Faith & Finance

Okay, before we get into the specific money wasters, there’s a general principle you should be aware of…if you’re buying things that provide only a temporary sense of satisfaction, you’re probably wasting money. It doesn’t matter what it is—if it’s unnecessary and you grow bored with it, it was a waste of money. Check your closets for examples. I’m not saying you should take a “vow of poverty.” The Lord wants us to enjoy the resources He’s given us, but that must be tempered by the principle that we’re merely stewards and must use His resources wisely. Of course, we live in a culture that promotes spending. It’s a big problem. One survey showed that the average adult spends around $1,500 monthly on non-essentials. No wonder so many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Imagine what that kind of money would do if put into savings or invested for retirement. Let’s look at our 6 money wasters for today…and what you can do about them. A restaurant-prepared meal will cost you three times what you would pay for the same meal cooked at home. Eventually, a smartphone will have to be replaced…but the longer you delay upgrading…the more money you keep in your pocket. This year’s red hot phone is next year’s discount model. And you have to ask how smart your phone needs to be. Most of us don’t use the features we have now. Clothes wear out and need to be replaced…so you must include that in your budget … but those spending decisions should be practical … not a way to boost your ego. willdon’tPlus, you don’t want to participate in something that disproportionately hurts the poor. A Bankrate report found that low-income households spend as much as 13% of their income on lottery tickets—far more than higher-income earners. So, instead of buying an extended warranty, do your homework to ensure you’re buying a quality item. Most will have an adequate manufacturer’s warranty anyway. Then, ensure you have enough money in your emergency fund to cover any necessary repairs. More and more folks are dropping cable and satellite TV and using only streaming apps, but even there, you can waste a lot of money. A survey by FinanceBuzz showed that a quarter of households have at least three more streaming apps than they did two years ago…and one in 10 reported having no idea how much they’re spending on streaming. So keep track of what you’re watching, and if you’re not getting your money’s worth from an app, drop it. That’s one great thing about streaming apps—no service contract, so you can drop it anytime. Okay, those are your 6 big-time money wasters. We hope you find this helpful. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Credit KarmaAnnualCreditReport.comRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” God isn’t just telling us to test Him with our giving—He’s challenging us to test Him. “Do it and see what I will do.” Why do you think many Christians are reluctant to do this? Many Christians are reluctant to test God with their finances because of greed. Greed is when we envy what others have or want something we don't have. This greed leads to a fear of lack and insufficient money if they prioritize giving over other expenses. Giving should come first to recognize God's ownership and break the power of money over our lives. God doesn’t promise to make us wealthy because we give generously. When you give, you need to give up ownership of the money and what happens to it after that is up to God. God does not promise that he will return the money multifold. People sometimes mistakenly attach that expectation to giving, but God does not explicitly promise wealth or return on investment in the act of giving. If I’m In Debt, Should I Decrease My Giving? The answer to that begins with a principle or a truth. The truth is this: God owns it all and is interested in it. If I believe that God owns it all, and it says that in many places in Scripture, God owns it all, it's all his. The earth and everything in it are the Lord's. He created it. If he owns it, and I'm a steward or a manager, I make a biblical decision every time I spend money. I'm making a stewardship decision, a scriptural decision. So if I'm paying off debt, I'm using God's money to pay off debt. If I tithe, I'm using God's money to tithe. He gave it to me. So we can begin by saying that from a scriptural standpoint, there's no difference in using God's money, whether I pay off debt or give because it all belongs to him. When you make giving your highest priority, you begin to set the right priorities for your money. Suppose you're in a crisis where you can't give and pay off debt, get some counsel. Get some accountability. If you reduce your giving to pay off debt, it needs to be under a plan and with accountability. The best accountability is to go to your pastor and say, “This is what I'm thinking of doing. Will you hold me accountable to it?” Do you agree with this decision so that you will eventually get out of debt? If you're using your giving dollars to get out of debt because you're in a crisis, do it with accountability and a plan—don't just do it. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

