Folks, I was at the men’s Bible study at church last night when one of the Elders starts capping on Dave Ramsey.
They were talking about pop psychology and pointing out that it is a substitute for Biblical council. After a few jabs at Joel Ostein, a fellow brought up Dave Ramsey. I was like, hold it. Dave is a man dedicated to helping folks get out of debt. I said that Dave Ramsey often quotes the proverb about the debtor being the slave of the lender. I said that Dave is carried on many secular radio stations and probably is one of the only Christian voices that some folks may ever listen to on a regular basis.
Furthermore, I mentioned that his teaching helped my wife and I pay off $125K in debt (not counting the mortgage) and I tried to bring up the fact that many young people, following the advice of their parents, are getting out of college with huge amounts of debt and that it affects their ability to get married and start a family.
This guy was not moved at all. His only comment was that he was happy to be living off of his Social Security and that was good enough for him.
Folks, if you need another example of the worthlessness of the Baby Boom generation, here you go. Please understand that this guy may be an Elder in the church that I am currently attending but for many decades he was a pastor leading a flock.
As you know, money is one of the leading causes of divorce in our country and he has no empathy for folks that followed the advice of his generation, who went to college because they were expected to, and are now hopelessly upside down financially for the rest of their lives. WTF? When he was in the pulpit, did he never help people in such circumstances? Probably not, but he should have. Isn’t that part of the job description, to apply God’s Word to every area of life; unless he thought God is silent on the subject.
Dave Ramsey tries to offer people in such circumstances a lifeline, and somehow Ramsey is the villain. Whiskey Tango!!
I guess this pastor guy is so cocksure the Jesus is coming any second that his parishioners don’t need to pay their bills, save for the future, or help their fellow man. Sorry dude, but that attitude is both arrogant and unbiblical.
The Bible has much to say about marriage. Arguably, the second most discussed topic is money and commerce. Here are a few verses to wet your whistle on the topic.
Debit is bad.
The rich ruleth over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7.
Debt is a sign of God’s judgment.
6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
Deuteronomy 15:6.
43 The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. 44 He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
Deuteronomy 28:43.
If you are in debt, get out ASAP.
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, If thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, When thou art come into the hand of thy friend; Go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Proverb 6:1–5.
Dave Ramsey is right that no one should be in debt.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8.
Furthermore, you should save up to give an inheritance to your children and grandchildren.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Proverbs 13:22.
Bottom line is that Dave Ramsey is in fact teaching God’s Word to people that otherwise would never hear it even if they go to church every Sunday.
Every area of life should be placed under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If your church doesn’t teach it, they are not preaching the whole counsel of God.
Get out debt, yet another reason that eschatology matters.