Faith and Finances
189 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★ - 13 ratingsFaith and Finances provides Christ-focused financial teaching and approaches each financial topic with the premise, "What does the Bible say about that?"
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Episodes
088: Managing Your Money in the Real World
January 26, 2018 08:00 - 45 minutes - 31.7 MBSo you've got a budget… very cool! I get a fuzzy feeling when my budget is written and my wife and I agree upon it. However, I get a sick feeling a month later when I learn that we did not stay within our budget. Going over budget in one or more areas creates a shortage in others. In other words, something is not getting paid. In This Episode, We Look At: Choosing a preferred method to write and track your budget. If you have not yet developed a budget, we invite you to li...
087: A Biblical Review of Today's Retirement
January 19, 2018 08:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBWhat does Retirement look like today? Are we stressing to have everything ready by age 65? In This Episode, We Look At: While we do not find retirement in the New Testament (the Levities in the OT were required to retire at age 50), there are certainly principles that help us with that issue today. The importance of preserving your ability to earn an income today, and today. We look at the value of your unique experiences and skill sets. The possibility of continuing ...
086: On Offerings
January 12, 2018 08:00 - 48 minutes - 33.7 MBHow do offerings fit into the Christian's life? Is there a command? In This Episode, We Look At: Giving demonstrates Christ's lordship in our lives. Giving doesn't empty me of resources, it transfers my resources from earth to heaven. Christians give generously, God does not exist for me, I exist for Him. "God's money has a higher purpose than my affluence" - Randy Alcorn Christians Give regularly. 1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him...
085: Resolve to Set Goals
January 05, 2018 08:00 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MB'Tis the season for resolutions and goals. I love goals. Resolutions? Not so much. Why? The Average Joe (or Josephine) excitedly set out on his/her resolutions and then abandons them after about 2 1/2 weeks (on average) In This Episode, We Look At: The lack of accountability is a major contributor to abandoned resolutions I am a proponent of moving forward, improving various areas of our lives, which are generally defined in Annual measurements — and I believe that i...
084 A Biblical Take on Bitcoin
December 29, 2017 08:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBThere has certainly been an evolution of how we conduct commerce. It appears the majority of financial transactions today are paperless—just numbers transferring dollars. But how do we answer the question, "Should we invest in BitCoin?" In This Episode, We Look At: Speculating versus prudent investing Biblical wisdom to consider before rolling the dice with Bitcoin. “Hot investments” of the recent past and the fallout that followed. When anything is increasing in val...
083: It's a Wonderful Financial Life
December 22, 2017 08:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MBWe must admit that It's a Wonderful Life is a must-see family favorite for the Christmas season. In today's episode we decide to have fun in picking out the many financial lessons that can be gleaned from this 1946 award-winning classic. In This Episode, We Look At: The main character's family business The compassionate capitalism demonstrated by the family business The Scrooge archetype—Mr. Potter What does insolvency mean for a bank? What is a "run on the banks"? How m...
082: How to have a memorable Christmas
December 15, 2017 08:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBLong after the toys and gifts are broken or forgotten, our families will remember the Christmas experience. In This Episode, We Look At: Several ideas to create a memorable Christmas season including: Go to church: What better place to be on Christmas Eve than in the house of the Lord, celebrating the birth of our Savior? Involve your children in bringing a gift to Jesus—whatever is on their heart. Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young ...
081: “I’m not greedy!”
December 08, 2017 08:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBTV shows like "American Greed" draw us in with curiosity and then feed our focus on other people's greed. "It's someone else's struggle or sin, not mine." It's funny how easily we can measure how much is too much for others, but can't seem to find that "too much" point for ourselves. Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness. Research conducted by Pew Research found that 57% of those Americans surveyed believed that Americans are greedy. In This Episode...
080: Success Confusion
December 01, 2017 08:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBWhat is success? Searching that on Google brings up 949 million hits making it a pretty popular subject! The World is very preoccupied with success. But how is success measured? Have you ever felt the pressure of not "arriving" yet? Or, perhaps you are not in the career that could be paying you the most? "What if I was meant to be in marketing instead of working for UPS?" Let's be real, that kind of pressure can be debilitating—if we let it. In This Episode, We Look At: The Dr...
079: Fun with Financial Literacy
November 24, 2017 08:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBToday we decided to provide a financial quiz. We'll ask the questions, give you some time to choose your answer, then we'll discuss what we believe the answers to be. Give yourself $5 for every question you answer correctly (Put it in savings—you'll be glad you did!) In This Episode, We Look At: Your current income doubles by the year 2032 and the prices of goods and services doubles as well, how much will your 2032 income allow you to buy? A. Less than today B. Don’t know C. ...