The Difference Between Online Banking and Online Banks These days, you can do online banking with almost any brick-and-mortar bank or credit union, although features and services will undoubtedly vary from one financial institution to another. Of course, online banks have no brick-and-mortar branches. They’re online-only, except for the ATM networks they use, all transactions with them are online. Okay, that’s the difference between online banks and online banking, but the reality is, that difference is getting smaller and smaller. The online features of brick-and-mortar banks do rival anything that online-only banks have. Still, some folks are wondering if we will not need brick-and-mortar banks someday. We’re probably a long way from that. People still need services only brick-and-mortar banks can provide, like businesses depositing coins and currency. You can’t do that online. The Effects of Online Banking There are still 77,500 bank branches in the U.S., which sounds like a lot, but it’s 12,500 fewer than five years ago. As more and more people do their banking online, traditional banks need fewer branches. You’ve probably noticed some of them closing in your area. We’ll probably always need brick-and-mortar banks—just fewer of them. So, with both online banks and online banking, it doesn’t matter where the bank is, and it also doesn’t matter where you are. You can do almost everything that needs to be done on your computer or smartphone. Now that’s convenient. Don’t ever use public Wi-Fi for your banking or any financial transaction. It’s too easy for hackers to steal your personal information. Now, there’s another massive advantage of online banking that few people think about. It doesn’t matter where the financial institution is; you can select any bank or credit union for your banking needs. You may have chosen a particular bank because they have many branches or even one branch conveniently located along your way home from work. Direct deposit long ago removed the need to stop and deposit a paycheck, but now you can deposit any check with your smartphone. Is there much of a difference between banks? Aren’t they all pretty much the same? Actually, no. Wouldn’t it be great to know that your financial institution supports Christian values making a positive change in the world and providing excellent service? Wouldn’t you want it to prioritize people over profit? Profit is not bad, but it can’t be the only priority. Stewardship is about 100% of what God gives us, not just the 10% in the offering plate. What if you could find and support faith-based institutions to help Christ's followers live and give more abundantly? Online banking can give you faith-aligned options once you choose an institution that aligns with your values. There are many great faith-aligned banks and credit unions available today. One example is Christian Community Credit Union, an underwriter of this program. Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU) CCCU offers online banking that can be accessed from anywhere in the country. It’s a great example of how our banking decisions can positively impact the kingdom. CCCU has donated over $6 million to ministry and mission projects in the U.S. and worldwide. And they’re using banking to leverage the money their members deposit with them to help construct new church buildings, expand ministries, and help Christian business owners thrive. If you’re looking for a faith-based banking solution that aligns with your beliefs and values, I’d encourage you to consider Christian Community Credit Union. Plus, each account is insured for up to $250,000 by ASI. You can find out more at JoinChristianCommunity.com. That’s JoinChristianCommunity.com. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Christian Community Credit UnionThe Sound Mind Investing Handbook by Austin Pryor and Mark BillerTrusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management by Matt...

God Owns Everything Now, to be sure, the message that God owns everything—and we don’t—is something we need to hear repeatedly. That’s probably why the Bible repeats this teaching several times. Job needed reminding. Job 38:1-5 reads, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know!’” Psalm 24:1-2 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. And of course, Colossians 1:16 reads, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” This is a message that we need to hear constantly. It frees us from getting too attached to our money and possessions because they’re not our money and possessions—they belong to God. Putting Things Into Perspective You may have heard the story about the believer who took this to heart. He’d saved and saved to buy a new car, but soon after taking possession, he got into a fender bender. But he didn’t get upset. He shrugged it off and thought, “I wonder why God wanted His car to get in an accident?” That would undoubtedly be difficult, but it makes things much easier if you think of yourself only as a steward and not an owner. Okay, we’ve got stewardship covered, but what about that deeper meaning in these verses? For that, we need to consider the larger passage of Psalm 50— verses 10 through 15: “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” The psalmist is warning Israel that they’ve become legalistic with their sacrifices. They had come to put value on the sacrifices and, by extension, themselves. God already owns the beasts of the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills— indeed all the cattle on all the hills. He owns all creatures wild and tamed, the fowls in the mountains and beasts of the fields. That said, how could He possibly be impressed with the burnt offerings of the Israelites? They were just giving him back a tiny bit of what He already owned— and then patting themselves on the back for it. Nonetheless, God did require Israel to make those sacrifices to cover sin and something else temporarily. Note verse 14 again: “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.” This verse gives us the context we need to put things in perspective. That passage and others like it are about giving and our hearts' attitude. They’re not about legalism and checking boxes. Galatians 2:16 reads, “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ … by works of the law no one will be justified.” Cultivating An Attitude Of Gratitude When we give purely out of gratitude— expecting nothing and taking no pride in it— and certainly not to earn our way into heaven— only then are we giving Him the loyalty of our hearts. God is a spiritual being. What use does he have for earthly things? None, of course. He wants our hearts. He wants us to worship him in spirit and truth. Our tithing and gifts must only be tributes to our gratitude for what He has already given us—not just material things but the priceless gift of His Son Jesus Christ for our eternal salvation. We must...

