Beginning Again

We begin our journey toward financial security and peace of mind by making it a priority to pay off those credit cards, car loans, and other short-term debts. That's right, the first fitness test you need to pass is the "debt" test. Webster's says that debt is anything you're "bound to pay or perform; the state of owing something." Using that definition, very few Americans are free of debt.

Why place an emphasis on getting debt-free as the first step toward a sound investing strategy? Because it's unwise to take on the risks that come with investing unless you have staying power. That means you don't want to be in a position where circumstances unrelated to your investment strategy force you to sell your holdings and use the money elsewhere, such as for interest and debt payments. Also, for Christians, debts are moral as well as legal obligations and they must be honorably met no matter the circumstances.

I once heard a sermon by a noted pastor in which he read a poem called "The Land of Beginning Again." The pastor then presented the claims of Christ, explaining that He is King in the Land of Beginning Again. Each of us has experienced his share of errors, failures, and missed opportunities. We all have things that we would do differently if given a second chance. What wonderful news to know that, in Christ, the slate is wiped clean and we do have the opportunity of beginning again.

In a similar fashion, many who have become weighed down by debt wish they could get free. They have learned that the satisfaction that comes with spending is brief indeed compared to the pressure of making monthly payments which often go on for years. For some, it seems hopeless. You may sometimes feel this way yourself.

If so, take heart! You can make great strides this year. It will require planning, discipline, sacrifice, and singleness of purpose, but there are some excellent books on the market that can help:

• Dave Ramsey has made a big splash helping listeners to his radio program get debt-free. Two of his books worth a look are The Total Money Makeover and The Financial Peace Planner.

• Mary Hunt, through her newsletter and books, has become the queen of frugal living. Her advice is practical and witty. That's why we use her articles regularly in SMI. Check out Mary Hunt's Debt-Proof Living and The Debt-Proof Living Money Makeover.

• Debt-Free Living by Larry Burkett and Taming the Money Monster by Ron Blue are two classics that offer a scriptural way back from financial crisis.

A friend of mine likes to say that the most powerful force in the universe (humanly speaking, of course) is singleness of purpose. Individuals or groups, no matter how determined, disciplined, or talented, will never realize their potential for growth and accomplishment without singleness of purpose. Their time, money, and energies must be focused on common goals. One thing that successful people seem to have in common is an emphasis — perhaps that's putting it too lightly, make that an obsession — concerning setting goals.

Without singleness of purpose and specific goals, we can become like the person described in Scripture as double-minded. "That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does" (James 1:7-8). So let me encourage you to engage in a meaningful goal-setting exercise as you work to get debt-free. Here are some suggestions for effective goal-setting in any area of life; adapt them to your financial situation.

• Set goals that are consistent with God's Word. Many successful people have accomplished much, yet remain unhappy. Having singleness of purpose toward the wrong goals only leads to wrong results. Examine your motivations, as well as your actions, in the light of God's wisdom.

• Ask God for His guidance. This is not the same as having scripturally sound goals. This has more to do with having the wisdom needed to set the right personal priorities. God promises to guide us if we're willing to submit to Him. It's not: "Show me Your will, Lord, so I can decide if I'm willing." Rather, it's: "Before You even reveal Your will to me, Lord, the answer is yes."

• If married, set your goals together. If two have become "one flesh," how critical that they have a singleness of purpose in their commitment toward common goals. Few areas will so quickly affect a couple's relationship as a financial plan that limits their spending freedom because it brings mutually conflicting goals into the open. If you can't reach a meeting of the minds on what your priorities should be, perhaps the marriage relationship itself needs some work.

• Put your goals in writing, signing your name and date. This helps cement in your thinking that you really have made a firm commitment of your will to achieving your goals. It is also helpful to have your goals posted where you will see them daily as additional motivation to stay the course when the inevitable temptations to compromise arise.

Published since 1990, Sound Mind Investing is America's best-selling financial newsletter written from a biblical perspective.