Money problems in marriages have the potential to tear a couple apart. Unpaid bills, looming student debt, overspent credit cards … It’s no wonder money is one of the most often named reasons for marital discord. Dr. Art Ranier, author, financial counselor and founder of Christian Money Solutions offers Bible-based wisdom for couples, parents and church leaders about finances and stewardship. While Art offers a tried-and-true system for getting out of debt and onto firm financial footing, his vision doesn’t end there. He truly desires to help people develop increasing margins so they can generously give to further the gospel and the kingdom of God. 

Art holds a doctorate in business administration from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. He was grounded in the Christian principle of generosity growing up as a pastor's son. “Financial health is just a means to a greater end. I want to see you in a place where you are living and giving generously, advancing God's Kingdom, without the hindrance of debt or any other financial barrier,” he said. Art’s goal is to help people “change their financial situation so they can be part of changing eternity,” he writes on his website, artranier.com.

The website offers plenty of resources that Art has created for those interested in getting their money under control so they can move forward. Art shares his insights in articles for lay people as well as church leaders. Titles include: 10 Financial Stewardship Books for your Congregation, 9 Ways to Care for Your Church Staff During Lean Financial Times, and 13 Key Questions to Assess Your Church’s Financial Health. His More than Money podcasts echo written articles with topics like, 6 Reasons to Pay Off Your Mortgage and How God Uses Money to Reveal Our Hearts. 

Each More Than Money episode includes a Money Challenge to spark listeners’ growth: A recent example: “Be thankful and strategic. Consider where you live and your primary mode of transportation. Write down five reasons you are thankful for each. Next, write down three ways you can leverage your residence and mode of transportation for God’s mission.” 

Another podcast, Parenting and Pennies, recorded in partnership with his wife, Sarah, offers advice on everything from Money Milestones for Teens and Teaching Kids Gratitude, to 5 Expenses Parents Need to Start Saving for Now. 

Art’s resources provide timely information. According to a Federal Reserve 2020 Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making, “More than one-fourth of American adults were either unable to pay their monthly bills or were one $400 financial setback away from being unable to pay them in full. Among laid-off workers, 45% were unable to pay their November 2020 bills in full or would have been unable to do so if faced with an unexpected $400 expense.” 

Art addresses financial problems with a better plan. His foundational book, The Money Challenge: 30 Days of Discovering God's Design for You and Your Money, is “a book about finances for the person who never wanted to read about finances. It’s about God’s design, giving, saving, budgeting, and making wise decisions,” he said. The strategy builds upon Eight Money Milestones. Unlike other popular plans, the number one step in Art’s Money Milestones is to start giving. “We start there because that’s where scripture starts, Art said. “Generosity is the biblical foundation for real financial health. God designed giving to be our first financial priority.”

Here are the rest of the Money Milestones:

Milestone 2) Save $1500 for a minor emergency. Having money saved will prevent unexpected expenses like a flat tire or a refrigerator failing to necessitate falling back on a credit card, incurring debt and derailing giving.  

Milestone 3) Max out your 401(k) or 403(b) match. Many companies match employee 401K savings. Don’t go above, but match what your company offers. 

Milestone 4) Pay off all debt except your mortgage. Defeat debt. Pay off debts using the Snowball Method, paying off your smallest debt first. 

Milestone 5) Save three to six months of living expenses for a job-loss emergency.

Milestone 6) Save at least 15% of your gross income for retirement. If you’ve opted out of Social Security, for example, as some pastors do, you’ll need to up the savings to around 25% to ensure sufficient funds. 

Milestone 7) Save for college or pay off your mortgage. This is the "choose your own adventure” Milestone. 

Milestone 8) Live Generously. Getting people to this stage is what really broadens Art’s smile. “Now is the time to take your generosity to a whole new level. Live more open handedly than you ever have before. Make a difference in the lives of those around you. Make a difference for the sake of Kingdom advancement. Make an impact for all eternity,” he posts on the website. 

Art wraps the content of The Money Challenge around a fictional story of a family to make the information more relatable. Each of his subsequent books connect through the characters as he applies the milestones for married couples, for teens and to children. The Marriage Challenge: A Finance Guide for Married Couples helps couples get on the same page. The Money Challenge for Teens helps them Prepare for College, Run from Debt, and Live Generously, and The Secret Slide Money Club Series was written for kids. 

Art’s latest book, Find More Money: Increase Your Income to Tackle Debt, Save Wisely, and Live Generously, published in 2020, addresses a problem that is becoming more common in today’s financial climate, when despite a family’s best efforts of reducing expenses, they still can’t make ends meet. The idea was sparked by Art’s conversation with a pastor who had cut his budget to the bare bones, didn’t have debt, but was still not making it. He wanted to stay in his local church, but he was struggling to put food on the table.  

“The answer is not for him to skip a meal,” Art said. “He needs to find some additional income.” Art’s solution: side gigs, which can provide not just additional money but also an outlet for evangelism and engagement. 

One individual was talented with woodworking – he used sales meetings as opportunities to connect in the community and share God’s word. Another pastor worked as an Uber driver. He looked for ways he could pray with his passengers and have conversations about Christ. Art noted that couples can commit to a side gig or second job for a season to help meet a financial goal. Knowing the sacrifice of time is only temporary can help couples get behind an effort as a team. 

Art feels passionate about helping couples reduce stress in their marriage and find unity in the way they relate to their finances. “Money and marriage seem to be a bad combination, but that’s not God’s design,” he said. “God desires us to be one in all areas. God didn’t place money in the midst of the marital relationship to blow it up. You’ll both have to make sacrifices and compromises. Be one! Use your money to be generous to advance God’s kingdom.” 

Art feels God has given him passion for helping people discover God’s design for money. In his experience, he’s found some people need help from a professional to get them back on track. Art partners with a team of financial counselors “to provide individuals and couples with biblically-based, practical steps and advice to either get you started on your financial journey or help you get out whatever financial rut you find yourself in,” from the website. The financial counselors will help people assess their financial challenges, set realistic and attainable goals for financial health, and empower them with the tools to take the next steps. 

Recently he stepped away from his position as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Seminary to expand his reach. He’s working on a stand-alone company, Christian Money Solutions, through which an Institute for Christian Financial Health will offer a financial counseling certification program.  

The program Art has created emphasizes a Christian worldview more than any other financial counseling program currently available, he said. He built upon his experience at Southeastern to create curriculum for the 32 video-taped modules, textbook and worksheets. Upon completing the program and passing the exam, the individual will achieve the Certified Financial Christian Counselor designation. Art estimates most will take six months to complete the self-paced, rigorous and high-quality course. Topics include eliminating debt, marriage and money, biblical generosity, and budgeting, among others. 

“Certified financial counselors can use their training in private practice or in a local church context,” Art said. “My heart is for every church to have a Christian financial counselor in their church who has gone through this program.” A marriage champion might want to pursue certification to be better prepared to handle financial conversations that arise when talking to a couple about money conflicts or as they coach pre-married couples.” 

Providing people with the tools to be able to fulfill the great commission is Art’s driving passion.

“In the church, we have the ability to do something significant for the kingdom. Debt and lack of perspective are hindering our ability. What drives me, is not, ‘if we do’, but ‘what if we don’t!’” he said. “We have this moment and these resources. We are getting people financially healthy for the sake of advancing God’s kingdom, not just to have more fun in life. When I meet people who recognize God has given them resources to do something significant, but that their debt and budget are hindering their ability to leverage resources, that’s the couple I want to work with.”  Find Art and his resources at artrainer.com.

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