At the most recent Kingdom Advisors Conference, John shared an incredible story about some friends of his and an inheritance decision they made: “I’ve got some friends who are a super sharp young couple in their 30s. His Father shared that he was about to give them a vast, multi-million-dollar inheritance. Amazing! But they had been reflecting carefully on money and faith for months. They said, ‘We are so grateful for this, but we’re already OK. And if we got this money, we’d start to rely on the shifting sands of this money for our security, instead of the firm foundation of Christ.’ Long story short, they worked with his Dad to use that money to advance God’s Kingdom through giving. I was blown away by that decision.” Three Ways That Jesus Interacted With Wealthy People So, if we go through the four Gospels and find the times Jesus interacted with a wealthy person, it happened a lot. He had a pretty unique pattern, and it was three things: So for us, in our wealth today, Jesus loves us, invites us, and challenges us. Jesus said You can’t serve God and money. Money promises us Pleasure, Possessions, Protection, and Position, but it can’t give us those things. We have to look for God to get them eternally and in truth. Is Jesus challenging us to sell our possessions and give everything to the poor? While he might ask us to do that, this is the only time Jesus tells anyone to sell it all in Scripture. Zacchaeus gave away half of his wealth, Peter left his boats, and Nicodemus, after the crucifixion, spent a fortune on the burial spices for Jesus, gaoing public with his faith. The beauty is that it will look different for each of us as we read Scripture carefully and listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But we can be sure God will challenge us to mobilize our wealth in this world to bless people and to bring Him glory. How can we use our wealth to honor God and bless others? We want to invite them into a deeper, right relationship with God and others. There are four areas where we can do this: When we use our wealth for the benefit of others, it makes us richer spiritually. God is with us in that. How can people can learn more about biblical generosity? There’s a great ministry that works closely with Kingdom Advisors. It's called Generous Giving, and its video stories of Christian givers could greatly encourage anyone. Going to GenerousGiving.org, you can find dozens of sermons, stories, and resources to encourage you. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: True Riches: What Jesus Really Said About Money and Your Heart by John Cortines and Gregory BaumerGod and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School by John Cortines and Gregory BaumerGenerousGiving.orgSound Mind InvestingRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

The Playbook for Chronic Anxiety It's generated by assumptions, expectations, false beliefs, and false needs. So, if we can uncover false needs, we can learn to die to them and relax into God's sovereignty. This is a compelling way to grow in our relationship with faith. We can use our anxiety triggers to open our souls up to God's presence. What is an assumption you hold about yourself that's unreasonable? If you’re a perfectionist, almost every assumption you hold about yourself is unreasonable. Think about it. When was the last time you looked at your work and said, "That was well done." Perfectionism is always chasing a carrot we can never reach. It’s a treadmill to nowhere. Anxiety has a competing gospel. The idea out of all of the gospels is that this is the only gospel where God pays and the human benefits. In every other belief system, the human pays and the god benefits. If you think about ancient sacrifice systems, even in the Roman Empire and the Egyptian Empire back in the days of Moses, humans paid, and the gods benefited. In the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus's nickname was the son of god and the most profound confession of faith in Rome was Caesar is lord. And along come Luke and Paul, and they say, "Nope." The people paid and paid, and Caesar got all the benefits. For perfectionists, this message will free you when you realize that perfectionism is a gospel that makes you pay for its benefits. The Treadmill To Nowhere God is not asking you to be perfect. God is asking you to be human-sized. You're expecting yourself to be perfect. You are living out of a gospel of self. Whether you’re a perfectionist or a people pleaser, you’ll realize you can never please people enough because it is forever a carrot out of reach. Or a treadmill with no end in sight. Chronic anxiety is like a personal trainer tapeworm. If you’ve ever had a tapeworm, you usually don’t even know you have it because they are so small and feed off your energy. That’s how they grow. That's what anxiety does. It grows by consuming you, and like perfectionism or people pleasing, it puts you on a treadmill to nowhere. As you run, it’s pushing the incline and go-faster buttons into burnout, and you're not getting anywhere. God doesn’t want us to be anxious, especially about finances. We need only to be faithful stewards and trust Him to provide because He always does. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Being Human with Steve Cuss (A Podcast by Christianity Today)The Expectation Gap: The Tiny, Vast Space between Our Beliefs and Experience of God by Steve CussNew York State - Department of Financial ServicesRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

