Book Review: The Money Answer Book by Dave Ramsey

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Your finances aren’t the problem… you are.

That might be how I’d sum up the message of Dave Ramsey’s newest book, The Money Answer Book.  Dave is a no-nonsense kind of advisor, and starts out with his key premise: “Personal finance is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge!”  This is the foundation of all the advice that will follow in this concise, easy-reading resource.  This book is designed to be a quick and easy guide to some not-so-easy questions.  Whereas his previous books laid out general concepts, this newest addition seeks to answer specific questions, with bite-sized, easy to digest answers.

This is my first Ramsey book, and I was consistently impressed with his values.  He’s up front about his belief that the Bible is his foundation for his financial principles.  Dave places a high value on family, stressing the need for spouses to work together and agree on financial issues and teaching good financial values to their kids.  Dave hammers home the idea that hard work is the solution to financial trouble.  He has no magic bullet, and he is a true realist.  Overall, he’s like that uncle or ball coach that’ll tell you the hard truth your parents tried to tell you, but you’ll listen to him!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bible in 90, Day 46: It’s not about the benjamins baby

Proverbs 7-20

*image courtesy of mompes at stock.xchng

What could be better than money?  I’m glad you asked!  Solomon had a lot to say about money.  This is not shocking when you consider that he was the wealthiest man alive in his day.  When we get to Ecclesiastes tomorrow, we’ll see that Solomon did some experimenting with the ability of money to buy happiness.  He found out, long before the Beatles told us, “money can’t buy me love.”  I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of tragedy that seem to follow after winning the lotto.  Several verses from today’s reading show us what could be better than money:

Proverbs 15:16-17; 16:8; 16:16; 16:19; 17:1; 19:1; 19:22

We learn in these verses that, among other things, the fear of the Lord, righteousness, wisdom & understanding, humility & innocence, peace & quiet, and love are all better than money & wealth.  There is nothing wrong with working hard, saving, and being wise with the money one earns.  In fact, Proverbs is full of calls to do just that!  However, money itself can never replace the things listed above.  Working hard to provide for oneself and one’s family is commendable.  Slaving away, stealing, or being dishonest in order to just amass wealth is foolish and sinful.  Ultimately, money can’t buy the thing which are truly valuable.

Some of the leanest times in my life have been some of the happiest times, the times I’ve felt closest to my family, and certainly the times I’ve been the most thankful for everything I have.  When Proverbs 15:17 says, “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred,” I can sympathize.  I’ve sat around Thanksgiving feasts that were absolutely miserable, and I’ve sat at a table with little more than beans and bread and felt so thankful to have my wife and my two boys with me to share in it.  It is not the great food that makes the meal, it is the company of the people I love, under the God I love.

Proverbs 16:16 says that wisdom and understanding are better than gold and silver.  All the wealth in the world won’t compensate for a foolish heart.  As it’s said, “you can’t fix stupid.”  What do you get when you give a fool a lot of money? You don’t have to look far in our culture today to get your answer there.

Let’s remember that money isn’t everything.  Money is a tool, it is not a god.  Let’s make sure our money is serving us, not the other way around.  Let’s honor God with our money, and remember that there are a lot worse things that being broke!

*originally at Words of Reason