crown financial

Our small group has been doing a 10-week course called crown financial, which delves into how we can ensure properly utilizing our finances and learn God's financial principles in order to know Christ more intimately and freely serve Him.  I have to admit, at first, I was a bit skeptical, but it has been a true blessing so far - eye opening, offering a lot of new perspectives, and opening my mind to various possibilities.  It does require time and diligence (I feel like I'm kinda back in school :P) - we have homework throughout the week and a memory verse, but it has been rewarding thus far.

A few things this week's homework discusses is seeking wise counsel when it comes to financial decisions.  Here's a part where it talks about seeking your spouse's counsel that I liked:

"If you are married, the first person you need to consult is your spouse...Women tend to be gifted with a wonderfully sensitive and intuitive nature that is usually very accurate. Men tend to focus more objectively on the facts.  The husband and wife need each other to achieve the proper balance for a correct decision...Many times God communicates most clearly to the husband through his wife...If you are a husband, let me be blunt. Regardless of her business background or her financial aptitude, you must cultivate and seek your wife's counsel...There are additional benefits from seeking your spouse's counsel:

• It will preserve your relationship-The husband and wife should agree, because they both will experience the consequences of the decision.  Even if their choice proves to be disastrous, their relationship remains intact.  There are no grounds for an, 'I told you so' response
• It honors your spouse-Seeking your spouse's counsel will help enormously in the development of a healthy and proper self-esteem.  When a husband or wife seeks the other's advice, he or she actually is communicating, 'I love you. I respect you. I value your insight.'
• It prepares your spouse for the future-Consistently asking for advice also keeps your spouse informed of your true financial condition."

And of course, it talks most importantly about the counsel of God, which was a good reminder for our big upcoming future decisions - "In many situations, only God can reveal truth and proper direction.  Only He knows the future and the ultimate outcome of a decision." Gotta remember to just trust Him :)

Hope some of you were blessed/encouraged as I was :)