The Power of Trust “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”This establishes our role as stewards and God as the owner, which gives us the freedom to look to Him for His plans for our money and not worry about our plans. The Power of Focus The power of focus is to ask God what the next thing He would have us do is and to focus on that one thing until we progress on it before moving to the next. “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”Research shows we can't multitask, so focusing on one goal at a time is essential. The Power of Priorities We can think of financial priorities for the "live, give, grow” pie, starting with the 10/10/80 principle—give 10% first, save/grow 10%, and use the remaining 80% for living expenses. Prioritize giving first, then growing, then living expenses. The big priorities within living are housing, transportation, and food, and we should keep those to less than half of our take-home pay. The Power of Planning We must spend money on purpose by making a plan on paper or digitally before each month begins. We recommend using a budgeting app like FaithFi to digitally allocate money to "envelopes" each month for planned expenses. Larry Burkett popularized the envelope system in the past, and even digitally savvy couples sometimes find it helpful to use cash envelopes to control their spending in some categories better. The Power of Cash If you only use cash, you can’t easily go into debt. Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”The Power of Decision-Making God’s Word teaches that we can always go to Him when unsure of what to do. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”Here is a flowchart approach to decision-making, asking questions like if the expense is essential, whether it will help or hurt financial goals, whether it can wait, and whether there are less expensive options: On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

What does Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls do? They are Buckner International's largest humanitarian aid project. Their mission is to follow Jesus' example by serving vulnerable children, families, and seniors. One way they do that is through partnerships like Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, where they come alongside believers in churches, businesses, and families throughout the U.S. to provide new shoes for children worldwide. Why are shoes important for health, education, and opportunity, especially in underdeveloped countries? Children can't go to school without shoes in many countries where they work, so Buckner promotes education by providing that gift. Additionally, wearing shoes makes many foot-borne illnesses in some communities entirely preventable. Many of the shoes they distribute also allow Buckner ministries to meet and come alongside children and families in their community, providing redemptive ministry for them. How do shoes pave the way for sharing the Gospel? Every pair of shoes is an opportunity to directly connect with the child and let them know they're loved, cared for, and not forgotten by us or God. Additionally, every pair of shoes will have an encouraging note to them, often expressing the love of Christ for them. Every pair of shoes is often the start of a relationship between the recipient and Buckner ministries where Christ-centered redemptive ministry is being done. How can people get involved with Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls? GiveShoesToday.orgOn Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: GiveShoesToday.orgBankrate.comRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

What options and rates do Christian Health Ministries offer? CHM is not health insurance, but medical cost-sharing, and nonprofit, enabling us to keep member costs down. CHM shares 100% of eligible medical bills, over $10 billion since its founding in 1981. Here are some of the plan costs to start (for individuals): BronzeSilverGoldSenior ShareHow is being a member of Christian Healthcare Ministries more flexible than most health insurance plans? CHM members are not limited to a provider network. They can go to any doctor or hospital if the treatment is eligible according to CHM guidelines. This gives members more flexibility and control over their healthcare than typical health insurance plans. Where does CHM’s ministry concept originate? CHM draws its concepts from the New Testament, where the Book of Acts says that all the believers pooled their resources together and shared what they had. So, CHM practically does that nowadays with medical costs. The spiritual component of what they do is vital to CHM, as they also pray for each other and send cards and emails of encouragement. It is an excellent example of the body of Christ serving one another. Where can people get more information? chministries.org/faithfi On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Christian Healthcare MinistriesNational Association of Insurance CommissionersRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

