Beating Debt and Building Wealth
A Financial Guide for Christians
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
If you’ve ever taken kids shopping you know they usually see lots of things that they "want" but you seldom hear the word "want" as they beg, and plead. More often it’s "I NEED I NEED." Even as adults, some of us have trouble distinguishing between life’s needs and wants. With easy access to credit we often spend more than we can afford. So we end up borrowing, and then repaying the money with interest. Whether we take out a loan or charge expenses on a credit card, borrowing ties up future money and costs us the compound interest we might have earned if we had invested the money instead. Consider This: According to
Now consider what might have happened if that $1,520 was invested each year in your company’s tax-deferred retirement savings plan. Over a 20-year period, at an 8% average annual rate of return, your investment has the potential to grow to $69,558.19. With a company match, your nest egg could potentially be even greater. Regaining control of your financial situation takes hard work, perseverance, planning and most of all, self-discipline but in the end it allows you to move toward a more secure financial future. When we continue to use debt to finance our wants and desires we are assuming that God is going to continue to bless us, but in reality we don’t know if we will continue to be blessed "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth"– Proverbs 27:1. We can and will not ever know when the test will come. In today’s economy you are subject to get laid-off, what would that do to your financial situation? The use of debt is slowly destroying lives; last year over 850,000 individuals filed bankruptcy. Families are spending more and more of their personal income on debt reduction. In fact, a recent study revealed that consumers spend one out of every five dollars in take-home pay on personal debts, not including home mortgages. 56 percent of all divorces are a result of financial tension in the home. Now day’s marriage vows should be "till DEBT do us part." It may or may not surprise you to learn how much the Bible says about money and finances. In fact, there are more than 2,300 bible verses on money and how we should us it in our lives. Jesus Christ himself said more about money than any other subject.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Beating Debt & Building Wealth
After reading this guide you learn a linear mathematical approach to eliminating all your debts and explore the Biblical teachings on prosperous living. This guide will also provide the reader with a biblically based philosophy of money management. You will learn how to get out and stay out of debt, develop and live within a budget and how to be a financial blessing to the Kingdom of God
Being in debt most of his adult life, Lonnie and his wife realized that this was not God’s plan for their finances. After much prayer and seeking God in their finances, it became clear that being in debt was not the answer. As a result of his new found freedom and financial peace Lonnie co-founded Alliance Financial Ministries, Inc. The goal of this ministry is to help individuals understand a biblically based philosophy of money management.
About the Author
Lonnie R. Mathews is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and shortly after high school Lonnie joined the United States Marine Corps. He successfully served eight years in the Corps, and is a veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Lonnie was honorably discharged on December 2, 1992, and enrolled at the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Investment management. Lonnie is married to Carrie with a daughter Corrie and currently resides in Pearland, Texas. Lonnie and Carrie are members of New Hope Baptist Church in Clute, Texas. Prior to founding Alliance Financial Ministries, Inc, Lonnie worked in several areas of the financial services industry. Working as an analyst in the corporate loans division of Wachovia Bank of Georgia, he gained valuable experience in banking and learned how banks use cash. Lonnie’s main function was to analyze major corporations who wished to borrow several million dollars from the bank. Not satisfied with this position, Lonnie relocated to the Houston area in 1997 where he began his career in the financial services industry. Lonnie worked for three years with a major New York stock exchange brokerage firm as a financial planner before becoming an independent agent. Being in debt most of his adult life, Lonnie and his wife realized that this was not God’s plan for their finances. After much prayer and seeking God in their finances, it became clear that being in debt was not the answer. As a result of his new found freedom and financial peace Lonnie Co-founded Alliance Financial Ministries, Inc. The goal of this ministry is to help individuals understand a biblically based philosophy of money management. Lonnie currently conducts financial seminars and teaches classes at churches nationally. Lonnie has been a featured columnist in the La Vida News a southwest Houston newspaper and has taught investment classes at the Houston Community College Southwest campus. Lonnie is currently an accounting instructor at Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Texas. Alliance Financial Ministries hosts regular financial seminars nationally and Lonnie is a regular guest speaker for different church groups, universities, and professional organizations. Lonnie has recently published the booklet "A Practical Guide to a Comfortable Retirement." Lonnie is licensed as a general Securities Representative (Series 7), Uniform Securities Representative (Series 63). He also holds both Variable Insurance and Group I (Life, Accident, and Health) Insurance licenses. Lonnie is currently studying to become a Certified Financial Counselor through Iowa State University.