078: The Key to God's Promises
November 17, 2017 08:00 - 35 minutes - 24.9 MBLet's face it, we are human and we want all of God's promises. "Take care of all my needs and wants, protect me and my family, advance my career…" Some may think, “I’m a child of the King—so I should be living like a king!” 1 Corinthians 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. Paul Chappell recently wrote: The idea that a Christian will only receive good things from God and coa...
077: Is Your Home an Investment?
November 10, 2017 08:00 - 33 minutes - 23.7 MBThere is a lot of talk on the subject of renting vs buying. While counselling and advising couples, I often hear them say something like, "We can't wait to get a house. We are just throwing money away renting a place!" and "Besides, a home purchase is an investment." Is this true? In This Episode, We Look At: "Is your home an investment?" Definition (Investopedia): investment A)An investment is an asset or item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or ...
076: How to Avoid Major Life Regrets
November 03, 2017 07:00 - 35 minutes - 24.9 MBLittle regrets can happen daily. For many of us, regrets are realized years or even decades later in life. We may wish that we had spent more time with family, taken better care of our health, and saved more money. For the child of God there will be a day when we stand before Him, and no doubt have many regrets about our stewardship of this life: "I should have shared the Gospel with my family and neighbors!" "I wasted so much precious time on things that are meaningless now!" ...
075: Mortgages And Cosigning
October 27, 2017 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23.4 MBIn This Episode, We Look At: A Mortgage is not Consumer debt weighing on your shoulders. No one is going to offer to buy your credit card debt A mortgage should not be viewed as a sin, citing Romans 13:8 "Owe no man any thing". The Bible warns about being/staying in debt and encourages prompt repayment. If borrowing were a sin and not simply frowned upon, then we would be enablers to others' sin because the Bible encourages us to be liberal in lending and ready to forgive! D...
074: Have you forgotten who you are?
October 20, 2017 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBHow often do we resign, throw up our hands, and say, "I can't fix my marriage", "I can't get on top of my finances", or "I can't quit lusting"? It seems our first response is "I." "I can't"…and that is true. We cannot do anything good on our own. (Romans 7:18) I submit that our focus is way off and the Devil loves it. He constantly reminds us of our failures, sin, mistakes, and incompetence. He is wrong. In This Episode, We Look At: The Power within us How often do we overlook the ...
073: Faith and Finances in the Family
October 13, 2017 07:00 - 38 minutes - 27.1 MBFamily communication has its challenges today. A good old fashioned, face-to-face conversation has been reduced to a text message; with abbreviated words to boot, lol! And there are topics that require our focus and clear communication but many prefer to avoid them—like money. Perhaps we can blame it on Emily Post's book of Etiquette (1922), which lambasted talk of money. It seems generations of parents for almost 100 years have carried on her view of money-talk as taboo. In...
072: Immersed in Consumerism
October 06, 2017 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBIt is easy for us to find ourselves buying into the ever-increasing consumerism of our culture. "I need this, this, this… and this…" Consumerism: NOUN the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers. the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods. Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of men are never satisfied Madison Ave knows this and they fully exploit it. In This Episode, We Look At: A Subtle Creep ...
071: The Parable of the Rich Fool
September 29, 2017 07:00 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBToday we take a close look at the parable Jesus taught in Luke 12:13-21, what prompted Him to teach it, and how it relates to us. In This Episode, We Look At: Setting: Jesus is speaking to a large crowd (innumerable) As He had been addressing Lawyers and Pharisees (warning them of their hypocrisy), one in the crowd interrupts Jesus to ask Him to make his brother split their inheritance. Jesus responds, and said unto him "Man, who made me judge or a divider over you?" He ...
070: Forgiveness in Finances
September 22, 2017 07:00 - 31 minutes - 22.1 MBIt's amazing how money can often make monsters out of us. If you've ever borrowed from, or loaned money to others, you may have experienced how the relationship between lender and borrower can become strained. In This Episode, We Look At: Non re-payment of a debt can lead to the severing of relationships Jesus teaches that when we lend, do not expect re-payment. Luke 6:34-35 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to ...
069: The Big Deal About Little Things
September 15, 2017 07:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBA popular little book has the title, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!" While there is certainly truth to that—don't make a mountain out of mole hill, don't major in the minors… we also challenge you not to miss the little things that can change lives! In This Episode, We Look At: The Tongue James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! What a difference a kind word can make in someone else's li...