What does it mean to be Rich Toward God? It doesn't mean just giving money and possessions away. Anyone can do that. And the spiritual ramifications are different depending on your heart. But Jesus is inviting us to set our hearts on an imperishable inheritance. So here's the context, a man from the crowd asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, and Jesus deflects that question. He gets to the heart of the issue by telling a parable about man's greed and envy, not just the man who asked the question or had the issue, but ours. So this parable is about a rich man who poured his whole heart into accumulating and essentially worshiping his wealth and died before he could enjoy it. So obviously, perishable worldly inheritance is a false solution. Where can we find more about this imperishable inheritance? 1 Peter 1:3-9 talks about our inheritance as believers, which calls it imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. And here are a few things the passage says about our inheritance. It includes a living hope in Christ, which is an eternal hope. Because we have the mind and spirit of Christ, we can also have joy amid trial. And then we have our genuine faith, which it says is more precious than gold. The result of faith in Jesus Christ is what we long for, and that's the salvation of our souls and abundant life. That's our imperishable inheritance. How should Christians view wealth? The Bible isn’t saying that money is evil and it’s not even saying that wealth is evil. There is nowhere in Scripture that condemns someone for being rich. Money is just a tool, it’s a matter of the heart. God’s concern is with the use of money and your attitude towards money, not the amount. Is wealth dangerous? It definitely can be when it becomes our priority. Paul David Tripp once said, “Money is one of God’s good creations, but this good thing becomes a bad thing for you when it becomes a ruling thing. You simply cannot serve the King of Kings and have acquisition of wealth as the organizing dream of your heart.” So what is Jesus inviting us into? Jesus is inviting us to set our hearts on imperishable things. Jesus is calling us to make him the desire of our hearts every moment of every day. He's asking us to surrender our lives our plans and our finances to him, to allow Him to be our ultimate treasure. Jesus invites us to say that God is our abundance now and we have an imperishable inheritance in heaven. That's good news for everyone! You can get a copy for personal study or several copies for everyone in your Bible study group to experience together. Visit FaithFi.com/rtg to purchase Rich Toward God today. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: SavingForCollege.comRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Must-Have Financial Skills The first “skill” is an attitude. The Bible says God owns everything, as in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Understand that nothing belongs to you, even you. You are a manager of God’s resources, which should change your perspective on money and material things. The number two financial skill you’ll need is planning. “A dream without a plan is just a wish,” they say. And wishes won’t buy you a house. The fundamental planning tool we recommend is a budget, otherwise known as a “spending plan.” A budget keeps track of your income, giving, and spending, and gives you a picture of your progress towards meeting your financial goals. Download the free FaithFi app to get started. The following fundamental financial skill everyone needs is work! Maybe your dad always told you that “Money Doesn’t Grow on trees!” Annoying as that was, it’s the truth. So, start at the bottom if you have to, work hard, and develop your resume! Colossians 3:23 and 24 see the key to successful work: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” The next skill is to open and manage a bank account. Then, make sure you develop habits of giving and saving from every paycheck. Watching your balance increase will encourage you to stick to your plan. Keeping track of your bank balance will also help you understand your limits. You can’t spend what isn’t there. The following skill will also help you understand your limits. Learn about credit. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that a credit card equals permission to spend all you want. Instead, keep track of your balances, pay your balances in full every month, and watch your credit score. Another essential financial skill you’ll need is an understanding of investing, including types of investments, risk, and return. Check out the great information at SoundMindinvesting.org. Finally, admit you don’t know it all and learn where to go for solid financial advice. As Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Visit faithfi.com and click on the “Community” tab to chat online about your money questions. Or, ask someone you trust, who knows about finances, to help you. Now more than ever, young adults need financial skills to succeed in the “real world”. Our challenge to our bright and hopeful “Gen Z” generation is to pursue a firm faith and financial literacy. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Movement MortgageNational Christian FoundationFidelityCharles SchwabRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

The 4-Step Process For How Busy Moms (Or Stay-At-Home Dads) Can Get Control Of Their Time Pray Prioritize Plan Prep On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal PaineMoneySavingMom.comCareer DirectNail Your Next Job Interview: Faith & Finance EpisodeRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

What is the risk of playing it too safe? That does seem like a bit of a riddle, but we can start to make sense of it by first exploring a behavioral phenomenon called “loss aversion.” Researchers have found that most people feel the pain of losing money roughly twice as strongly as the joy of gaining money. To say it again clearly: losses feel twice as bad as gains feel good. This naturally causes many people to be “loss averse” and try to avoid losses, sometimes to such a substantial degree that it undermines their long-term goals. One of the trickiest parts of investing is taking enough risk to meet your long-term goals without taking more risk than necessary. There are very tangible steps we can take to reduce or mitigate risk—things like maintaining an emergency savings fund to minimize the risk of a financial emergency, such as a job loss or an unexpected major expense. When it comes to investing, diversifying your holdings rather than putting all your eggs in one basket is an example. Can someone be too risk-averse? Sometimes, we actually increase our long-term risk by playing it too safe. One example is young people not investing aggressively enough, letting the opportunity for long-term compounding slip away. This is ironic because young people are often stereotyped as inherently bold risk-takers. We read stories about them buying meme stocks, Bitcoin, and other risky investments. But the broad research on Gen Z — adults ages 27 or younger — doesn’t back that up. A recent national study found that Gen Zers are the least financially confident generation and 57% think savings accounts are the best way to invest their money. Most financial pros would agree that savings accounts are an extremely conservative choice for those with several decades of investing time ahead of them. Even the next age demographic, the Millennials (ages 28 to 43), appear to be surprisingly risk-averse. A different Schwab study last year found that Millennials were especially interested in bonds. Bonds are generally the favorite of retirees, not 28-to-43-year-olds. These surveys indicate that younger investors are arguably too loss-averse and are making investing choices that are likely to impair their ability to build long-term wealth significantly. It’s fair to point out that previous generations didn’t have that same inclination when they were younger and less experienced investors. There’s a disconnect between making a safe 5% in a savings account or bond today and not recognizing the impact inflation is likely to have on that relatively low rate of return. Young people should target the higher returns of stocks over the decades they’re saving for retirement so they can grow the purchasing power of their savings at a faster rate than inflation over the course of their careers. What are you seeing with new retirees? Retirees often fall into the same trap. A 65-year-old new retiree who has all her retirement savings in cash told us she could live just fine on Social Security and the $450 she took out of her retirement savings each month. When we asked how long her savings would last if she kept taking out $450 each month, she knew the answer immediately—a little more than 25 years. She had run the numbers and thought she was in good shape. But she isn’t because she failed to factor in the rising cost of living. Because of inflation’s corrosive power, $450 will buy far less in the future than it does today. That means her standard of living will decline steadily as the years pass. That investor doesn’t want to take any risk. But ironically by playing it so safe, they aren’t just risking the possibility of financial trouble down the road, they’re guaranteeing it. How do we prevent that from happening? Investors normally need to accept some degree of risk to prepare for the future. That typically means maintaining at least some exposure to stocks even after retirement age, because these days, a person needs to plan for a...

