May 19, 2025 • 10 mins
As you look at the stock market, inflation, and rising interest rates, are you are feeling fearful right now? Friday on Mornings with Eric and Brigitte, Kingdom Advisor, Rob West will help us refocus to see money though a Biblical lens that will offer wisdom in the middle of uncertainty.
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Episode Transcript
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S1 (00:05):
You're listening to mornings with Eric and Bridget right here
on Moody Radio 89.3.
S2 (00:10):
You know, sometimes it's nice when things are calm. You know,
not too exciting. Just. Just kind of smooth sailing. I
feel like that describes my weekends. Uh, you know, went
to dinner with my sister on Friday. Gibbs and I
went for one of those epic beach walks. Even though
it was scorching hot, we still did it. But your
weekend was a little bit more topsy turvy.
S1 (00:31):
You had a nice, relaxing weekend. Yeah, ours wasn't ours. Uh,
one thing led to the next, and we were doing, like,
a repair here and clean up there, and it wasn't expected.
And then whenever things like that happen, you start spending
money on this, and then, okay, the house is flipped
(00:52):
upside down and the kitchen's a little bit of a
mess because you haven't had that. So now we're going
out to eat because it just was easier. And so I,
we spent money on that. And it's just, you know,
we didn't expect to spend any of that, but we
had to to get the house back under control, basically.
And there's still some things that have to be dealt with.
You know, that's there's the grander economy. There's everything that's
(01:15):
happening in the nation and the globe, basically. But then
there's also what's happening in your own little backyard, right.
And that affects you. So the economy might be going
great or it might be going bad and you could
be doing fine, or you could be doing really bad.
I mean, it doesn't mean we can say a lot
about the economy and how things look nationally or whatever,
(01:37):
but it really comes down to how are you doing
personally and what can you do to prepare yourself personally
for whatever struggle you're going through.
S2 (01:46):
Which is why we want to get some wisdom on
this topic. It's Rob West is joining us. It's nice
when things are calm when we're talking about the economy,
but that's really not where we've been the last few months,
have we?
S3 (01:58):
Well, that's exactly right. And good morning. Thanks for having
me today. Yeah, you're exactly right. I mean, economic uncertainty
is certain. And so we need to go into it
knowing that economic uncertainty is nothing new. And it's actually
something Scripture prepares us for. But wisdom helps us respond
with trust in God and continue our generosity toward others,
(02:21):
and be faithful in stewarding God's resources, no matter the
situation that we find ourselves in. Uh, and, Eric, you're
exactly right. You know, it's ultimately about our own mini economy,
what passes through our hands that we're responsible for. And
so that's why we need to be thoughtful about it.
We don't need to shrink back. We need to realize
(02:43):
we're the hands and feet of Jesus. And what an
opportunity to be a testimony as we continue to give,
as we continue to, to steward well what God has
entrusted to us, no matter what's going on economically around us.
S1 (02:56):
So what does Scripture tell us in times of uncertainty
or times of personal struggle financially, what does it tell
us to kind of steady us?
S3 (03:05):
Yeah. You know, we've been spending a lot of time
at Faith fi in the book of Ecclesiastes. We actually
have a new study coming out this month called Wisdom
Over Wealth 12 Lessons on Money from Ecclesiastes. And it's
such a rich chapter or book. But in chapter seven,
verse 14, listen to this. In the days of prosperity,
be joyful and in the day of adversity, consider. God
(03:26):
has made one as well as the other. And I
think that's a reminder that God is sovereign over both
abundance and adversity. You see, he doesn't waste any season
whether financial markets are up or down, inflation's up or down. Tariffs.
It doesn't matter. He remains in control and is always
at work for our good and his glory. So we
(03:48):
can't predict what's going to happen. But what we can
do is say, Lord, I will continue to be faithful
with what you've entrusted to me. No matter the circumstances. And, um,
I could share some very simple, not easy, but simple
principles that will help us move in that direction.
S2 (04:05):
Yeah, I'd love to get there. But just as you're talking,
Rob with a picture that comes to mind is the story.
When Jesus and his disciples were on the boat and
the winds and everything was going on around them, but
yet Jesus was asleep because he was calm and he
knew that he was going to take faithfully take his
disciples to the other side. And we can have that
confidence that as the kind of economic winds swirl, that
(04:29):
he's going to be faithful in our lives as well.
S3 (04:32):
Boy, that is such a good point. And you're exactly right,
because we know he's ultimately our provider. It's not our employer,
it's not the US government. God is our provider, and
he will never abdicate that responsibility so he can be trusted.
