More than a million copies in print This book is a perfect introduction to basic financial management. It is a complete money guide, offering practical suggestions for building a sound financial program. Following Larry Burkett's time-tested, biblically grounded advice, you will learn to plan for a secure future, get out or stay out of debt, and enjoy the freedom that comes from having your financial house in order. No one is immune to financial difficulties....I endorse this study for every committed Christian seeking God's wisdom...A must for every Christian who seeks a life of maximum fulfillment for our Lord. -Bill Bright, Campus Crusade for Christ With more than a million copies in print, this book is a perfect introduction to basic financial management. It is a complete money guide, offering practical suggestions for building a sound financial program. LARRY BURKETT (1939-2003) was a well-known authority on business and personal finance. He wrote more than seventy books, including non-fiction bestsellers like Family Financial Workbook, Debt-Free Living , and The World’s Easiest Guide to Finances . He also had a worldwide radio ministry. Larry founded Christian Financial Concepts and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crown Financial Ministries®. He is survived by his wife, Judy, four grown children and nine grandchildren. Your Finances in Changing Times By Larry Burkett Moody Publishers Copyright © 1975 Crown Financial Ministries All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8024-2548-5 Contents Foreword, Introduction, PART 1—THE ECONOMY, 1. How Economies Begin, 2. The United States Economy, 3. The Cashless System, PART 2—GOD'S PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE, 4. What Is Wealth?, 5. What Is Financial Bondage?, 6. God's Plan for Financial Freedom, 7. How to Plan a Financial Program, 8. Why Accumulate Wealth?, 9. How Much Is Enough?, 10. Sharing—God's Way, 11. Who Deserves Help?, 12. Financial Breathing, 13. Principles of Financial Decision Making, PART 3—USING GOD'S PLAN, 14. Practical Applications, CHAPTER 1 HOW ECONOMIES BEGIN Times are changing rapidly. Long established economic principles are dissolving, and new economic theories are born every day. The old "classical" economists are shaking their heads as they discover they no longer know what is happening. They realize the "traditional" techniques of restoring the economy no longer work. The ideas behind cost-push and price demand no longer hold true because we see that prices can rise while production falls off. Employment declines in one segment of the economy while wages rise in another. Why? What can we expect in the future? Attitudes and Actions Too often we react to events around us without understanding what is really happening and why. Overreaction is the norm, and in nearly any crisis the sequence of events is predictable—alarm, temporary panic, then apathy and disinterest. We tend to look at the future with anxiety and worry. God says that worry is a sin. What is worry? Taking on a responsibility that belongs to someone else. Unlike the majority of the population (who are not attuned to God's financial plan), we don't have to worry about circumstances. God has revealed in His Word what has happened and will happen. Parts of the Bible are history, parts are current events, and portions of it are prophecy. Through His Word God tells us what to expect in this economy and how to respond. I did say respond as opposed to react. When we respond to something, we bring in the information, check it against known values, and act accordingly. When we react to something, we bring it in, amplify whatever we receive, and put it back out. That is not what God wants for us. As we look at the economy today and where it may be headed tomorrow, we need to view it from God's perspective. The most important part of that perspective is the imminent return of Christ. When we hear that Christ may return during our time, we say that we believe it. But when God's plan is beginning to be unveiled to us, many refuse to accept it. Seemingly, we react as the early Christians did in Acts 12. Peter had just been imprisoned and was to be executed. The Christians who traveled with him had retreated to his house to pray. They stayed that entire evening, praying that God would release Peter unharmed. Then God performed a miracle and Peter walked out of prison a free man. He went to where the small group was praying and knocked on the gate. A young girl answered and swung open the gate. There stood Peter. Shocked at the sight of him, she rushed back to the group saying, "Come quickly, Peter stands at the gate!" And what did they do? They chided her. "No, Peter can't be here," they said. "We're praying for him in prison." Nevertheless, there he stood. They had prayed for a miracle. God had granted their prayer, and yet they didn't have enough faith to believe it. Sometimes we are the same way. We say that we believe