What To Do When You’re Treated Unfairly Money is often the issue when we interact with others, and it’s a powerful motivator to strike back when we feel we’re being mistreated. Losing money we feel we deserve to have can make us feel bitter. But Hebrews 12:15 tells us, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” We live in a fallen world filled with fallen people, and we’ll all experience mistreatment at one time or another. It’s important to remember that you’re one of those fallen people, too. Your first instinct might be to lash out against someone who’s mistreating you, but that is not a biblical response to mistreatment. Instead, look to Christ as your model. No one suffered more injustice and mistreatment than Jesus. In 1 Peter 2:20-22, the apostle tells us how a Christian should respond to mistreatment. It reads, “When you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” That’s a high bar to reach, but Peter tells us how to respond like Christ to injustice in verses 23 and 24. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” Responding Like Christ Trusting God to work for good in all your affairs is the key to responding like Christ to injustice. Psalm 37:4-6 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” One of the most significant examples of a Christ-like response to injustice is found in Genesis and the story of Joseph. He was first sold into slavery by his brothers, then wrongly accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. Yet Joseph never reacted ungodly to injustice. He even went on to save his brothers and all of Israel when famine struck. Joseph trusted God, who eventually used Joseph’s mistreatment in a powerful way. God tests us the same way when we suffer injustice. He expects us to respond like Christ. This doesn’t mean that we must quietly accept every injustice that comes our way. It’s not unbiblical to state your case in truth and love; the result must be left to God. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Here at FaithFi, we always want to help you manage your time, talent and treasure. And make no mistake—do-it-yourself preventive maintenance is a wise use of all three of those gifts you received from God. The more time and talent you have, the less of your treasure you’ll have to use to get things done. But if you don’t have the physical ability or know-how to do any of the chores on our list, it’s also wise to hire someone to do them. Now, of course, we always use the Bible as our ultimate guide, and Proverbs 14:23 tells us, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” That means we’d better get started with our list! Of course, it’s also wise to have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean the coils and service the outside unit—and that’s not a D-I-Y project. An annual maintenance checkup to clean coils, change filters and possibly add coolant can add years of service to the unit. Definitely worth having done. You may also want to start saving a little each month toward a new roof. They do wear out, and these days can cost anything from $7,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the size of your house. Set up a separate savings account that can earn interest until your roof needs replacement. and careful If you can stop water from coming out of the faucet, the pipe inside your home is probably ruptured from freezing. Turn the water off immediately and replace the entire faucet unit. Unless you’re very handy, you’ll probably have to call a plumber for that one. By the way, if you’re wondering why the pipe inside your house wasn’t leaking all winter, it’s because the actual shut off valve for the faucet is in the pipe a foot or more inside the house. That prevents flooding if the pipe closest to the outside wall is ruptured. to begin with, Okay, those are your spring maintenance tips. We hope they help you to have an enjoyable summer season. Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