And I love the opportunity to continue to hold loosely
what God has entrusted to us, even during times of uncertainty.
(04:53):
Because one of the things Ron Blue, one of my
mentors and author, says, he says money is a tool.
We know where to use it for God's purposes. And
it's a test because it can compete with our hearts
for first position. But it's also a testimony. You see,
the way we handle money is a testimony to the world,
and even more so in times of adversity or uncertainty.
(05:16):
As we continue to say, God, I will give. I
will continue to be connected to what you're doing through
my generosity, even when things are uncertain, which is the
ultimate demonstration of trust and an understanding that God is
ultimately our provider.
S1 (05:32):
All right. So you said there were some things that
we can kind of actively do to be financially faithful,
even when things are feeling like shifting sand under our feet.
S3 (05:44):
Yeah, that's exactly right. So five simple money management principles. Again,
not necessarily easy to do, but they're simple in concept.
And the first and you won't be surprised is live
within your means. You know, because every financial success flows
from you being able to live within God's provision that
will allow you to live outside it. Reject that. Live
(06:05):
within God's provision. Which leads us to number two. And
that is, avoid the use of debt, because debt mortgage
is the future. And if you're already in that place,
let's dial back our spending and really focus on being
able to pay down that debt, because that gives us flexibility,
especially if something unexpected will happen. Which leads us to
number three, because after we live within our means and
(06:27):
avoid debt, we want to have some margin or some liquidity.
Margin is what's left over at the end of the month,
which is the only way you're ever going to be
able to pay down that debt, or give more, or
save for the future, or start that business you've been
thinking about. That margin is key to accomplishing your longer
term financial goals, which leads to number four. And that
(06:48):
is you need to have long term goals because the
longer term your perspective, the better the decision you're going
to make today. And then number five, give generously because
giving breaks the grip of money over our lives. And
so if we do those five things in any economy,
it doesn't mean we will be without challenge. We live
in a fallen world. We're going to have plenty of challenges,
(07:10):
but we can trust God knowing he is the owner.
We are the steward, and if we follow those principles
we find right in Scripture, we'll at least put ourselves
in a position, I think, to experience God's best.
S1 (07:22):
How do we get there? I mean, for someone who
hasn't checked off those boxes, how do we get to
that point? I mean, it's it's a slow climb, isn't it?
S3 (07:32):
Yeah, it really is. And so it's not an overnight
thing by any means. And I don't want to act
like it is. You know, I think the first is
a perspective and that is knowing that okay, first of all,
I'm going to transfer ownership of this in my mind
back to God where it rightfully belongs, because it's all his.
And I'm going to accept my role as steward, which
means I now have a high calling. I'm a money
(07:54):
manager for the King of Kings. So that's a big deal.
And so once I understand that, then I start to
make small changes and I think I would start with
that spending plan. I would say, listen, I can't do
anything in terms of accomplishing the goals that I have
that align with my values and priorities. As a Christ follower,
I can't do those unless I have some margin. And
(08:16):
so I'm going to start with that budget. I'm going
to get a handle on where's my money actually going,
because you may not totally realize where it's going if
you're not tracking it. And and so I think that
is step one. And then once you have a good
understanding of that, take a hard look at the spending
decisions you're making. Because ultimately they tell a story about
what's most important to you. And I suspect that I'm
(08:36):
looking at myself here too. I suspect there are things
that are important to you that are not reflected in
your budget, because your money is finding its way to
somewhere else. Let's make that change, and let's dial back
that spending. Let's reallocate it, and then let's track it
and have a system to control that. And we built
the Faith VI app for that reason. You'll find it
in your app store. But it's built on Larry Burkett's
(08:58):
tried and true envelope system, but in a digital expression.
But having a system that works for you to control
the flow of money is really key. Now all of
a sudden, when we've dialed back spending and we've got
some margin, now, I feel like we can lift our
head above some of just the the things that are
slowing us down and, and frustrating us, and now actually
make some progress toward the goals that we have. And
(09:21):
then I think at that point, everything else begins to
ripple in your direction.
S2 (09:25):
Great wisdom from Rob West, who's host of Faith and
Finance Live, which you can hear each weekday at 4:00.
And and that includes today. Rob, tell us a little
bit about what we can expect on your program.
S3 (09:38):
Yeah. So today we're actually talking about investing. We're going
to talk about how you align your investments with your
values today, which is a really exciting opportunity.
S2 (09:47):
Excellent. Tune in at 4:00 today for Faith and finance live.
Again every single weekday at 4:00 right here on Moody
Radio 89.3.