068: CJ Stopped Trying to Tithe
September 08, 2017 07:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBCJ writes, "I try to give what I can when I can; stopped trying to tithe years ago when I had larger sums of money—stepping out on faith—only to get totally destroyed financially. Last time I gave larger amounts regularly, I had a home emergency pop up that led to several overdraft charges in the checking account. I still have a joyful heart when I can give what I can." In This Episode, We Look At: In response: The tithe is a spiritual issue, not a mathematical or economic one...
067: A Biblical Look at Inheritance
September 01, 2017 07:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBAre you hoping to receive an inheritance? Are you putting pressure on yourself to leave an inheritance to your "children's children?" Let's look at both; hoping to receive and planning to leave. In This Episode, We Look At: Hoping to receive an inheritance. If you have family who leave assets behind, those should pass to beneficiaries as opposed to being tied up in probate. If you are good at managing your current income, then you will likely manage an inheritance well...
066: A look at moral investing
August 25, 2017 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBPeople often ask me if a Christian investor can be broadly diversified and avoid immoral companies? In This Episode, We Look At: What factors would be utilized to determine whether a company is immoral or not Do they sell alcohol? Do they sell pornography or Rated R movies? Do they support Planned Parenthood? Do they financially promote lifestyles that God says are sinful? Do they directly or indirectly financially support human trafficking? Investment products aime...
065: Self-Control, the Unpopular Success Factor
August 18, 2017 07:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBThe most overlooked aspect of financial health has little to do with having the right strategy, having more income, or being excellent at math. Many writers don't want to talk about it because it doesn't sell books. We are talking about self-control. In This Episode, We Look At: Money is an area where many lack self-control In his book, Behavioral Finance & Wealth Management, Michael Pompian states that The Saving Decision "…reflects an individual’s relative preferences over...
064: What's your worst-case scenario?
August 11, 2017 07:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MBWhile I certainly recommend having up to 6 months of living expenses saved up, we ought to completely depend on the Lord and not trust in our savings. In This Episode, We Look At: Could you save enough to withstand a worst-case financial scenario? Should that even be the goal? We should not strive to replace the role God has in our financial life. God's role is Provider, even when (and especially when) it seems impossible. We may find ourselves in a devastating financial si...
063: Faith and Finances–The Unconventional Episode
August 04, 2017 07:00 - 37 minutes - 26.3 MBThe internet, developing science, and our own personal experience have turned our thinking upside down in so many areas. In This Episode, We Look At: We turn conventional beliefs on their ear, from cars to food; from fitness to finances. Is sodium bad for your health? Does it cause heart disease? (We are not doctors, but we share some recent research). Does a longer workout at the Gym equal greater health benefits? Should we be prepared to retire by age 65? Should we s...
062: Glorifying God Through Employment
July 28, 2017 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBThe average American will easily work over 100,000 hours during the course of their working years. This is a huge portion of our lives. It should not be solely for a paycheck. In This Episode, We Look At: God thinks bigger! "We must do wordly jobs, but if we do them with sanctified minds, they become offerings to God" - A.W. Tozer God is our supervisor and rewarder. A Christian does not merely work for an earthly employer. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,...
061: Simplifying the Complicated
July 21, 2017 07:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBWhy do we complicate our finances? The rules of financial health are simple. Honor the Lord Spend less than you earn Save a portion Avoid debt In This Episode, We Look At: It's our behavior that drives our finances. Do we consider God when making money decisions? We remind ourselves that we work hard and that we deserve nice things. We pay now and deal with the consequences later. We have no one telling us what to do. We either self-destruct or flourish based ...
060: Unexpected Advice—An Interview with Veteran Missionary Bryan Stensaas
July 14, 2017 07:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBDr. Bryan Stensaas is a Vietnam veteran, church planter, has an accredited Ph.D. in education, and is a former radio host and college instructor—but most of us know him as a Veteran Missionary to Uganda. We had the privilege of sitting down with Bro Stensaas and speak with him about some of his experiences in the field and what God has taught he and his wife, Cheri, in their 32 years of serving as Missionaries. In This Episode, We Look At: From the Gulf of Tonkin, to the plate...