The Danger Of Covetousness Covetousness is what happens when you see someone else’s possessions and want them for yourself. It’s part envy and part greed, and completely sinful. But what’s so dangerous about that kind of desire? Well, like any sin, its first effect is to draw you away from a right relationship with God. Envy can also destroy your relationships with other people. When you’re zeroing in on getting and keeping what you want, you’re putting your fleshly desires in God’s place. Selfishness obliterates your ability to love God and other people. One problem with a materialistic mindset is that you start to believe “more is always better”, and you never have enough. Ultimately, covetousness is just a treadmill of frustration and desire. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon calls it “chasing after the wind.” Jesus warns his followers against this sin, but he also gives them-–and us-–the key to a better way of living: “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”. In other words, you won’t find lasting satisfaction in getting more stuff. Material things just can’t give you the life you crave. So, what kind of abundance does produce life?” Finding Fulfillment In God As Luke 12 recounts, Jesus gives the answer in a story we know as “The Parable of the Rich Fool”. He tells of a rich man who is so enamored of his possessions that he decides to tear down his storehouses and build bigger ones, promising himself a long and relaxing retirement. Before the rich man can fulfill his selfish dreams, God comes to him and says, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” Jesus’s next words serve as a warning, but also a promise for those who “have ears to hear”: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” As always, Jesus is addressing the hearts of his followers. He knows we live in a physical world, surrounded by desirable things. But God created men and women for more than just temporary worldly pleasures and achievements. According to Ecclesiastes 3:11, He has also set eternity in the human heart. What we really want, at our core, is abundant life. What we want is God Himself. To possess a relationship with the Lord is to be full of His abundance – to be “rich toward God”. Here’s what Jesus says about this in John 10:9. “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Experiencing God’s Abundance Throughout the New Testament, and specifically in the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus urges us to take the focus off “me” and “my stuff” and put it where it belongs–on Him. True abundance comes from a personal, intimate relationship with God, through Christ. In John 15:5 Jesus confirms this: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” The tragedy of the Rich Fool is not that his life was cut short…but that he was looking for abundance in all the wrong places. In his pride and greed, he gave up the opportunity to abide in God and serve others. He failed to choose a life that was eternally “rich toward God”. Instead, he pursued a foolish life that was rich toward himself. So, are you experiencing abundant life? If not, here’s what you can do right now to turn things around: First, get things right between you and the Lord. Surrender your life to Christ. Here’s the promise from John 1:12 “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” When your desires are getting in the way, and pride and envy are making you miserable, tell the Lord about it and ask for his help. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Another...

Relational Effects Of Lending Money Proverbs 22:7 reads, “The borrower becomes slave to the lender.” Lending money can hurt a relationship. And that can happen whether you lend the money or not. You’re “between a rock and a hard place,” and it seems like either way, someone may end up resentful. There are really only three things that can happen and only one of them is good: It’s only the third possibility that makes everyone happy: Fortunately, God’s Word gives us guidance here. What does the Bible say? First, God’s Word tells us to help those in need…lending money if necessary. Deuteronomy 15:8 says, “You shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” Turning to the New Testament, in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:42, Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” And finally, a verse that might make you think the only proper response is to lend money to a family member, in particular, is 1 Timothy 5:8, which reads, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” So should you always lend money when asked? Not at all. The above Scriptures imply a couple of things: Here Scripture has more to say: Proverbs 13:11 warns about one possible outcome of lending money. It reads, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” Getting a loan is often the “easy way out.” Maybe the borrower tells you the loan would be a “lifeline”—which it may be. But it’s also “easy money” and the borrower may not appreciate the effort it takes to create that wealth. When you have to work hard for something…you tend to want to hold onto it. Hard work produces character and wisdom. Proverbs 21:20 reads, “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” How can I discern a real need? So before you get out the checkbook, think carefully about whether there’s a real need. You also have to be sure that lending the money will actually help the borrower. Here are some questions to ask yourself: But again, only do that if you can afford it and the gift doesn’t encourage more financial mismanagement. Finally, If you do decide to lend the money, draw up a written agreement—even if you’re lending to a family member. When something’s in writing, it clarifies things and makes it known who’s responsible for what and when. The loan agreement should specify the amount, interest rate if any, payment structure and collateral, if any. That will help eliminate misunderstandings later on. You can find lots of promissory note templates online. Just fill in the blanks. One final thought if you end up lending the money—make preserving the relationship your priority. Be prepared to forgive the loan if it keeps the relationship intact. But that’s only possible if you have the ability to lose it in the first place. So those are some things to consider before lending money to a family member or friend, based on God’s Word. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Sound Mind InvestingRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

