MONEY MANAGEMENT

Who Do You Blame for Your Finances?

By Zsa Zsa Palagyi
The 700 Club

CBN.com – "The way that I was raised, the wife would take care of the bills, and the husband would go out and make the money," says Dexter Brown.

Wife Cynthia agrees. "I thought that the husband makes sure the bills get paid and makes sure the family is well taken care of."

Neither Cynthia nor Dexter Brown’s expectations were met. No one made a household budget or monitored the spending, and no one kept up with the bills.

"The utility bills, the regular bills – we would put that on the back burner and spend the money on things we wanted," says Dexter.

"I couldn’t understand how he could be a budget analyst and handle so much money throughout the day, and then come home and everything was a mess," says Cynthia.
 
This included the Brown’s marriage. 

Dexter remembers, "I started blaming my wife. My wife started blaming me."

"To me as a woman, I need to know. I need to feel safe, and I didn’t feel safe," she says.

That’s because Cynthia and Dexter were $15,000 in debt. Their electricity and cable were cut off, and all four of their cars were repossessed. When the Browns faced foreclosure on their home, they filed for bankruptcy. Then things got worse. The couple received a second foreclosure notice that said if they did not pay $2,000 immediately, they would be evicted from their home.

Cynthia turned to God and said, "If You’ll help me get back on track, I ’m going to do the right thing." 

And just one day before they were to be evicted, the Browns sold a van they’d received as a gift, for – you guessed it – $2,000, so they didn’t have to leave their home. Now it was time to make good on that promise to God.

"I had to swallow my pride and ask for help," says Dexter.

A friend from church helped them sort through their finances and make a budget. But their real breakthrough came when they decided to make tithing their first priority. Then Cynthia added something else to the list.

"I just knew I was supposed to give to The 700 Club, and I knew God was tugging on my heart to give," she says.

So Cynthia made the call and pledged her support to CBN – and as she continued to watch The 700 Club, Dexter noticed something different about his wife.

"Her spirit changed. She was a nicer person, a kinder person, and I wanted what she had, so I started watching," says Dexter. "Every time I watched CBN it blessed me, so I said maybe we should give more. So, we agreed to increase our giving, and now we don’t even miss it."

It’s been over seven years since the Browns started budgeting and putting biblical principles to work in their lives. As a result, they’ve paid off every last penny of their $15,000 debt, and they’ve worked out the kinks in their marriage. And today, Cynthia is the bill payer.
                                   
"I’m the one that makes sure all the bills get paid. I make sure I keep up with the check book." 

Dexter on the other hand ... "I look to do the investing part, the savings, the negotiating, and the real estate deals," he admits.

Dexter and Cynthia now have two houses and are getting ready to buy another. They have a savings account too.

"Just today, I go to the mailbox, and there’s a check in the mail. I mean from out of nowhere ... it is like so amazing," says Cynthia.

It’s a richer and fuller life than the Browns ever had before – and they say it started with two things: surrender and obedience.

"Me and my husband ... we had to start praying together, we had to start working together, and we had to make sure we took care of what was important – the tithing, the offering, and The 700 Club," Cynthia adds.

"At first I was just selfish. I thought I could manage it all on my own, but it wasn’t until I put God first that the blessings truly started to flow. Test God in this area ... give and God will in return give to you," believes Dexter.

Dexter and Cynthia put into practice the biblical truths that they learn on The 700 Club and God, faithful to His Word, supplied their need! God wants to do that for you too. One way you can give to God is by giving to CBN. Not only will you help provide biblical truth to people like Dexter and Cynthia, but you will be helping people around the world with food, clothing, medical needs, and humanitarian aid – all given in the name of Jesus! Please join today!

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