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Our Core Beliefs
Principles of Financial
Success - The
principles of financial success are to:
- Realize that God owns everything. Determine to act on this belief, "seeking
first" with every financial decision.
Develop the habit of praying about financial decisions.
- Generously give to God, and to others in need, as a
first priority.
- Develop a surplus. Live on less than
earned.
- Be cautious and conservative regarding the use of debt.
- Set goals that are in line with God’s call on your life. Be cautious about allowing our culture to sway
you toward inappropriate goals. Deploy
(God’s) money toward long-term goals only as God directs.
Goals - Goals can help to focus certain
aspects of a steward’s life. The goals that a steward establishes should be
based on God’s priorities instead of self-centered priorities. Some goals
can become more effective planning tools when they can be measured in terms of
amount and time period. The attainment of a goal must never be an end in
itself. The establishment of a goal, and the continued pursuit of
that goal, must reflect our ongoing pursuit of Christ.
Lifestyle - The Bible does not specifically
define an "appropriate lifestyle." Financial pressure is relieved by
spending less than one makes – not based on how much one makes. Financial
contentment results from the continued adjustment of our deployment of God’s
resources to progressively answer God’s call in our lives. Since no one
believes they live "high on the hog," spending and lifestyle
decisions should be prayerfully determined, not based on discretionary income.
Christians must manage their spending in light of the other Godly things
that can be accomplished with that money.
Biblical Worldview - My worldview is my ultimate core
belief and, as a Christian, I believe in a personal creator who created me to
be in relationship with others for all eternity. It is an empowered others-centered
life that requires my radical obedience to our Lord and Savior. I know
that God always has my best interests at heart and ultimately it is all about
God and not me. Everything I do while living on earth has an eternal
consequence.
Charitable Giving - Charitable giving should be an
integral part of any maturing Christian’s life. Giving is commanded in
scripture for the benefit of both the recipient and the giver. Giving
generously - and increasingly - helps us to keep a proper perspective about money.
Tithing (giving 10%) is a good starting goal in our giving but should not serve
as an upper goal. Giving should be done regularly. Giving should be
done cheerfully with the realization that we are participating with God in the
administration of His grace (see 1Peter 4:10).
Borrowing and Debt - Borrowing is not a sin but it may
deny God an opportunity to work and always presumes upon the future.
Consumptive borrowing will sentence one to a reduced lifestyle in the future
and will limit current financial flexibility as well as future financial
freedom. Borrowing may be symptomatic of spiritual issues. A
husband and wife should be in complete harmony with borrowing decisions.
Biblically, debt is the inability to repay amounts borrowed on a timely
basis. One of the keys to financial freedom is being totally out of debt.
Income Taxes - In Scripture, taxes are commanded
to be paid. They should rarely be a source of cash-flow problems as they
can almost always be adequately planned for. Tax planning should rarely
be the most important objective with most financial decisions. In many ways income taxes are an indicator of
God's blessings.
Life Insurance - For those with (financial)
dependents, life insurance may play a vital part in one’s financial plan. Life insurance planning (as well as decisions
regarding other types of insurance) should not be driven by a fear of the
future. Instead, they should be made as
a steward tending to the Master’s business.
Having appropriate insurance is a part of one’s responsibility to family
and does not demonstrate a lack of faith in God.
Teaching Children
About Money -
It is by faith with commitment that a parent trains his children in the
principles and skills of money management. Both money and wisdom can be
left to children but wealth left without wisdom can have dire circumstances on
future generations. Training children to manage money involves not only
the skill of money management but also the Biblical truths and principles underlying
all stewardship planning and decision making.
Work and Retirement - God created man to work his
entire lifetime. Work is normative, not a result of the fall, and should
be evidenced by a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment. Leisure is a part
of God's plan but not the objective of His plan. Work should always be
accompanied by a sense of calling.
Planning for Education Expenses – In the Old Testament, leaving an
inheritance of livestock and land provided a way for the heirs to earn their
own living. In today’s American society,
a proper education may serve the same purpose.
It is proper for parents or grandparents to help provide for education
expenses. This should be done to help
the child develop their God-given talents, skills, and passions. Care should be taken to minimize the
stereotypes that society provides in this area.
Determining how much to save ahead for education, or to pay
out-of-pocket at the time of need, should be determined prayerfully. Note: it is often beneficial to have the child
pay some of their own higher education expenses.
Investments - Investments can be a tool one uses
to accomplish God-given goals. They should not be an end in and of
themselves. It is Biblical to have a surplus. One accumulates
excess by spending and giving less than one earns over a long period of time.
When investing with any degree of risk, investments should be
diversified. We should invest money in line with Biblical principles,
avoiding investments into areas contrary to Biblical teaching.
Wealth Transfer - The transfer of one’s accumulated
assets after death may be the single most significant stewardship decision
(dollar-wise) that one will make. The steward must consider God’s
priorities and leave bequests to charity, individuals, trusts, etc as those
priorities direct. For some, wealth transfer can begin during life.
These lifetime transfers should be used to observe and teach and never used to
buy favor or to manipulate. In leaving money to married individuals, the
steward should consider the couple as "one" and not favor a child
over a son/daughter-in-law. The probable use of the assets in the hands
of the heir must be considered before bequests are planned.
Bankruptcy - The Bible clearly states in Psalm
37:21 that a believer should repay whatever he owes. As a result,
bankruptcy with the aim of not repaying debts is not a legitimate alternative
for a Christian. Bankruptcy may be used in certain situations to
effectively provide equitable treatment for all personal creditors.
Building Net Worth - One cannot accumulate enough to
feel financially secure, significant, or successful. However, everyone
can answer the question as to “how much is enough”? It will differ for
every family and is an amount that should be determined prayerfully and
periodically. As our circumstances
change, the “how much is enough” question should be revisited. Net worth is always and only a measurement of
God's provision and never a measurement of significance or success.
Dan Hardt Financial Services
“Where Your
Life and Your Money Work Together”
Securities Offered through G.A. Repple & Company, A Registered Broker/Dealer and Investment Advisor, Member NASD & SIPC,