This was a request from a reader. How does a Christian receive credit debt counseling? Well I think we pray, simple as that. We can look at scripture but did they have credit cards back then? I do not remember reading as Jesus arrived to the village he used his Credit card to secure his room and meal. However I do think the principals for dealing with money have always existed in scripture. ?Neither shall you desire your neighbor's house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." This isn't just about being a good neighbor it's about not being envious of other's possessions and trying to live above your means. This was the original advice against keeping up with the Joneses.

Here is the scenario the average American has $8,500.00 of credit card debt, $10,000 in other debts and whatever your mortgage on the house is. Half of us only make our minimum payments and bankruptcies are on the rise every year and this includes Christians. What does a Christian pray for? Guidance.

I envision Christ?s message as one of discipline and the ability to follow what is right about oneself and God. In that setting being in debt, poor and suffering does not make sense. We need to pray for guidance on what to do with our spending habits. We make more money now, or have the potential to, than at anytime in history. There are more millionaires now than ever before. This is a good thing because with great wealth comes the opportunity to help more people.

It is not the inflow of money that is the challenge it is the outflow, we are convinced to spend too much. I compare this to the times so many people tried to convince Christ that his path was the wrong one. Did he listen? Luckily for us he did not. Do you and I listen to the people that would have us spend every dime we have and a little bit more? Yes, many of us do, and we suffer for it. We fall for the old illusion that what we need lies outside of ourselves.

Look at your financial picture and see what it says, if your church needed a measly $1000 to do good work, could you give it? If not it is time to pray to learn how to listen to your heart and not the advertising companies that want you to spend all your money. There is that small voice that says to you, ?you do not need this wide screen TV or the new stove. This is not what makes you a man or woman in Christ?s eyes.? Then there is a much larger voice, with lights and color telling you, ?Yes you do need the TV. You deserve it.? Again you must use your faith and inner strength and resist. This is the only way to get to financial independence. Think of the good you could choose to do with an abundance of money.

I feel from my studies that we are not meant to suffer, we are meant to love God, our fellow person and ourselves. Some people do not agree with me and think that anyway they can get a pile of money is the right way. They give wealth a bad name, you can help a lot more people with some carefully placed money and prayer than just prayer.

Get your spending habits under control, consolidate your debts, pay all consumer debts off to zero, get an emergency fund (enough money to live on for three months), then start a small investment fund. After that pay off the place you live in or go and buy a place to live in, then start looking for ways to use some money in Christ?s name. You will feel a lot better about yourself and you will be able to help a lot of other Christians in the same boat by your example. Good luck and may Christ be with you on this journey and all others.

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