Get the spiritual and financial guidance you've been looking for and get to The Heart of Financial Matters with the guidance of a devoted Christian with more than forty years of experience as a banking executive. Author Eddie Hedges challenges you to look deep within yourself to see where your heart lies in your relationship with God. As a banker, he found that customers experienced financial problems when they violated money management principles that are taught in the Bible. By studying God's teachings in your life, you can find ways to improve your marriage through your handling of money; set and reach realistic financial goals; teach your children about how to save money; deal with financial adversity and come out a winner. God is always with us, but it's up to us to make smart financial decisions that help ourselves and others. By recognizing your financial problems and finding solutions, you'll make money your servant instead of your master.

The Heart of Financial Matters

Seeking a Servant's HeartBy Eddie Hedges

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Eddie Hedges
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-5106-9

Contents

1. Introduction....................................................32. Accepting Financial Responsibility..............................133. A Prayerful Heart...............................................214. The Heart of a Faithful Servant.................................295. He That Rules His Spirit........................................356. Having a Servant's Heart........................................417. You Can Take It with You........................................488. A Lesson from the Ant...........................................579. The Heart of Financial Growth and Stability.....................6210. Compounding Your Financial Growth...............................6811. Your Servant or Your Master?....................................7512. Wisdom in Listening.............................................8113. Deliver Yourself from the Hunter................................8414. The Hand of the Diligent Makes Rich.............................8915. How to Balance Your Statement...................................9316. Training the Heart of a Child...................................9417. Preparing for the Financial Journey.............................10118. The Heart of Adversity..........................................10919. Your Heart Is Not for Sale......................................12120. The Heart of a Winner...........................................13021. He Wants Your Heart.............................................13422. Appendix A......................................................13923. Appendix B......................................................14124. Appendix C......................................................14225. Appendix D......................................................14326. Appendix E......................................................14527. Acknowledgments.................................................147

Chapter One

Accepting Financial Responsibility

In an article in the May 2011 AARP Magazine ("Fix the Class Act, Don't Kill It," by Howard Gleckman), I read that of every ten people over the age of sixty-five, only three will be able to retire financially independent. I do not know if this is true, but this is what the article stated, so let us assume it is reasonably accurate. According to the article, the other seven will depend on relatives, charity, government assistance, or will need to continue working. This indicates a severe problem in our society. Only 30 percent have enough education, discipline, and financial planning to be able to retire with the financial freedom to do what they choose. We live in a financially sick society. It is as though a contagious disease is running rampant throughout the country, causing sickness to people of all ages.

Do you want to be one of the 30 percent that retire financially secure? You can have financial success or failure. You have the ability to control which it will be. If you want financial independence, study the principles I discuss and apply them until they become a part of your daily life.

It has been said that habits make you what you are or what you will become. By developing good financial habits, you can be in the 30 percent that can retire without financial problems.

If you are reading this book to get rich quick, you are wasting your time. This is a study based on sound biblical financial principles to help you keep the money you have, invest it wisely, and provide for a safe, secure, financial future. It is for everyone—wage earners, professionals, young people (especially young married couples), those who are having trouble making ends meet, and people without proper financial training or a background in money management.

Most people spend everything they make, be it $10,000 or $100,000. These are the people who will end up in the 70 percent who do not have financial security. In my opinion, it is not the amount of money that you make, but what you do with your money that is of more importance. "Expenses rise to meet income." Exactly what does that mean? If a person increases his income, he will most likely increase his standard of living accordingly. He will buy a new car, purchase a bigger house, and go out to eat more often. In addition, he will have a more relaxed attitude toward controlling his cost of living.

There is an old saying that if you give a boy a fish, he will eat for a day; but if you teach him how to fish, he will eat for the rest of his life. Give a man one hundred dollars, and he will spend it. An example of this would be lottery winners. In many cases, the lottery winners spend, lose, waste, or give away their winnings. Within a few years, they are back to where they were, financially, before they won. They never learned the financial principles of making and keeping money. But teach people to earn, save, and invest money, and they will find financial security for the rest of their lives. These principles will help get your finances under control.

Is this going to be easy? No! In fact, it will be very, very difficult to stick to these principles; but you must if you want a secure, financial future. These principles will work for anyone, regardless of income, unless they are faced with a major financial emergency. Then, the emergency will be easier to handle.

Compare these principles to driving hurriedly on a busy, winding road in hilly country. The car in front of you is driving slower than the speed limit. The yellow lines in the road warn that passing at this point is illegal. Your foot may get heavy, and the desire to pass the other car is tempting, but what is the purpose of the yellow lines? Are they there to restrict you? Those yellow lines are there for your protection, safety, and welfare, and to warn of potential danger. These financial principles serve the same purpose as those yellow no-passing lines. They are for your financial protection, safety, and peace of mind, as well as a feeling of confidence and accomplishment. If they are misused, or not used at all, you will face financial danger and instability, just as you face personal danger if you cross the yellow line when driving.

Consider why God gave us the Ten Commandments. They are given as rules to live by for a good and acceptable life in His sight. If we obey God's commandments, we have harmony, peace, and happiness. God's commandments are not given to restrict our life—but to enhance it. The same is true of these financial principles. They are not to restrict our life financially, but to enhance it and eliminate financial problems. They are for our financial protection, safety, welfare, and to warn of potential financial danger—just as the yellow lines when we are driving.

What Does the Bible Say about Money?

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:9-10 NIV).

Please grasp this important point. If you covet and pursue money, you will have many sorrows and disappointments (ruin and destruction).

Does this state that money is evil? That is not what the Scripture says. Money is neutral. What people do with money—and...