Question: I’m a widow in my late fifties. When my children were at home I received Social Security benefits, but now they’re all adults and the Social Security benefits have ceased. Presently I’m living off the proceeds of my husband’s life insurance, which is barely enough to get by. When i retire, can I qualify for Social Security, even though I have personally never worked and never paid into the system? Response: According to the Social Security Department, you can qualify under your husband’s Social Security death benefits. But the amount you will draw is less that he would have been able to draw at retirement. I recommend that you contact your local Social Security Administration Department and verify the benefits you will qualify for. Be sure to apply by age 59 because it may take from nine to twelve months to get qualified.
Monthly Archives: January 2017
Are Credit Cards Evil?
Question: We’re a young married couple. We periodically get unsolicited credit cards in the mail. I would like to have and use some, but my husband thinks that they’re evil and that a Christian should never use them. I find it hard even to cash a check without a credit card and almost impossible to rent a car. Is it wrong to have credit cards? Response: Credit cards are not evil, and credit cards are not “the” problem! The problem is the misuse of credit cards. For example, many children see their parents use credit cards to buy clothes, gas, food, and even toys. But very few parents bring their children in when they write the checks and say, “Kids, remember when we charged all that stuff? Now we have to pay for it.” I find that while credit cards are not essential, they can be a great convenience. Let me share with you some guidelines that will help you to properly manage your cards. As a husband and wife, together, you should make some very simple vows: (1) Never use your credit cards to buy anything that is not in your budget for the month. So first, you should have a budget. (2) Pay your credit cards of every month with no exceptions. (3) The first month you’re not able to pay off your cards completely, quit using them until they are paid off in full. The second month you’re not able to pay off your cards in full, destroy them. If you follow these rules you’ll never have a problem with credit cards. (Thank you Larry Burkett!)
Money & Children: Allowances
Question: Should I give my child an allowance? Response: Proverbs 3:12 says, “…because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” I’ve found it’s not wise to teach your children to expect allowances. A better way is to teach them to work and earn money. The term “allowance” implies something is given rather than earned. If God doesn’t provide us with an allowance, and he doesn’t, then we probably shouldn’t provide allowances to our children. However, if you have a child who demonstrates discipline in handling money and you want to give him or her a gift from time to time, that seems to be to be just fine. The key is to be certain that you’re establishing long-term values in your children that will guide them when they are adults.
Affluence
Attitudes: Question: “My wife and I have serious concerns about affluence in the United States. Is it scriptural for Christians to maintain this level of affluence, or should we drastically change our life-styles so we can feed the world’s hungry?” Response: God’s Word contains an abundance of references about concern for the poor (Ps 82:1-4, Isaiah 1:17; Matthew 25:34-40, James 1:27, and 1 John 3:17-18—just to mention a few. No doubt our affluence blinds us to the real needs of other people. Many Christians’ biggest concern is how to reduce their tax burden, not how to put bread on the table. But to put all this in balance, God’s Word does not prohibit a Christian from having a surplus. In fact, I believe that God places Christians at every level of society, from the poorest to the most affluent, so we can witness to those around us. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” What are the desires of our hearts? For those who seek to serve God, it’s not material indulgence. God promises His people an “abundance” if they care about others’ needs. “It is well with the man who is gracious and lends” (Ps 112:5). God has no difficulty with our affluence, provided that it’s used to help others and glorify Him.
Modern Mom
Husbands and wives: Question: I’m a Christian wife and mom who works outside the home. I enjoy my job, and I enjoy my home. But many friends have hinted that I’m sinning because I’m not home full-time. Does the Bible teach that wives should not work outside the home? Response: I don’t find where the Bible teaches that a wife cannot work outside the home, but I do believe the Bible helps us establish some priorities. For example, if a wife is working because a family “needs” the money, it’s a dangerous motive. I’ve found that until a couple learns to get along on what the husband makes, there will never be enough. Second, if a wife is working to fulfill her ego, this is also a dangerous and destructive motive and will often lead to divided loyalties between the job and home. Recall that Proverbs 31 describes the “excellent” wife. Verses 16 and 24 describe her business ventures as well as her household duties. She is described as a working wife and mom who is able to keep her priorities in balance. It’s this “balance” that helps determine whether or not a woman should work outside the home. Paul states in Titus 2:5 that women should be workers at home, subject to their own husbands. Since women are described elsewhere in Scripture as holding down job s outside the home, I don’t believe Paul is giving new counsel. He is simply stating that women should not neglect their family responsibilities by absorbing themselves in outside work, or even church activities. Here are some priorities for a working wife to prayerfully consider: (1) Gain her husband’s approval (Eph. 5:22). (This doesn’t mean that she nags him until he agrees.) (2) Her children are well cared for (Prov. 31:27). (Some children are ready for outside training at six, some at sixty.) (3) She maintains her home well (Prov. 31:15). (4) she can balance dual authority at home an on the job (James 1:8—not double-minded).