059: Biblical Riches
July 07, 2017 07:00 - 43 minutes - 30.4 MBWhat comes to mind when you hear the word "rich?" Maybe an unattainable goal? Other people? A few select? Sin? In the New Testament, people equated wealth with spirituality. The Pharisees were wealthy—the common folk looked up to them spiritually and were impressed with them financially. In This Episode, We Look At: Is God against His people being rich? No… But neither is it His design that all His children would be rich in financial resources. "If you have real ch...
058: Financial Freedoms afforded by our Founding Fathers
June 30, 2017 07:30 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBIs Capitalism a Christian system? Gov. William Bradford made a poor decision in the early days of what would become the Massachusetts Bay Colony: He believed that devout Christians would all work together equally for "The Greater Good." Collectivism (socialism) failed miserably. Many simply didn’t want to labor to produce food—over 50% died. In This Episode, We Look At: Here are a handful of freedoms granted not only in our founding documents, but in Scripture as well. ...
057: The average American is creating wealth for others
June 23, 2017 10:00 - 40 minutes - 28.2 MBI believe we start our adult lives with the erroneous and dangerous belief that revolving debt—and the interest payments that go along with it—are normal and acceptable. In This Episode, We Look At: The average American pays a significant amount of interest every month; profiting a lender and not themselves. They do it for the privilege of having something now and paying for it later. The average interest paid in car loans is $895 per year ($74 per month) according to a recent Ex...
056: The Lost Art of Being Still
June 16, 2017 10:00 - 35 minutes - 24.3 MBConsidering all the innovations that supposedly save us time—we are a people who tend to live life at a frenzied, break-neck pace. In This Episode, We Look At: Culture celebrates living a busy life We have a myriad of digital notifications constantly chiming for our attention. We have habitually check multiple e-mail accounts much too often. We applaud multi-tasking. We have more innovation and technology than our parents had growing up Today: The average American w...
055: Embracing Money Technology
June 09, 2017 10:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBOur lives are surrounded by technology. It is at play in every aspect our lives, and yet some have not harnessed technology to improve their finances. It's the Twenty-first Century—come on in, the water's fine! In This Episode, We Look At: Here are some tools we can utilize to improve our finances from the moment we receive a paycheck. Pay Day: Set up Direct Deposit if you have not yet Tithe/Offerings: If your church offers online giving it gets your financial gift to t...
054: Our Morbid Attraction to Money
June 02, 2017 10:00 - 37 minutes - 26.4 MBWe are interesting creatures when it comes to money. Can you identify with some of these adjectives regarding money? Affluent, Broke, Stressed, Generous, Stingy, Protective, Easygoing, Frivolous, Spendthrift, Content, Discontent, Boastful, Lavish, Conservative, Bitter, Joyful, Jealous, Grateful All of these money attitudes stem from the heart. Scripture supports this conclusion. There are over 2,300 verses in the Bible directed toward money and possessions. That's twice as mu...
053: Rebuilding from past financial mistakes
May 26, 2017 10:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MBI'm no fan of learning by making mistakes, but there is value in learning not to repeat that same mistake. It's easy to remind ourselves of past money mistakes and convince ourselves that we are still that person who failed—so why try? In This Episode, We Look At: You can turn things around and improve your financial health For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:But the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16 Change your thinking ("I'm a spender." ...
052: Are You a Thief?
May 19, 2017 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBHow easy is it for us to accept our own dishonesty? In This Episode, We Look At: Do we embellish our tax returns or expense reports? Company time—If we are texting, making personal phone calls, or just chillin', while being paid, then we are stealing from our employer. Entertainment—We do not view ourselves as pirates. Have you found ways to watch movies without needing to buy or rent them? Do we download free music that has not been offered as free from the owner or c...
051: Does Growing Wealth Mean That We Don't Trust God?
May 12, 2017 10:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBThe just shall live by faith. This truth is stated four times in Scripture. We also know that "without faith it is impossible to please God." Do we then demonstrate faithlessness if we accumulate savings and invest? In This Episode, We Look At: In many areas of our lives we tend to lean on faith and ignore action We have a tendency to think that God will take care of us when considering our future financial needs. That is true to an extent; (Matthew 6:33) but, what ...
050: Preparing Teens for Financial Adulthood
May 05, 2017 10:00 - 33 minutes - 23.4 MBWe want to help you prepare your teen for their future, financial independence—from you! In This Episode, We Look At: The Starting Point: Your influence Some of you are thinking, "We're doomed!" The most impactful action you can take to help your teens is to set the best example . Not only are they watching you; they are listening to you. Include Them in Family Finances Include them when you review or write the family budget and when you shop or pay bills. Teach Th...
