January 2, 2025 • 29 mins
Have you ever pondered the delicate dance between faith and finances? Join Shay Cook and Vanessa McNelley as they embark on a heartfelt exploration of how to steward wealth with grace in this episode of Yahweh's Money. They promise to share invaluable insights from biblical principles, particularly 1 Timothy 6:17-19, urging you to anchor your hope in God rather than fleeting riches. This episode uncovers the transformative power of humility, generosity, and the true essence of wealth management as a divine gift meant to enrich lives and honor the Creator.
In a world that often equates possessions with personal worth, they take you on a journey that values experiences and relationships above material goods. Drawing from their own backgrounds, marked by scarcity and the temptation to hoard, they reveal the liberation found in mindful and selective buying. Their conversation extends to public figures, like pastors, navigating the murky waters of generosity versus extravagance. Discover personal stories about transitioning from designer acquisitions to embracing simplicity, highlighting the peace and fulfillment found in such choices.
Embrace the joy of simplicity and gratitude in everyday life. They explore the art of maintaining an organized space and the wisdom behind purposeful travel. Learn how wealth can be wielded as a tool for positive influence—whether in community efforts or personal acts of kindness. By making mindful choices, we can create meaningful experiences that enrich not only our lives but also the lives of those around us, using our blessings to glorify God and impact the world positively.
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Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!
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Music by:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Shay (00:03):
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money
come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an AccreditedFinancial Counselor, and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Vanessa (00:19):
And I'm Vanessa McNelley, Accredited Financial
Counselor and COO of Crusadersfor Change.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing
saving and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Shay (00:34):
Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Yahweh's
Money.
Oh wow, I'm excited to talkabout this one, Vanessa, oh my
God, yeah.
Vanessa (00:44):
I know.
Well, there's a lot to this,and I think it's one of those
topics.
It's like you want to talkabout, but you don't want to
talk about it too Exactly.
Shay (00:51):
Yeah, Vanessa and I were just having a conversation
offline about what this is goingto look like, so we're going to
let God lead the way, so what?
are we talking about today.
We're going to be discussingthe topic of handling wealth
with grace and dignity, oh myGod.
So if God has blessed you withwealth, how do you use it wisely
and how can you balanceenjoying life, helping others
(01:14):
and staying humble?
Okay, that part, oh my God.
In this episode we'll explorepractical tips and biblical
wisdom on stewarding wealthresponsibly, honoring God and
inspiring others through yourexample.
So let's unpack what it meansto handle wealth with grace and
dignity, in a way that glorifiesGod.
So in 1 Timothy 6, 17 through19, it says command those who
(01:38):
are rich in this present worldnot to be arrogant nor to put
their hope in wealth, which isso uncertain, but to put their
hope in God, to be rich in gooddeeds and to be generous and
willing to share.
I mean, that says a lot rightthere.
We don't, you're not supposedto put our arrogance and our
(01:59):
hope in wealth, because it's notcertain y'all, but God is
certain Exactly.
Vanessa (02:03):
Exactly, yeah, and let's put this whole wealth
thing into perspective too.
So, I was on TikTok recentlyand a little video popped up and
it was a guy standing there andthere were two bubbles above
him and it's one said you know,would you choose a million
dollars or to live better than90% of the rest of the world?
And he picked the 90% andnothing in his life changed.
(02:25):
And that's the reality that asAmericans even the poorest of
our poor we're living betterthan 90% of the rest of the
world.
So we are wealthy compared toothers.
And we don't see that.
And you know people think, oh,I don't have the newest iPhone,
or I don't have X, yz, guesswhat?
You have a phone.
You have food on your table.
Shay (02:55):
You know, it may not be lobster every night, but just
like in perspective, we are somuch better off than a lot of
people.
We are, yeah, my God, and Godis good through it all, like
even for those nine, 10 otherpeople, that or the 90 that
aren't, you know, god is lookingout for them too.
But us americans, man, we'repretty, we're pretty blessed
over here.
We got a lot of craziness goingon, but, man, we are rich, we
are spirit and culture and inwealth and money, compared to so
(03:19):
many others, and that's why Ithink we're so wasteful.
Vanessa (03:22):
We have so much yeah, yeah, and I think you know first
and foremost, we have to reallyremember that wealth is a gift
from God and it's something thatwe're not just earning, you
know.
So we need to be grateful, weneed to not be arrogant with all
of this, um, but we need to beable to use, to use this for his
(03:45):
honor, and not just be buying,you know, lamborghinis to fill
our driveway.
Shay (03:52):
Yeah, it ain't just for us , it's for God.
I really believe thatwholeheartedly.
I mean, my dad used to say likeif God wants you to be rich,
you will be.
