A while back, there was a television program called “Crossing Over with John Edward”. John Edward is a psychic medium (not the former vice-presidential candidate). His audience is made up of people who want to communicate with their dead relatives through him. He will pick out a person and start telling them things that only the dead person would know. Usually, after everyone is amazed, he ends the conversation by telling the person that their dead relative just wants them to know that they are all right.

I have to admit, I have watched more than one episode of Crossing Over. It is my curious and skeptical nature to try to figure out what is going on. How is it that he knows things that he shouldn’t. I have also seen “60 Minute”-like stories on different scientific tests done on John Edward to prove that he is indeed psychic. I am amazed at his abilities. I can’t figure it out. I stopped trying and stopped watching. Why? Leviticus 19:31 says “Do not rely on mediums and psychics, for you will be defiled by them. I, the LORD, am your God.” I realized that even just watching the show would have a negative impact on my spiritual life.

Going back over our first week, we learned that we don’t own anything. It is all God’s. Last week we learned that debt should be avoided and that debt makes us slaves to the lender. This week, we are going to start the process of getting out of debt and actively learning how to use money God’s way.

The first step in any sound financial plan is to seek counsel and to make sure it is the right counsel. The bible is a living book that our Lord uses to communicate His direction and truths to all generations. It should be our fist reference and counsel when making financial decisions. Secondly, we need to seek the counsel of Godly people. Psalm 37:30-31 says, “The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong. They fill their hearts with God’s law, so they will never slip from his path.”

Hopefully, it is obvious that we shouldn’t seek counsel from psychics, mediums, fortune tellers, horoscopes, Ouija boards or other practices of the occult. If not, maybe John Edward can help us ask Saul. In 1 Chron. 10:13-14, it says, “So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the LORD for guidance. So the LORD killed him and turned his kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” Maybe not. I’ll take the Bible’s word for it!