S1 (09:55):
All right, Rob, thanks for your wisdom to get our
week started. We greatly appreciate it.
S3 (10:00):
Great to be with you guys.
You're listening to mornings with Eric and Bridget right here
on Moody Radio 89.3.
S2 (00:10):
You know, sometimes it's nice when things are calm. You know,
not too exciting. Just. Just kind of smooth sailing. I
feel like that describes my weekends. Uh, you know, went
to dinner with my sister on Friday. Gibbs and I
went for one of those epic beach walks. Even though
it was scorching hot, we still did it. But your
weekend was a little bit more topsy turvy.
S1 (00:31):
You had a nice, relaxing weekend. Yeah, ours wasn't ours. Uh,
one thing led to the next, and we were doing, like,
a repair here and clean up there, and it wasn't expected.
And then whenever things like that happen, you start spending
money on this, and then, okay, the house is flipped
(00:52):
upside down and the kitchen's a little bit of a
mess because you haven't had that. So now we're going
out to eat because it just was easier. And so I,
we spent money on that. And it's just, you know,
we didn't expect to spend any of that, but we
had to to get the house back under control, basically.
And there's still some things that have to be dealt with.
You know, that's there's the grander economy. There's everything that's
(01:15):
happening in the nation and the globe, basically. But then
there's also what's happening in your own little backyard, right.
And that affects you. So the economy might be going
great or it might be going bad and you could
be doing fine, or you could be doing really bad.
I mean, it doesn't mean we can say a lot
about the economy and how things look nationally or whatever,
(01:37):
but it really comes down to how are you doing
personally and what can you do to prepare yourself personally
for whatever struggle you're going through.
S2 (01:46):
Which is why we want to get some wisdom on
this topic. It's Rob West is joining us. It's nice
when things are calm when we're talking about the economy,
but that's really not where we've been the last few months,
have we?
S3 (01:58):
Well, that's exactly right. And good morning. Thanks for having
me today. Yeah, you're exactly right. I mean, economic uncertainty
is certain. And so we need to go into it
knowing that economic uncertainty is nothing new. And it's actually
something Scripture prepares us for. But wisdom helps us respond
with trust in God and continue our generosity toward others,
(02:21):
and be faithful in stewarding God's resources, no matter the
situation that we find ourselves in. Uh, and, Eric, you're
exactly right. You know, it's ultimately about our own mini economy,
what passes through our hands that we're responsible for. And
so that's why we need to be thoughtful about it.
We don't need to shrink back. We need to realize
(02:43):
we're the hands and feet of Jesus. And what an
opportunity to be a testimony as we continue to give,
as we continue to, to steward well what God has
entrusted to us, no matter what's going on economically around us.
S1 (02:56):
So what does Scripture tell us in times of uncertainty
or times of personal struggle financially, what does it tell
us to kind of steady us?
S3 (03:05):
Yeah. You know, we've been spending a lot of time
at Faith fi in the book of Ecclesiastes. We actually
have a new study coming out this month called Wisdom
Over Wealth 12 Lessons on Money from Ecclesiastes. And it's
such a rich chapter or book. But in chapter seven,
verse 14, listen to this. In the days of prosperity,
be joyful and in the day of adversity, consider. God
(03:26):
has made one as well as the other. And I
think that's a reminder that God is sovereign over both
abundance and adversity. You see, he doesn't waste any season
whether financial markets are up or down, inflation's up or down. Tariffs.
It doesn't matter. He remains in control and is always
at work for our good and his glory. So we
(03:48):
can't predict what's going to happen. But what we can
do is say, Lord, I will continue to be faithful
with what you've entrusted to me. No matter the circumstances. And, um,
I could share some very simple, not easy, but simple
principles that will help us move in that direction.
S2 (04:05):
Yeah, I'd love to get there. But just as you're talking,
Rob with a picture that comes to mind is the story.
When Jesus and his disciples were on the boat and
the winds and everything was going on around them, but
yet Jesus was asleep because he was calm and he
knew that he was going to take faithfully take his
disciples to the other side. And we can have that
confidence that as the kind of economic winds swirl, that
(04:29):
he's going to be faithful in our lives as well.
S3 (04:32):
Boy, that is such a good point. And you're exactly right,
because we know he's ultimately our provider. It's not our employer,
it's not the US government. God is our provider, and
he will never abdicate that responsibility so he can be trusted.
And I love the opportunity to continue to hold loosely
what God has entrusted to us, even during times of uncertainty.
(04:53):
Because one of the things Ron Blue, one of my
mentors and author, says, he says money is a tool.