Because he was like if he, ifhe made me rich, I'd probably be
out smoking crack code andcan't hear something.
Because you see the people likethey get really rich and then
they're like oh, I goteverything, like everybody's
good, all right, I guess all Ican do is do crazy sex stuff or
(04:15):
drugs yeah, well, yeah, and Ithink it's one of those things
too.
Vanessa (04:18):
It's a lot of times it's people who've never had
anything yeah, well, that's allof a sudden, it's like you have
this abundance and you don'tknow how to handle the abundance
.
So it's.
You know you don't know what todo with it, and you have all
these these people in your earstoo that are telling you what to
do and everybody wants a pieceof it so, and it's not the right
people who want a piece of thataction or that, that pie that
(04:40):
you're getting.
Shay (04:41):
You hear that a lot from athletes.
I remember hearing CharlesBarkley said I think he went
into the league and NBA at 19and he had millions of dollars
thrown at him and he was like Ididn't know what to do.
And I think he was just outthere spending it crazy on
parties.
And I might be lying, I don'tknow Charles Barkley, but I
remember him saying that hedidn't spend it wisely.
And you're 19.
And you're 19, I meanespecially since our schools
(05:03):
don't teach financial managementor financial literacy anyway,
but you know so that.
And then who knows what helearned growing up?
But then you know you got allthis money coming in and you're
like, oh my God, I'm 19.
Like your brain, like mydaughter said, your brain is not
even developed until you're 25.
So you're out here makingirrational, irresponsible
decisions, and then you knowwhen God is trying to give you a
gift.
(05:23):
You know, and a lot of peopleregret that because they're like
, oh man, I could have reallyset myself up for the future,
even though I know he got theopportunity to do it later,
right, um, but yeah, that'scrazy, yeah yeah, and don't they
say most lottery winners havelike they've, they've run
through all their money was ayear or two afterwards, if that
some of them is sooner yeah, andwe.
Vanessa (05:42):
You know, with the wealth comes responsibility and
we need to use that money tobless others and advance the
kingdom.
And that can come in so manydifferent forms and fashions.
And that doesn't mean you don'thave to, you can't do nice
things for yourself.
That does not mean that at all.
It's okay to have nice things,it's okay to want nice things.
You just can't, you know, covetsomething somebody else has.
(06:03):
I was about to say it's okay towant nice things.
You just can't, you know, covetsomething somebody else has.
Shay (06:05):
I'm about to say it's not supposed to be an idol, exactly,
idolize it, yeah right.
Vanessa (06:09):
So there's a way to do this, and you know, and to do
this responsibly and you knowsomething that I was reading
before we met today 18 ofamericans are considered
millionaires.
Did you know that?
That's more than I thought?
Yeah, 18% of Americans are.
Shay (06:29):
Oh, yes, I've heard that because the billionaires are
like one or the top echelon arelike lower than 1%, but there's
a lot of millionaires, sothere's a lot of thousandaires
out there too.
Yeah.
Vanessa (06:39):
And 6.25%.
So six and a quarter percent ofpeople are considered
multimillionaires.
Shay (06:46):
Oh, you mean like 10 or a hundred million.
Vanessa (06:49):
More than more than one ?
Yeah, More than one yeah.
Multimillionaires, but that'sbecause of net worth and the
cost of houses and all thatstuff too, that we have to take
into account.
But when you think about it thatway, it's like, okay, wow,
that's like.
I mean, that's like a fifth ofour population.
That's crazy to me to think.
A fifth of the people out thereare considered millionaires.
So there are a lot of peoplewalking around out there that
(07:17):
have an abundance, or shouldhave an abundance, depending on
where they're living that youknow are probably doing some
responsible things with itbecause they're not being flashy
with their funds.
So that's something to thinkabout too.
I was always told growing up bymy parents that you know,
millionaires who keep theirmoney are the ones that you
don't even know that they haveit.
I've always talked about that alot in all my circles.
Yeah, you don't there'smillions.
Shay (07:36):
Well, I'm sure in every state, especially in Georgia and
Maryland.
There's millionaires everywhere, like literally, and you know,
you don't know.
I mean cause they got the samehouse shooting cars and like
they don't, you don't know.
Yeah.
Vanessa (07:50):
They drive the same old pickup truck.
They eat at McDonald's you know, they buy their clothes at
Walmart, all the things that therest of us do.
Shay (07:59):
And it's like you have no idea.
And that is you know.
Vanessa (08:02):
To me that is, that's something to achieve is to get
to that point where materialitems mean so little to you you
could care less.
You could absolutely care lessabout that.
You know, and that's I thinkpeople like.
That is how you know you, youyou come from this place of okay
.