What is the main problem with any investment that guarantees returns, such as annuities? They’re always a tradeoff. Guarantees come with a cost. Typically, the lower the risk, the lower the return. What does the Bible say about this? You won’t find the word “annuities'' in the Bible, but there is a biblical principle to guide us on this topic. The Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25 reveals that one of the servants buried his talent in the ground. The master asked why he did that and the servant said he was afraid, and the master was displeased. All too often, annuities are marketed and purchased based on fear. What should we look out for? There are three different types of annuities: Fixed, Indexed, and Variable. Whatever the annuity, it always makes your money less liquid and available. And if you’re going to leave that money alone for a long period of time, why not invest in the things the insurance companies are investing in (the market)? Just take a long-term approach and diversify properly. There are some limited situations in which an annuity makes sense. That could be a situation in which you’ve exhausted other investment options. Seek out a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®) if you want to evaluate annuities for your needs. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Freewill.comLegalzoom.comAmerican Red CrossRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi AppFidelityCharles Schwab Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Why do reverse mortgages still have a bit of a PR problem? Many people are not aware that federal regulations were put in place in 1988 to address issues with the product and protect consumers. However, some bad players still gave the product a bad reputation by taking advantage of vulnerable seniors in the past. Now there are new laws and safeguards by the FHA for widows to be protected and financial assessments to assure someone can afford taxes and maintenance which are recent within the last 10 years or so to eliminate problems in the program. How is a HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) reverse mortgage similar to a Swiss Army knife? There are so many different ways to use them. Just like a Swiss army knife has multiple tools, reverse mortgages can be used for various purposes beyond just being a loan of last resort. This is in contrast to many people's perception that reverse mortgages are only designed for people who are broke. How can a reverse mortgage help keep your Medicare premiums low? A reverse mortgage can help keep Medicare premiums low because the money received from a reverse mortgage is not considered taxable income. It does not generate a 1099 or W-2 form like withdrawing money from other retirement accounts might. Since the reverse mortgage funds are not reported as income, it does not count towards calculating the "IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount)" that can cause Medicare premiums to increase substantially for some seniors. Taking money from a reverse mortgage avoids this unexpected Medicare premium increase. How could a reverse mortgage help with Long-Term Care? Can a reverse mortgage actually keep you in your house? Yes! A reverse mortgage can help keep seniors in their homes. While paying off a mortgage eliminates the monthly principal and interest payment, homeowners still have costs like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and homeowners association fees that increase over time. A reverse mortgage can provide funds to pay these ongoing costs and allow seniors to stay in their homes rather than feeling pressure to sell and move to a less expensive area, which may involve capital gains taxes. The equity in their home can be used to cover rising costs and keep seniors in the place they want to live. How can people get more information? Movement.com/Faithreverserequest@movement.comOn Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Use Your Home To Stay At Home (A Brochure from The National Council on Aging)Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages: The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement by Harlan AccolaMovement MortgageRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

So, how much is enough for Christians? If you’re just starting out, or struggling financially, “How much is enough?” might seem like a silly question. The bottom line for you is that you just need more money at the moment! Why should you think about “how much is enough” when you hardly have anything? And what if you’re at the other end of things? If you’re approaching retirement, you might be thinking about the size of your nest egg. But why put a limit on accumulating money and possessions? Based on these two examples, the definition of “enough” seems to depend on what stage of life you’re in. Well, let’s look at what the Bible has to say about what’s “enough”. In Luke 12:15, Jesus says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Jesus is making a rather unexpected statement: Getting more money is never the goal, no matter how old you are. Jesus As The Source Of Life The desire of every human heart is for life, which means satisfying, abundant, purposeful existence. So, when Jesus says “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions,” he’s pointing away from money as the source of life, and to something else. That something else is Himself. Here’s what Jesus says: “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’”“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”So, our deepest needs for relationship and purpose are met in Christ. He is enough. But what about the things we need to survive, day to day? Well, believers in Christ serve a God who promises to “meet all our needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Trusting God For Daily Needs In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds his followers not to be anxious about food, or clothing, or shelter. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” This means… you will always have enough of what you need to live, and you can trust God to know what that is. Anything beyond that is a gift. Following Jesus means acknowledging God’s sovereignty and his ownership of everything. As the Holy Spirit works in your heart, your motivation to accumulate gradually changes from self-centered to God-centered. With Jesus as Lord of your life, your idea of “enough” begins to change, too…because you’re trusting God to meet your needs…and your desires start to line up with what God wants. You will begin to “desire less” of worldly things, and “more” of Christ. All this is part of the miraculous heart-change that happens when God gets hold of you. So, while the worldly person is asking, “How can I get more?”, the Christian asks, “How can I love God more?” As a loving Father, God not only provides for daily needs, but he provides satisfying Kingdom work for his children to do. James 1:7 says, “Everygood and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights”. Out of gratitude and a desire to be more like Jesus, we look for ways to serve others with what God has provided. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10 So, consider this…“How much is enough?” may actually be the wrong question. For believers, the real question is, “Who is enough?” Following Christ is the way to peace, joy and abundant life. No matter what your financial situation is, ask God to change your heart. He will change your desire for accumulation…into a desire for less stuff and more Jesus. The rest will fall into place. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Resources Mentioned: Social Security Administration (ssa.gov)Christian Credit CounselorsRich...