing. The best thing that stood out to me is she understands and lives the truth that to make ends meet you can either make more money or SPEND LESS. They look for ways to cut cost. She left a well paying job to stay home with her 3 children, realizing she could cut out a lot of spending associated with working mothers. She uses FreeCycle and has planted most of her flower garden with free plants or starts. They’ve learned to respect and save on the little things, knowing the little savings add up to the big savings.
The biggest contrast is the mindset. Which translates to the heartset.
I’m at a loss as to the why of this post other than I need to write it out. If nothing else maybe consider it a modern day parable mimicking the parable of the stewards. I may personally email Dave Ramsey and tell him of my initial concern with his words but now to go for it because frankly, right now I feel less hope for the American economy than ever. I am so glad God doesn’t change and His truths will win out.