Well, we see this one sidewhere you know wealth can lead
(08:24):
to pride and false security andthis abundance, and you know
people are always buyingeverything, and I mean gosh, I
mean there are people who buytigers because they can you know
, so.
so we have, we see this one sideof it and it's just a splashy,
like I can do it all, I'm goingto do it all.
And then you have this otherside and it's like I don't want
to fall into that trap of thatfirst step you know, of of
(08:46):
having a tiger.
Shay (08:48):
That's a lot of money to take care of that tiger too,
exactly.
Vanessa (08:53):
Exactly, but you know it does.
It leads to this pride andpeople who you know.
Talk about what they have a lot.
I'm sure you've run acrossthose people and it's like they
talk about them and and thesenice things they have, and it's
all about me me, and that issuch a turnoff.
Shay (09:13):
I don't know.
I haven't met my own family, so, yeah, I'm looking at them like
, but it's so funny is thatthose people too, they may be
wealthy, but some of them, a lotof them are not right so, and
so they're talking about allthis stuff and it's like you
need to.
Didn't you just borrow somemoney from me?
Vanessa (09:25):
You're playing the part though.
Shay (09:27):
Yeah, well, I mean, yeah, it's fake.
Vanessa (09:32):
Fake it till you make it, shay, fake it till you make
it.
But you're right, yeah, peoplehave these aspirations of being,
you know, being a Kardashian,being a Carter, being whoever
you look up to, and we do thatto ourselves because we're
always watching these things.
But the reality of it is thatyou know, the people who are
wealthy that we should belooking up to.
(09:53):
We're not going to find them inthose places.
We're not going to find themthere at all because we need to
learn humility.
Shay (09:59):
We need to learn to stay grounded in our faith.
Vanessa (10:01):
I mean this can even be something that we see with.
You know, pastors inmegachurches.
Shay (10:07):
You were just reading it out of my head.
Vanessa (10:09):
I was just thinking that, right, I mean, I used to
actually work for a pastor, youknow, who had a you know a
television ministry and you knowhe lived in a very nice
townhouse, you know, did nothave an abundance of things, he
had a nice car, but he had anice car versus eight nice cars
and did things very differently.
(10:29):
And it was really nice to seethat, because he shouldn't be
punished or penalized in my mindfor doing well, because most of
his wealth came from otherthings.
It didn't come from being apastor.
Shay (10:41):
Yeah, a lot of time they're writing books and doing
exactly.
Vanessa (10:45):
And having a you know, a television show and all these
other things.
But he shared that wealthwithout hesitation.
Shay (10:52):
And that's what matters.
God wants to know our heart.
You don't care about your bankaccounts, people.
You want to know what you'redoing with that.
Vanessa (11:00):
Yeah, and we see the other side of that, with pastors
a lot too, where it's just, youknow, okay, they've not paid
their taxes in 10 years, or youknow, they, they have 14 houses
across the States, or whateverit might be.
But it's nice to see that otherside and that's who we should
be leaning towards to learn tolearn those lessons from, and we
always have to remember thatthose earthly possessions are
(11:23):
temporary.
Shay (11:25):
And they're going to go away, and they're going to go
away Yep, they're going to goaway.
Vanessa (11:28):
And something, too, that I saw growing up as well.
So I think, when you live in afamily where you have family
members who never had anything,they tend to hoard.
Yeah, and I don't know ifyou've experienced that of
course I have.
Shay (11:41):
Oh my goodness, my dad was a hoarder.
Vanessa (11:43):
Um, yes, he was a hoarder and he grew up in, you
know, in um government housing,so in the projects, with a
single mom, two other siblings.
My grandmother worked nightshift at Levi's and she was
literally a zipper puller so shewould pull the zipper closed on
Levi jeans like every night allnight long and ended up losing
(12:03):
her fingernails because she didthat too often.
But you know, didn't have a car, lived in subsidized housing.
You know he used to joke withhis sister about how, you know,
they couldn't even afford liketomato soup and sandwiches at
night.
So you know, coming from thatplace, of not having anything
and then all of a sudden youhave more and you hoard and you
(12:25):
have these possessions and youput all your faith in your, you
know everything you have intothese things and it's so easy to
get caught up in that.
But the reality is is that meansnothing, nothing, absolutely
nothing, and that's so hard toget people like that to see it
is so hard.
Shay (12:40):
Yeah, it's a mindset issue , right?
So yeah, that's crazy, and youknow.
But also I mean living modestly.
But you want to enjoy yourblessings too.
So be mindful of extravagantpurchase.
Just don't go overboard.
I know, when I was in mytwenties and I was starting to
move up and make more money, Iwas all about buying the purses
and the shoes.