049: Biblical Investing—Guarding Your Heart
April 28, 2017 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBThe investing experience can stir a flurry of emotions; most common are fear and greed. There are also many traps that investors fall into. Christians are not exempt from these traps. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. In This Episode, We Look At: Being anxious to increase wealth God warns us of the dangers of desiring to get rich quick. In Proverbs 28 verse 20, we are made aware that, ”A faithful man shall abound wit...
048: Biblical Investing—The Benefits of Diversification
April 21, 2017 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBKing Solomon is known for being the wisest person who ever lived. The fame of his wisdom spread across the known world. That's no small feat considering how slow information travelled without the internet! In 1 Kings 9 and 10 we read that King Solomon had a navy and "shipmen that knew the sea." What comes to your mind when you read, “a navy of ships?” For me, I start hearing “Anchors Aweigh” in my head, along with images of battleships of all sizes. Go Navy! In This Episode, We L...
047: Biblical Investing—Understanding Risk
April 14, 2017 10:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBEntering into the investing world with a healthy, realistic view of the various risks is vital to a successful experience. Without some risk, there is no respectable growth. If you search online for the word risk, you’ll find: –verb. “to expose to the chance of loss.” So, why take any risk at all? For the investor there is an expected reward for the risk taken—the growth of an investment. In This Episode, We Look At: Some risks can be eliminated, some mitigated, and others...
046: Biblical Investing—Seeking Godly Wisdom
April 07, 2017 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21.2 MBMatthew 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. In This Episode, We Look At: Let's put ourselves in the sandals of these servants: Your boss just handed you a life's fortune and expects you to use it to make more money…. What do you do? What did the servants do? We can safely assume that the faithful servants sought guidance. What sources of wisdom did they have access to in the 1st century? ...
045: Biblical Investing—Clarify Your Purpose for Investing
March 31, 2017 10:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBWithout a clearly defined personal purpose for investing, enough will never seem to be enough. Without clear goals, the answer to the question, “How much is enough?” will always be, “More.” In This Episode, We Look At: Many get nervous or anxious when they do not know if they are on track to have enough money for their future. It is not God's plan for His children to worry. Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing There are those who have more than enough now and for their future,...
044: Biblical Investing- "..and unto one he gave five talents"
March 24, 2017 10:00 - 31 minutes - 22.1 MBMatthew 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. In This Episode, We Look At: The lord of these servants knew their work ethic very well. We see that their lord distributed to each servant his wealth according to the faithfulness they have previously displayed. We see that he displayed grace by giving a portion to his servant that perhaps had not previously...
043: Special Edition—Tim Preaches "The Heart of the Matter" at Ambassador Baptist Church in Fresno, CA
March 17, 2017 10:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBIn this episode, we'll join Tim as he teaches one of several sessions in his Faith and Finances Series. In This Episode, We Look At: Why are there so many verses in Scripture on the subject of money? The majority are aimed at our heart. Our actions come from our beliefs. Our beliefs come from our hearts. If we desire to improve our Faith and Finances, we need to address what we believe about money. Who is the true Owner, what does stewardship mean, and, what does stewardship...
042: Biblical Investing—Principles of Ownership
March 10, 2017 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBWe naturally look around and view many things as "ours." Our house, our car, our dog, our kids… We regard money as a private matter and perceive ourselves as the absolute owner of all we possess. In reality, God is the absolute owner of all things. In This Episode, We Look At: Your view of who owns the money you manage greatly impacts how you handle that money. If we look and operate through the temporal lens; we are going to experience temporal results: Worry over having enoug...
041: Biblical Investing—What Keeps Us From Action?
March 03, 2017 11:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MBMatthew 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. While most of us would hesitate to align our thinking with the unfaithful steward, there are still many hindrances that we allow to keep us from saving and investing for the future. In This Episode, We Look At: Obstacles that keep us from investing: Time Time seems to be the most prominent deterrent. I don’t have spare time to try and learn about investing; there are more import...
040: Biblical Investing—Where Does Growth Come From?
February 24, 2017 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBMatthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. In the parable of the talents we read that the faithful servants doubled the...
039: Planning for Your Financial Future
February 17, 2017 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBExperts estimate that you will need 70% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your standard of living. Do you expect your standard of living to be 30% less expensive than your current standard? According to the US Dept. of Labor, fewer than half of Americans have calculated how much they need to save for retirement. Yet, the average American will spend 20 years in retirement. Also consider that you could be physically unable to work earlier than your current planned date of ret...