Baby Step 7 is our goal. Here we are completely Debt Free, have plenty in our EF, are saving that 15% for our golden years, have helped our children with their higher education, and have gotten rid of that mortgage. Now we can focus on building wealth and imitating God by becoming a radical giver! As His children, we are supposed to be God’s hands and feet, manifesting His Love towards others as much as we can. This is that “debt of love” I mentioned yesterday. (Ro 13:8) We are supposed to feed the hungry, help assure clean water for others, display hospitality to the stranger, clothes the naked, and encourage those in prison, both literal as well as figurative prisons…this is what Jesus encourages us to do as His people. See Mt 25:31-46, if you are not sure. And being completely Debt Free and in control of our finances with our working monthly budgets, will help us fulfill this aspiration.
Of course, we do not have to wait until this Baby Step to be givers. We should be doing this with each step along the way. This is why tithing is in first place in our working monthly budgets. But here, we get to be RADICAL givers, just like God!
Baby Step 7 is when money becomes really fun! We are more than taken care of, so now we can go take care of others, whatever that looks like for you. The center is not on MMI anymore, but on bringing God’s Kingdom down to earth by blessing those around us. This might be starting an education program to help others find new careers. It might be digging for wells in another country. Or it might mean secretly buying groceries for those you know are in need of a helping hand. Whatever way God moves you to be a giver, the blessing we receive will be so much greater than what we give. But first we need to get out of debt ourselves. As Mr Ramsey says, “Broke people cannot feed hungry children,” so let’s choose to lean of the Holy Spirit to use self-control and get our finances in order so that our funds will bless us and others, as well as glorify God!
<>< Peace, Diane
