The Tribune

By Rev Canon S Sebastian Campbell

"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2)

Things were not working out as Jimmy had anticipated. His wife, Olga, had gone back to work, but they were still not making ends meet. He decided to approach her about the problem: "Olga, we need to do something about these bills. I think that it's about time you stop spending all of your money on clothes and at the beautician's. The credit card bill just came in and the charges are up again this month. And you still plan that shopping trip to Miami. Just look, school fees are due; these children going to end up in government school…."

"Why didn't you think about that before you decided to buy that fancy SUV?" Olga responded. "Yes, I used the charge card. I had to buy some better clothes for work, only because I'm tired wearing uniform. You think people should see me in the same outfit more than once? Don't forget the SUV is a gas-hog - that's taking most of the money. And now you central air the house and all of a sudden you forget you come out of the bush in Inagua and you keep that burning. No one fixes lunch to carry anymore - it's now cash for lunch, for me, you and the children. I used to send the baby to my mummy to keep, but no, having raised me she for some unknown reason can't keep our little one during the day. Then don't forget you went and bought me a car, because it is now too inconvenient to have one car. And that means an additional car payment every month."

Dwight and Angela are also having martial problems stemming from difficulties in managing their personal finances Dwight earns approximately $40,000 a year as a manager of a local charter company. For the past 15 years of marriage, Angela's main responsibility has been to care for their four children and to manage the household.

About 10 years ago, Dwight encouraged Angela to take a job (paying $11,000) a year outside the home to earn extra money to buy a washer and a dryer. Instead of improving the situation, however, her working seems to have caused more difficulties within the family. It appears as though the family has less disposable income now than before Angela started to work.

This is a common scenario that is being played out in thousands of households across the country. The average income earned by the typical Bahamian family with both parents working is about $30,000 per year. Nevertheless, many of these families live from pay cheque to pay cheque, spending everything they earn to keep afloat. I know of couples making $80,000 per year who could not live debt free on what they earn. The more money they earn, the more money they tend to spend. They are in financial bondage.

These very people cannot reach out to their parents in Cat Island by sending a single box to them on the mail boat at least once per month. Their parents languish in squalor on Long Island and yet they cannot include them in their budget. Old homesteads, where many first saw the light of day, fall into ruins unbeknownst to many riding high on the hog in New Providence. Yet when going to 'Home Coming' they must compete for limited hotel rooms. Siblings, although blessed by this world's wealth, cannot reach out to share that blessing with another sibling who needs medical and social services assistance.

The average Bahamian family goes deeply into debt by spending more than it earns. They render themselves impotent to the legitimate cries around them. Many families find themselves in the same position as Dwight and Angela. Even when both husband and wife work, families usually find that their spending increases faster than their income.

The key to solving this dilemma is good financial counselling and to apply biblical stewardship to your finances. It's not the amount you have, but what you do with what you have that counts. Following the stewardship principle is being faithful with what you have, starting where you are. As you demonstrate your faithfulness with small amounts of money, God will give you more. If you don't properly manage a small income, you won't be able to manage a larger income. Biblical stewardship is the key to success with God.

Churches in the Bahamas must be sensitive to this dilemma in our land. Bahamians are in financial bondage and cry for deliverance. What do we do? Our unions must ease up on their squabbles and educate their members as to the exodus out of this living hell that devours them. There is no evidence of adequate leadership being given by church or unions in this crippling reality of national life.

Let me repeat: The way to gain wealth in God's financial system is to be a good steward. This entails much education, counselling and good old common sense. The average Bahamian family is already trapped and awaits deliverance. We must advance to where our people stand on the assurance that money can work for them as a servant, not a master, and it can yield fruit a hundred and even a thousand-fold.