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Biblical Priority in Uses of Income
A. God is the Provider of All We Have.
I Timothy 6:6-8
1. Give. Proverbs 3:9 and I Corinthians 16:2
2. Pay taxes. Romans 13:7 and Matthew 22:21
3. Repay debt. Psalms 37:21
4. Provide for family needs. This is in a
lifestyle appropriate to where God has placed the individual. I Timothy 5:8
B. Widowhood and Christian Ministry
o
In the initial stages of grief, most women are too consumed with grief to think about stewardship. The inability to focus prevents them from thinking clearly about anything, much less giving. "It takes a long time to get to the place where you can think strategically."
o Even after women are able to think about their giving, they tend to stick with their husband's stewardship decisions.
o Because they usually do not have the same earning power
as their husbands, women often fear that they will out-spend their available funds before their death.
C. Challenges of Wealth and Position
There are special challenges for a woman whose husband was wealthy and a visible Christian and community leader.
o Considerable wealth does nothing to alleviate the feelings of
devastation and insecurity which come from the death of a spouse.
o Women married to strong, successful men may suffer acutely from a sense of lost identity.
"I felt like I was
flying along, hanging onto his coattails. Then suddenly I dropped out of the sky."
o Where husbands handled, and handled well, financial and legal affairs, their widows may feel bereft
and inadequate.
o It is difficult to know how to respond to solicitations. There is the fear of not being a good steward and, with a large volume of phone calls and letters, there can be a
tendency toward cynicism.
o It is a challenge to teach children the value of money and the need for financial planning.
"All the kids see is a chunk of money. You can't say, as
other parents can, 'The money's just not there, and we can't buy it.'"
o Widows in the limelight are concerned to set a good example for others, but often do not know what it means to
grieve as a Christian. There is an enormous burden to appear to be doing well, but this can be a no-win situation. Those who grieve publicly may be perceived as being "in bad shape;" those
who grieve privately may be seen as cold and unfeeling.
o Women of successful men are often extremely busy before his death; afterwards, they must assume many of his responsibilities as
well.
o There may be difficulties finding trustworthy counselors and trustees.
D. Strategic Planning for Giving
A widow can be assisted to become more strategic and effective as a giver through the use of such tools as personal and financial goal setting and budgeting.
1. Don't ask for financial
commitments for at least a year after the death of her husband.
2. Be aware of the vulnerability of widows, particularly to giving out of guilt.
3. At an appropriate time, offer assistance in
developing a financial plan, goals, priorities, etc.
4. Encourage widows to sit in on financial seminars from Christian financial advisors.
5. Keep a trash can handy to dispose of unwanted solicitations.
6. Middlemen can be very helpful. Let someone else be the one to tell people "no."
7. Develop a group of professionals
or friends who will give financial guidance, which the widow is free to take or leave.
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