No, I have to disclaimer.
(13:02):
It's nothing wrong with that.
Like Vanessa said countlesstimes, you want to buy nice
things.
You can't.
I realized I didn't want to bespending all this money on
coaches and Michael Kors andDoody and Burps.
I just didn't want to keepdoing that because I was like,
ugh, no, I'd rather just buy areally nice one and keep it for
a year and didn't buy anotherone.
I just I didn't want to keepbuying over and over and over.
(13:23):
I just I didn't.
It didn't make sense to mebecause I wanted a nice car, I
wanted a nice house.
To me, the money made moresense that way.
So trying to be mindful of myexpenses and experiences are
very important to me too.
So I like me and my husbandlike to spend our money mostly
on our trips, like that's where,that's where I like to put our
money.
I know some people rather havethe, you know, even though Nate
has his shoes and his bourbonand all that.
(13:44):
But we still, we prioritizewhat's important to us in terms
of extravagance Right.
Vanessa (13:50):
Right and I had to learn the opposite of that.
So, cause I was always like,okay, Walmart sells, you know,
Tarjay on a good day, like thatkind of thing.
So I had to learn that it wasokay to have nice things,
because I would see a handbaglike oh, so beautiful.
And my mom actually had toteach me that and she was always
like it's okay to have nicethings, it is a okay to have
(14:14):
something nice.
You just can't have everything.
You want all the time so ifthere's something you really
like, it's okay to have two orthree really nice handbags.
They're going to last youforever.
You know that that there's atrade-off with that too, and it
took me forever, until I was inmy mid thirties, to realize that
she's right.
It's okay to have somethingnice.
(14:34):
It's okay, I don't have to beashamed for wanting that Exactly
.
You know so but you have to doit in moderation and you know so
so everybody has to learn, likeI think, we're all on these
extreme ends, whichever side, itis you know, but I was on the
other extremity, where it waslike okay, well, I'm going to
get the $5 purse that mightbreak in two weeks because it
(14:55):
was made in China.
But I went through that stagetoo, though.
Shay (14:59):
Yeah, so you have to learn that it's okay in some
circumstances, as long as you'rejust not going overboard with
things, so true, and finding abalance between enjoying God's
blessings and avoiding theaccess or the excess that could
alienate others, right Causesome people do.
They'll feel that way, I know Iwonder.
(15:20):
You know, my husband and I wentthrough this when our house,
you know, you see my house?
I didn't even did you see myold house, you didn't, but it
was similar and I just um, youknow, I just like nice things, I
like to decorate and design,and some people don't feel
comfortable in that becausethey're like what do you think
they are?
You know that kind of thing.
And some people haven't comeback to our house because they
and's like we didn't invite youover here to make you feel like
(15:43):
that or to alienate you.
It's just, I like a clean house, a nice house.
There's nothing wrong with that, that is not.
And actually a lot of stuff Ibuy is not really expensive.
So you know, so you're, you'rejust going off of what you see
and not again that hard work andthat struggle that came with
all of that.
But you know, some people are,you know, can feel alienated
(16:04):
from what you have.
Vanessa (16:05):
Well, and there's that intentional alienate and
alienate.
I can be talking there.
Shay (16:09):
So yeah.
Vanessa (16:10):
So there's this, the intentional, versus not trying
to do so, cause you were nottrying to do that with anyone.
Not at all you weren't tryingto alienate anyone from that
situation, but there are peoplewho like to be flashy and show
off and and they're like youknow, look at this and I spent
this much on that and that.
To me, that is where there isjust this Nope, let's, let's
(16:31):
stop this.
I'm not, I don't want to bearound somebody like that I
don't want to be around nobodyeither.
Shay (16:35):
It's annoying, exactly.
Vanessa (16:43):
But if it's unintentional, um, that's a hard
place to be too.
I remember growing up I had afriend come over and she told me
the next day at school that hermom sat in the car and cried in
front of her house because welived in a real house and she
lived in a trailer oh, that'sright, you told me the story and
it broke my heart as a littlegirl because I was like you know
, I don't understand.
I didn't understand because Ihad friends who lived in
trailers and I would go totrailers and sometimes the
(17:03):
trailers were nicer than myhouse.
Shay (17:06):
Yes, they are.
Vanessa (17:07):
They can be my best friend, her parents had one and
I was like she has like asoaking tub and then there's a
jet tub over here and I'm like Iwant that, I want to live here.
But you know, I think it's oneof those situations where, if
you are truly humble, peoplewill see that and they're going
to see that you're not trying to, you know, to show off or to be
(17:29):
in that place, it's just, youknow, I think sometimes people
feel that because they feelashamed or embarrassed about how
they're spending their ownmoney too.