We know where to use it for God's purposes. And
it's a test because it can compete with our hearts
for first position. But it's also a testimony. You see,
the way we handle money is a testimony to the world,
and even more so in times of adversity or uncertainty.
(05:16):
As we continue to say, God, I will give. I
will continue to be connected to what you're doing through
my generosity, even when things are uncertain, which is the
ultimate demonstration of trust and an understanding that God is
ultimately our provider.
S1 (05:32):
All right. So you said there were some things that
we can kind of actively do to be financially faithful,
even when things are feeling like shifting sand under our feet.
S3 (05:44):
Yeah, that's exactly right. So five simple money management principles. Again,
not necessarily easy to do, but they're simple in concept.
And the first and you won't be surprised is live
within your means. You know, because every financial success flows
from you being able to live within God's provision that
will allow you to live outside it. Reject that. Live
(06:05):
within God's provision. Which leads us to number two. And
that is, avoid the use of debt, because debt mortgage
is the future. And if you're already in that place,
let's dial back our spending and really focus on being
able to pay down that debt, because that gives us flexibility,
especially if something unexpected will happen. Which leads us to
number three, because after we live within our means and
(06:27):
avoid debt, we want to have some margin or some liquidity.
Margin is what's left over at the end of the month,
which is the only way you're ever going to be
able to pay down that debt, or give more, or
save for the future, or start that business you've been
thinking about. That margin is key to accomplishing your longer
term financial goals, which leads to number four. And that
(06:48):
is you need to have long term goals because the
longer term your perspective, the better the decision you're going
to make today. And then number five, give generously because
giving breaks the grip of money over our lives. And
so if we do those five things in any economy,
it doesn't mean we will be without challenge. We live
in a fallen world. We're going to have plenty of challenges,
(07:10):
but we can trust God knowing he is the owner.
We are the steward, and if we follow those principles
we find right in Scripture, we'll at least put ourselves
in a position, I think, to experience God's best.
S1 (07:22):
How do we get there? I mean, for someone who
hasn't checked off those boxes, how do we get to
that point? I mean, it's it's a slow climb, isn't it?
S3 (07:32):
Yeah, it really is. And so it's not an overnight
thing by any means. And I don't want to act
like it is. You know, I think the first is
a perspective and that is knowing that okay, first of all,
I'm going to transfer ownership of this in my mind
back to God where it rightfully belongs, because it's all his.
And I'm going to accept my role as steward, which
means I now have a high calling. I'm a money
(07:54):
manager for the King of Kings. So that's a big deal.
And so once I understand that, then I start to
make small changes and I think I would start with
that spending plan. I would say, listen, I can't do
anything in terms of accomplishing the goals that I have
that align with my values and priorities. As a Christ follower,
I can't do those unless I have some margin. And
(08:16):
so I'm going to start with that budget. I'm going
to get a handle on where's my money actually going,
because you may not totally realize where it's going if
you're not tracking it. And and so I think that
is step one. And then once you have a good
understanding of that, take a hard look at the spending
decisions you're making. Because ultimately they tell a story about
what's most important to you. And I suspect that I'm
(08:36):
looking at myself here too. I suspect there are things
that are important to you that are not reflected in
your budget, because your money is finding its way to
somewhere else. Let's make that change, and let's dial back
that spending. Let's reallocate it, and then let's track it
and have a system to control that. And we built
the Faith VI app for that reason. You'll find it
in your app store. But it's built on Larry Burkett's
(08:58):
tried and true envelope system, but in a digital expression.
But having a system that works for you to control
the flow of money is really key. Now all of
a sudden, when we've dialed back spending and we've got
some margin, now, I feel like we can lift our
head above some of just the the things that are
slowing us down and, and frustrating us, and now actually
make some progress toward the goals that we have. And
(09:21):
then I think at that point, everything else begins to
ripple in your direction.
S2 (09:25):
Great wisdom from Rob West, who's host of Faith and
Finance Live, which you can hear each weekday at 4:00.
And and that includes today. Rob, tell us a little
bit about what we can expect on your program.
S3 (09:38):
Yeah. So today we're actually talking about investing. We're going
to talk about how you align your investments with your
values today, which is a really exciting opportunity.
S2 (09:47):
Excellent. Tune in at 4:00 today for Faith and finance live.
Again every single weekday at 4:00 right here on Moody
Radio 89.3.
S1 (09:55):
All right, Rob, thanks for your wisdom to get our
week started. We greatly appreciate it.
S3 (10:00):
Great to be with you guys.
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