Baby Step Seven
Begin to build your wealth, primarily with mutual funds and real estate.
FPU has so much more than just the few things I have shared from the baby steps. Things on how to deal with collections, to understanding what your financial broker and insurance companies are actually saying. He has an awesome section on The Great Misunderstanding, the last lesson in the FPU class, this is the most crucial part of FPU in my opinion.
PLEASE PLEASE take an FPU class, even if you have done “everything” correct (yeah right) in your financial life, it is well worth it! I have personally seen marriages strengthened by going through this class as well. It is an amazing journey!
Posted in financial
April 10th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I was reading a comparison on three or four different Christian financial planning curriculum. It sounded like it was saying that Dave Ramsey is ok with not tithing a whole 10% while getting rid of debt. Do you know if that is right? Thanks, Sallie
April 10th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
One thing that people have to realize is that even though DR is a strong christian and does incorporate christian principles, FPU is not necessarily a “christian” program. His faith is incorporated throughout the program, however it is the very last lesson, The Great Misunderstanding, where he really deals with tithing.
This program is used somewhat as an evangelistic tool, a place to begin the discussion.
People have to remember that there are a large number of people who are not church going folks who take this class, often in a church setting.
Believe me, if I was not a person of faith and taking this class and someone told me I HAD to tithe, I would be out of there.
When Dave talks about giving, he makes reference that all people need to find something, and Christians should be their local church, to give something to.
In another example, while he says it isn’t a deal breaker, he does say that he tithes on gross, not net, cause he wants to make sure he pleases his Father. He gives not because God needs his money but because God is a giver and it makes us more Christ-like to give.
One of the things I like about this program is that he does make giving (charitable contributions & tithe) one of the first line items.
Finally, many will say it needs to be a matter of faith. Between them and God, not all denominations or faith groups agree on how much you should give either. What may be obvious to you may not be in other denominations, they may see you as legalistic or not giving enough if you say it must be 10%.
He has said before that if someone was experiencing extreme hardship that they need to get their house in order first and that if they felt they needed to do something they could contribute in different ways that weren’t financial.
However extreme hardship would be a roof over your head and rice & beans for the children. I know that this is a debatable thing, some will say to just tithe and God will provide, I will not personally go into this debate or even state where I stand on this to avoid a debate, since this is not the main point.
The main point being, this is a program not necessarily for the just the christian individual, it is Biblically based and he does deal with tithing, why we should give, how much should be our goal (10-15%) but also tells us we have to start where we are.
If you want something that says you tithe 10% NO MATTER WHAT and that is the basis of the program you will probably be disappointed and will throw the baby out with the bathwater. If you want a good program that teaches from a christian perspective but is also sensitive to the fact that you are trying to reach non-christians and open the door to Christ without hitting them over the head with YOU HAVE TO TITHE! then you will enjoy this program.
April 10th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
His usual answer when someone asks him what he thinks about tithing is that it does not matter what he says. If you are a Christian or someone of Jewish faith and are concerned with tithing — go to the Bible. Don’t listen to a radio host. He points out that he can’t find anywhere in the Bible where someone was told to stop the tithe because of hardship.
He also says that he and Sharon tithed all the way into bankruptcy court and all the way out.
But he also says — that it is not going to make God love you any more or any less. He is crazy about us. God wants us to tithe so that we can become givers. God is a giver. He gave his only son for us. So when we are cheerful givers – we are becoming more like Him.
~from Gretchen at http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com