Shay (17:40):
Exactly.
It's their own feelings theygot to deal with and work out.
Yeah, and you know, we can alsomodel contentment for others,
especially our family and kids.
So having that justsatisfaction around them and
just not, like you're saying,being flashy and being humble,
we can model that for our familyand say, yes, we have a nice
house or car.
I always use those examplesbecause those are usually the
(18:01):
most expensive things that youbuy and then excuse me and then,
but I also know that God, firstof all, this came from God.
Second of all, my husband and Iworked hard for this.
Third of all, we take care ofit, because I think that's a big
piece that's missing.
When I was cleaning my and I'mgoing to say this, and I was
going to share it with a familymember the other day, but I
didn't want to offend her, but Iwas realizing, instead of
(18:23):
watching a bunch of TV, thisweekend I took care of my house,
which I obviously.
I do that because I love toclean, I love to, you know, but
I was clean.
I cleaned all 22 windows, likeliterally use just cleaning and
cleaning.
And as I'm cleaning andlistening to music and talking
to God, I'm like this is what hewants us to do when he blesses
with something he wants us totake care of it and then guess
(18:46):
what?
It lasts longer and then youdon't have to go buy another one
like right away because it'snot breaking out.
Like that's why we get on mydaughter all the time.
My husband, I'm like go getyour damn excuse my language car
(19:08):
wash, because that's she reallydoesn't believe it.
I'm like, dude, you ain'twashed your car in like a year.
Like to me, that'sdisrespectful and many reasons,
but it's not showing that you,you care for your stuff and your
my stuff.
I have stuff from 20 30 yearsold because I take care of
myself.
I really believe cleanliness isnext to godliness.
It shouldn't have a bunch ofdust and dirtiness because if
you don't clean your stuff, itstarts, starts to deteriorate.
I know this to be true.
So anyway, I'm going to have tohand it to you.
So I was saying modeling thatbehavior and showing people that
(19:30):
I care about my stuff, and Ithink that speaks more than even
how much something costs in myhouse or when they're around me.
They know I care about itbecause I take care of it, and
so to me that's what God wantsus to do.
Vanessa (19:43):
And if you're modeling that to your children or your
siblings or whatever that mightbe they're going to learn that.
Okay, I need to respect thingsI need to respect these items
and respect your items toobecause you do take care of
things and you know they do last.
You're not just buying a newone every other week.
You know Exactly and I know youdo that with your stuff.
Shay (20:02):
You and TJ, like you guys, take good care.
I could just tell you're thosekinds of people, but I know you
are.
I've never seen TJ's house, butI know y'all are clean and to
me it's not only to enjoy theclean, but there's a reason why
you should be cleaning yourstuff.
And it's just showing upBecause you're thankful.
(20:26):
You are thankful, yes, you'rethankful.
And so, cleaning those windows,I'm like, oh, my god, it's such
a beautiful thing to have allthese windows of fresh air and
sunlight.
And I don't know.
I was just honored to cleangod's windows this weekend.
So this is weird, I know.
But yeah, and also, you shouldchoose quality over excess,
right.
One nice vehicle instead of afleet.
Now, I know there's some peoplethat got eight, nine, 20 cars.
That ain't never going to be me, but that's how I feel about
(20:48):
shoes and stuff, even though Ihave a husband has a lot of them
too.
That's just me personally.
Again, no offense to those thatdo that.
I don't need a bunch of stuff,I just need one or a couple of
nice things, right?
Vanessa (21:02):
nice things, right, yeah, so yeah, you know I've
seen this so many times becauseyou know I am like I'm from
redneck city and a lot of peoplewith my background we do that.
We buy all these cars and wejust kind of let them sit and
deteriorate in your driveway oron your, you know, propped up on
blocks, you know that kind ofthing.
And my sibling is the same way.
It's like one of thosesituations where you can drive
by his house and you can countthe number of cars and I mean at
(21:26):
one point he had to have apiece of property to put the
cars on.
Oh wow, I think there were like30, 40 vehicles that he bought
at an auction one time that hewas going to sell.
That has never sold and I thinkit's been like 20 years now.
(21:47):
But you know, having all thesevehicles and I'm like I would
much rather have one nicesomething as to have, you know,
20, 30, 40, because I'm alwayslike you can only drive one car
at a time.
I mean, that's just the realityof it, so you can't use them
both at the same time.
Shay (21:52):
That's how I feel about underwear socks.
That's how I feel about clothesand shoes.
Like you know, nate has like ahundred.
I got like five.
I mean I actually have a lotmore than that when it comes to
nice shoes.
But when it comes to myeveryday shoes, I have like
three pair of Skechers and liketwo pair of boots and like two
splats Like I literally can namewhat shoes.
