We were completely unprepared for what happened during the meeting. Bev and I had been asked to meet with Nancy, a recent widow, to review her finances and give advice.
During our time together, she experienced dramatic emotional swings. Initially, it was grief as she told us about the sudden death of her husband of twenty years. Then anger marked Nancy’s face as she explained that her husband had handled their finances and had never discussed with her their situation. She had no clue whether they had savings or how much debt they might have accumulated. She didn't know the location of their bank accounts or even the names of their tax preparer and insurance agent.
Finally, she was gripped by fear. As a widow of three children, Nancy had left the work force ten years earlier to stay at home with their special-needs child. She didn't know whether her husband carried life insurance, so she was afraid of losing their home and wasn't sure they would be able to make ends meet.
One of the purposes of the Set Your House in Order study is to help people gather and organise all their financial information in one place. This will help married couples improve their communication. You will save time retrieving information, and if your spouse should die, you will not face the uncertainty Nancy experienced.
The Bible encourages us to get our house in order and become organised. For example, Isaiah 38:1 tells us, “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die’” (NIV). And 1 Corinthians 14:40 plainly says, “But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 reinforces this by revealing, “God is not a God of confusion . . .”
This study will transform your life and finances as you learn what the God of the universe says about handling money and becoming more organised. This study is for everyone—whether single or married, whether young or old, whether you earn a lot or a little.