Posted on 04/28/2015 3:32:12 PM PDT by Kaslin
Dave Says: God Is Whispering to You
Dear Dave,
I was recently notified that I am one of the beneficiaries of a class action lawsuit against a previous employer. The amount I can receive is just $200, but I don’t feel like this past employer wronged me in any way. Everyone around me is urging me to take the money, but I feel kind of weird about accepting anything under the circumstances. What do you think I should do?
Randy
Dear Randy,
I don’t know all the details of the episode you’re talking about, or what happened with this particular company. But I don’t agree with the idea that we’re supposed to beat up anyone we can, or milk everything we can get out of every company or human being we come across. Some people are just incredibly opportunistic. They live like it’s anarchy, and they have no sense of fairness or decorum. But you do.
The people who are telling you to take the cash don’t think the way you do. They’re the kind who would take any money, no matter the reason. But you sound like the kind of person who wouldn’t do that, so you shouldn’t be taking advice from those people.
I think your heart has already told you what to do, Randy. God is whispering in your ear. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t take it. If it were $100,000, I wouldn’t take it. You were not wronged, and that money is for someone who was wronged.
You have a sense of dignity and pride about yourself and your behavior, and I respect that. My advice is to listen to your heart.
—Dave
Mortgage or save?
Dear Dave,
I just became debt-free, and I live in an apartment. I’m also 28 and single, and I make about $75,000 a year. Do you think I should get a mortgage and go back into debt, or save up and pay cash for a house? I’d like to keep the price of a new home around $200,000, and I think I can save about $15,000 a year.
Kevin
Dear Kevin,
Congratulations on becoming debt-free! It feels awesome, doesn’t it?
When it comes to saving, how about rounding that figure up to $20,000 a year? Going that route, you’re only 10 years away from a nice, new paid-for home, and you’re still debt-free. That’s one way to do it.
I don’t borrow money, Kevin. And I don’t tell people to do things I won’t do. The one exception to that is I don’t yell at people for taking out a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage, where the payments are no more than 25 percent of your monthly take home pay. You could save like crazy for a couple of years and put down a really strong down payment on a home in the price range you’re talking about. Then, you could pay off that house in 15 years max — or even sooner.
I don’t have a big problem with it either way. But wouldn’t it be great to be only 38 years old and still be completely debt-free?
—Dave
In the circumstances of being a beneficiary of a ‘Class Action’ law suit, the money has already been paid out by the ‘guilty’ into a trustee account. There is no way to realistically return the money to the original party so then the decision becomes what to do with the money. My inclination would be to donate the money to a charity of your choice and just go on with life.
The Tragedy of the Commons?
“Dave’s not here.”
I preferred The Firesign Theater :)
Pastor Flash’s Hour of Reckoning?
Dave is The Man when it comes to Christian based, common sense financial questions and decisions.
Dave is full of common sense advice however and it is a major however I can not listen to him. He is constantly mocking God’s word.
They even play it sometimes in his run up introduction.
He out right mocks one of the Christians greatest hopes that we have, that is Romans 8:28.
God is not whispering in anyones ear. We have everything in His Word.
Blasphemy.
Actually, I was thinking of the Further Adventures of Nick Danger, for no particular reason.
We’re all bozos on this bus FRiend.
Please explain how Dave's ministry is blasphemy based on this Bible verse.
First let me say that is the worst I have ever seen in an attempt to summarize a verse. I hope you don’t substitute that as a reliable “translation”. There are many good translations but whatever that was you referenced is terrible.
I recommend you get a NASB, NKJV, ESV, KJV, or some other solid translation.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
In his run up he says something along the lines of Romans 8:28 doesn’t put food on the table when your broke and kind of chuckles while saying it. His inference is you need good advice or help rather than relying on God to use your trails for His Glory and your greater good. Dave borders on the edge of a prosperity gospel, not to the extreme of many but a prosperity gospel non the less.
You may do everything the best you can according to the Scriptures and still suffer hardship but you can trust God to use it for His Glory even if you can’t explain how.
Ever read the book of Job?
Have you ever read Foxes Book of Martyrs?
I attended the funeral of a 26 year old man, a friend of mines son. As I was talking to the young mans widow she held there 2 month old baby with the 2 year old son on one side and her 3 year old son on the other. Here she is before me 3 small children widowed. What can I say to her?
I could only quote Romans 8:28 and Deuteronomy 29:29. According to Dave that wouldn’t help her.
Dave Ramsey has good advice about finances but you better get your Theology and your Doctrine from a better source.
In his run up he says something along the lines of Romans 8:28 doesn’t put food on the table when your broke and kind of chuckles while saying it. His inference is you need good advice or help rather than relying on God to use your trails for His Glory and your greater good. Dave borders on the edge of a prosperity gospel, not to the extreme of many but a prosperity gospel non the less.
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Your thinking this way reminds me of the story of the guy whose house is in danger of being flooded. The police come by in a big truck and offer to take him to safety. He says he doesn’t need their help, and that the Lord will provide and take care of him. So they leave.
Later, he is now trapped on the roof of his house and the fire department comes by in a boat and offers to take him to safety. He says he doesn’t need their help, and that the Lord will provide and take care of him. So they leave.
Now he’s trapped on the very peak of his roof and a helicopter comes by and offers to take him to safety. He says he doesn’t need their help, and that the Lord will provide and take care of him. So they leave.
And a few minutes later the flood waters rise over his house and he drowns.
Now standing before the Lord, he says, “Lord, I prayed to you for help and you let me drown. Why didn’t you save me?”
And the Lord says, “I sent a truck, a boat, and a helicopter. What more did you want?”
That sure sounds like what you’re saying here. That you don’t have to work hard and save your money, but just pray to the Lord and he’ll take care of everything.
I know that despite what most people think, “God helps those who help themselves.” is not in the Bible, but it sure sounds like a pretty good way to live your life, and that’s what Dave Ramsey is saying.
Still making a donation under false pretenses if you weren't injured in a way that would make you morally eligible for the cash. Kind of like how the government robs us because it can and then donates to the "charities" of leech-hood.
I think James 2:15-16 has some good advice:
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
God expects His people to do His will, including providing for their families and the poor. Dave doesn’t pretend to be a preacher, but I have not heard him say anything like your vague accusation.
Nothing in my post “sounds like” I “suggested” anything. I simply stated Dave quotes Romans 8:28 and laughs which is mocking Gods word anyway you cut it.
Of course God uses means such as “big trucks, police, fire departments, boats, helicopters” etc.
What I am pointing out is while Dave certainly has some good financial advice his handling of Gods word is terrible. I suggest you pay close attention to him and see for yourself. God is still zealous for His word regardless of what the culture would have you believe.
My accusation is not vague I gave a direct example.
I did not suggest ignoring the needs of others, I have no idea where you would get that from my post.
Dave is not careful with the Word of God as anyone who claims to be a Christian should be.
I suggest that he should be much more reverent when quoting Scripture.
He doesn’t pretend to be a preacher? Will he not come to your church and take over your services for a time if you let him? If not him will he send someone in his place? Sounds like a preacher to me.
I have no problem with him laughing and joking around with callers, him making fun of bill collectors, etc. he sounds like a fun guy to be around on a personal level. He will be brutally honest if the caller needs that. I appreciate all those things and give him praise for that. He needs to be more careful with Gods Word.
We have our differences. Thanks for your thoughts.
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