Him and Alana got more shoesthan me Because I'm like I don't
(22:13):
need all of that.
Now I have dress shoes.
I do have a little more ofthose, but I mean I don't even
wear those because they're heelsand since the pandemic, I don't
really wear heels anymore.
Vanessa (22:22):
We have a saying in our house.
My mom's one of her really goodfriends, sharita.
She used to always say and TJsays this to me all the time,
but it's kind of a joke that wesay now, but there's so much
truth in it it's like you mightneed new, but you don't need
more, and she lived her life bythat.
She still does.
Like you may need new, but youdon't need more.
(22:44):
So anytime she would getsomething new, she replaced it.
Shay (22:48):
So me too.
That's what I do with mysketchers.
I wear my sketchers down to thelast minute, and then I'll see
my husband makes fun of mebecause I wear sketchers.
But I'm just gonna say snoopdogg and martha stewart.
And then we also should travelwith purpose, right, I always
said that this is.
And Martha Stewart wearSkechers.
Now it's cool to wear Skechers.
Now it's cool to wear Skechers.
And then we also should travelwith purpose, right?
I always said that this is whatI love to put our money into,
(23:09):
vacations to see God's creations, whether they're mountains,
pretty things.
Travel is a great time for youknow, making memories with your
loved ones and, just you know,spending quality time with God.
You know, like to me, myfavorite places go to the beach,
because it's relaxing, it'sbeautiful, but it's also
something super spiritualspiritual about going to the
body of God's water, like Idon't know.
Vanessa (23:30):
Nothing beats it but going into God's water, I'm with
you, yeah, yeah, travel hasalways been important to me and
I've always preferredexperiences over, you know,
having a physical item, and it'sjust because, yeah, things
break they.
You know, having a physicalitem and it's just because, yeah
, things break they.
Shay (23:44):
You know, get old they're not relevant anymore.
Vanessa (23:46):
whatever that might be Same thing.
But those relationships andthose bonds that are built on
those trips and the lives youcan touch on that trip, that's
another thing.
You know, that's something thatI try to do is if I see
somebody who needs something andI'm out and about and I'm not
at home, I'm going to help if Ican.
And it's usually one of thosesituations where, if I don't use
(24:08):
the budgeted money for lunchthat day, there's an opportunity
that presents itself later ofsomebody who needs that extra
money.
And that is always amazing to mewhen stuff like that happens.
So you know you can alwaystravel with purpose that way too
, to do the good that you can dowhen you're there.
Shay (24:24):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Vanessa (24:25):
Yeah, you know, and we always have to think about
wealth too, as it provides aplatform to influence others
positively.
So we can use our money to helpwith.
You know, somebody may want usto be their mentor.
We may need to go into thecommunity and start a program,
do something like that.
We can invest locally.
There's so many things that wecan do with that money that can
(24:49):
help others and that is huge tobe able to do that and be able
to bless somebody else.
Shay (24:57):
Yeah, exactly, just be generous and inspire others,
right, do that?
I mean I love mentoring, I lovehelping the community.
I am definitely prior considermyself a community activist and
also just a servant, and howeverway I can help, I know every,
almost every job I've ever hadhas been in some kind of servant
role.
I mean us as financialcounselors.
(25:17):
We're serving people, helpingthem with their financial
counseling, their account offinances.
So I, that's serving Right.
So I, just I, you're right,definitely.
And as I make more, I try togive more.
Vanessa (25:28):
Yeah, yeah, I always tell the story about Mr Dyer,
who gave my parents their veryfirst loan and the bank wouldn't
give them a loan.
Um, because you know, myparents were just two.
You know normal people.
My dad worked in a copper mine,my mom worked for the city.
He didn't have anything extra.
He believed in other people andwanted to see other people
thrive and build things in acommunity that needed resources.
(25:51):
So he loaned my parents moneyto build their first movie
theater that they had beenwanting to have their own
business, and they were like,okay, we can keep our day jobs,
which we need to fund our life,and then work at night there.
And you know, mr Dyer, he livedto be 103.
And I remember, you know, wewould have conversations and I
(26:13):
would take food to him and dodifferent things and he was
always like you know, let me payhim, like you pay for my
college.
Basically, like you know,because of you and your gifts
and wanting to see other peoplethrive, this community has gone
from not having much to havingso many things that want, you
know, to bring tourists intotown and people to move in, and
(26:33):
and one person has made such adifference, and he could have
been, you know, an ebenezerscrooge and just kind of kept it
to himself.
But he didn't do that.
He wanted to see other peoplethrive and I think if we have
those funds and we're trulyusing those funds to um, to
build the kingdom, we'll seethat and we want to be a part of
that too Exactly, yeah, yeah.
