Financial Abuse
What is financial abuse?
Financial abuse occurs when one intimate partner exerts control over the other’s ability to access, acquire, utilise, or keep economic resources, reducing the victim’s ability to sustain themselves and forcing them to rely on the other. The most common reason victims stay in or return to abusive relationships is financial abuse.
Everyone is entitled to economic freedom. Financial abuse occurs when your partner controls your money or incurs debts in your name. But you don’t have to go it alone. Financial abuse is all about withholding money, controlling all household expenditures, or refusing to include a victim in financial choices.
Financial abuse can occur in conjunction with other types of abuse, such as physical or emotional abuse, but it can also occur alone.
God’s thoughts on financial abuse
Psalm 9, verse 7 to10 says, but the LORD reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you. If you are a victim of financial abuse, there are spiritual steps and practical steps you can take to free yourself from this. God will lead you and shelter you but He uses people to do this, which means a requirement on your side to reach out to trusted friends and families for support. Do not suffer in silence.
What are the signs of financial abuse?
These are a few of the signs that someone is financially abusing you:
- They control your earnings.
- They refuse to discuss financial matters.
- Interfering with employment decisions
- Messing with financial benefits
- Exploiting financial resources
- Misusing power of attorney
- Denying access to bank accounts
- Abuser spends money on self but withholds what is due to the victim
- Forcing you to be financially dependent on the abuser
- Having to beg for money from the abuser to meet your needs
- Forced debt, you realize that they have racked up debts in your name
- The abuser has authority over your personal belongings, such as your phone or car
- Abuser squanders money set aside for household expenses
- The abuser is unaccountable about their financial earnings and leaves you to pick up on bills
God expects fair and equal treatment in all we do. Zechariah 7, verses 9 and 10 says “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other. Financial scheming and unfair judgment are what financial abuse is all about. Someone exploiting others for their own good, which isn’t reflective of God’s nature or Christian character.
What are the impacts of financial abuse?
- Inability to become financially independent
- Feeling powerless to spend money as you need
- Sense of shame and anger about having to beg for money from the abuser
- Self-blame for allowing the abuser to get them into debt
- Fear or anxiety about buying things without permission from the abuser
- Feeling trapped and unable to leave the relationship due to lack of finance
- Low self-esteem and self-worth because of having to ask for permission to spend money
Financial abuse can be well veiled, and its perpetrators are often unseen by the financial sector and regulators due to their circumstances. This cannot be an excuse for inaction. One must be aware of the warning signs and seek help to recover or rebuild your financial status.
In conclusion, do not ignore the signs and impacts of abuses in your life. Doing so limits God’s best for you and your life aspirations. Find ways to start your healing process. Whilst not speaking to experts may not be readily available to you, however, you can begin to take steps towards effective self-healing Christian options like meditation, prayers, scripture declaration immersion, identity in Christ refocusing and retreats.
Remember, life is not a rehearsal. God always wants you to choose freedom in Jesus Christ. To be free, you have to decide to be 100% responsible for the change you want to see in your life, even though you may be 100% blameless for the life challenges you find yourself facing. As such, be ready for change. As the solution to overcoming life challenges will usually involve a combination of spiritual insights and practical professional skills, on things God will show you to do to surge ahead. As always, remain blessed with divine health and wellbeing.
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