(26:55):
And, like I said, wealth isn'tfor hoarding, it's for serving.
Shay (26:59):
It really is y'all, and I know I have to learn.
I mean, I'm all over the place.
It might sound like it but Iknow sometimes I'm like man.
I got this.
Savings or invest in.
What else can I do to helpmostly people outside of family
Because they got enough?
in my mind so.
And then practicing small,uninspected acts of generosity
is a way to be generous.
(27:20):
And leaving the server, forexample, leaving the server an
extra tip, paying for astranger's groceries I put in
here, pay it forward.
I love that.
When we can pay it forwardright and speak volumes about
this, speaks volumes about God'slove.
So how you're using it andagain, I say, what God's really
concerned about is our heart andhow we're doing what we use our
money for, and so that's veryimportant.
(27:40):
Exactly, yeah, exactly what weuse our money for, and so that's
very important.
Exactly, yeah, exactly.
And generosity generosity isn'tabout what you give, but the
heart behind it.
I already said that.
So, kind of speaking of it.
I would say, but um, it reallyis.
And um, I would end with sayingProverbs 11, 25,.
A generous person will prosper.
Prosper Whoever refreshesothers will be refreshed.
(28:02):
And you know, I know I wastalking to somebody just a
couple weeks ago about relaxing,refreshing and recharging.
It's all different and you knowyou can refresh others by being
able to share your.
Vanessa (28:14):
You know your wealth, and so, yeah, any my own
thoughts I would say justremember that you don't have to
give everything away.
Shay (28:21):
It's still okay to have things and to enjoy life, but
give what you're called to give.
Yeah, I would echo that andthank you guys again for
listening and hope all is well.
A big thank you for listeningto this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
(28:42):
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Vanessa (28:44):
Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and
please feel free to leave us areview yes, and for the latest
Yahweh's Money content, visit usat www.
crusaders4change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired.
Shay (29:03):
And remember it's always better Yahweh's way.
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money
come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an AccreditedFinancial Counselor, and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Vanessa (00:19):
And I'm Vanessa McNelley, Accredited Financial
Counselor and COO of Crusadersfor Change.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing
saving and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Shay (00:34):
Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Yahweh's
Money.
Oh wow, I'm excited to talkabout this one, Vanessa, oh my
God, yeah.
Vanessa (00:44):
I know.
Well, there's a lot to this,and I think it's one of those
topics.
It's like you want to talkabout, but you don't want to
talk about it too Exactly.
Shay (00:51):
Yeah, Vanessa and I were just having a conversation
offline about what this is goingto look like, so we're going to
let God lead the way, so what?
are we talking about today.
We're going to be discussingthe topic of handling wealth
with grace and dignity, oh myGod.
So if God has blessed you withwealth, how do you use it wisely
and how can you balanceenjoying life, helping others
(01:14):
and staying humble?
Okay, that part, oh my God.
In this episode we'll explorepractical tips and biblical
wisdom on stewarding wealthresponsibly, honoring God and
inspiring others through yourexample.
So let's unpack what it meansto handle wealth with grace and
dignity, in a way that glorifiesGod.
So in 1 Timothy 6, 17 through19, it says command those who
(01:38):
are rich in this present worldnot to be arrogant nor to put
their hope in wealth, which isso uncertain, but to put their
hope in God, to be rich in gooddeeds and to be generous and
willing to share.
I mean, that says a lot rightthere.
We don't, you're not supposedto put our arrogance and our
(01:59):
hope in wealth, because it's notcertain y'all, but God is
certain Exactly.
Vanessa (02:03):
Exactly, yeah, and let's put this whole wealth
thing into perspective too.
So, I was on TikTok recentlyand a little video popped up and
it was a guy standing there andthere were two bubbles above
him and it's one said you know,would you choose a million
dollars or to live better than90% of the rest of the world?
And he picked the 90% andnothing in his life changed.
(02:25):
And that's the reality that asAmericans even the poorest of
our poor we're living betterthan 90% of the rest of the
world.
So we are wealthy compared toothers.
And we don't see that.
And you know people think, oh,I don't have the newest iPhone,
or I don't have X, yz, guesswhat?
You have a phone.
You have food on your table.
Shay (02:55):
You know, it may not be lobster every night, but just
like in perspective, we are somuch better off than a lot of
people.
We are, yeah, my God, and Godis good through it all, like
even for those nine, 10 otherpeople, that or the 90 that
aren't, you know, god is lookingout for them too.
But us americans, man, we'repretty, we're pretty blessed
over here.
We got a lot of craziness goingon, but, man, we are rich, we
are spirit and culture and inwealth and money, compared to so
(03:19):
many others, and that's why Ithink we're so wasteful.
Vanessa (03:22):
We have so much yeah, yeah, and I think you know first
and foremost, we have to reallyremember that wealth is a gift
from God and it's something thatwe're not just earning, you
know.
So we need to be grateful, weneed to not be arrogant with all
of this, um, but we need to beable to use, to use this for his
(03:45):
honor, and not just be buying,you know, lamborghinis to fill
our driveway.
Shay (03:52):
Yeah, it ain't just for us , it's for God.
I really believe thatwholeheartedly.
I mean, my dad used to say likeif God wants you to be rich,
you will be.
Because he was like if he, ifhe made me rich, I'd probably be
out smoking crack code andcan't hear something.
Because you see the people likethey get really rich and then
they're like oh, I goteverything, like everybody's
good, all right, I guess all Ican do is do crazy sex stuff or
(04:15):
drugs yeah, well, yeah, and Ithink it's one of those things
too.
Vanessa (04:18):
It's a lot of times it's people who've never had
anything yeah, well, that's allof a sudden, it's like you have
this abundance and you don'tknow how to handle the abundance
.
So it's.
You know you don't know what todo with it, and you have all
these these people in your earstoo that are telling you what to
do and everybody wants a pieceof it so, and it's not the right
people who want a piece of thataction or that, that pie that
(04:40):
you're getting.
Shay (04:41):
You hear that a lot from athletes.
I remember hearing CharlesBarkley said I think he went
into the league and NBA at 19and he had millions of dollars
thrown at him and he was like Ididn't know what to do.
And I think he was just outthere spending it crazy on
parties.
And I might be lying, I don'tknow Charles Barkley, but I
remember him saying that hedidn't spend it wisely.
And you're 19.
And you're 19, I meanespecially since our schools
(05:03):
don't teach financial managementor financial literacy anyway,
but you know so that.
And then who knows what helearned growing up?
But then you know you got allthis money coming in and you're
like, oh my God, I'm 19.
Like your brain, like mydaughter said, your brain is not
even developed until you're 25.
So you're out here makingirrational, irresponsible
decisions, and then you knowwhen God is trying to give you a
gift.
(05:23):
You know, and a lot of peopleregret that because they're like
, oh man, I could have reallyset myself up for the future,
even though I know he got theopportunity to do it later,
right, um, but yeah, that'scrazy, yeah yeah, and don't they
say most lottery winners havelike they've, they've run
through all their money was ayear or two afterwards, if that
some of them is sooner yeah, andwe.
Vanessa (05:42):
You know, with the wealth comes responsibility and
we need to use that money tobless others and advance the
kingdom.
And that can come in so manydifferent forms and fashions.
And that doesn't mean you don'thave to, you can't do nice
things for yourself.
That does not mean that at all.
It's okay to have nice things,it's okay to want nice things.
You just can't, you know, covetsomething somebody else has.
(06:03):
I was about to say it's okay towant nice things.
You just can't, you know, covetsomething somebody else has.
Shay (06:05):
I'm about to say it's not supposed to be an idol, exactly,
idolize it, yeah right.
Vanessa (06:09):
So there's a way to do this, and you know, and to do
this responsibly and you knowsomething that I was reading
before we met today 18 ofamericans are considered
millionaires.
Did you know that?
That's more than I thought?
Yeah, 18% of Americans are.
Shay (06:29):
Oh, yes, I've heard that because the billionaires are
like one or the top echelon arelike lower than 1%, but there's
a lot of millionaires, sothere's a lot of thousandaires
out there too.
Yeah.
Vanessa (06:39):
And 6.25%.
So six and a quarter percent ofpeople are considered
multimillionaires.
Shay (06:46):
Oh, you mean like 10 or a hundred million.
Vanessa (06:49):
More than more than one ?
Yeah, More than one yeah.
Multimillionaires, but that'sbecause of net worth and the
cost of houses and all thatstuff too, that we have to take
into account.
But when you think about it thatway, it's like, okay, wow,
that's like.
I mean, that's like a fifth ofour population.
That's crazy to me to think.
A fifth of the people out thereare considered millionaires.
So there are a lot of peoplewalking around out there that
(07:17):
have an abundance, or shouldhave an abundance, depending on
where they're living that youknow are probably doing some
responsible things with itbecause they're not being flashy
with their funds.
So that's something to thinkabout too.
I was always told growing up bymy parents that you know,
millionaires who keep theirmoney are the ones that you
don't even know that they haveit.
I've always talked about that alot in all my circles.
Yeah, you don't there'smillions.
Shay (07:36):
Well, I'm sure in every state, especially in Georgia and
Maryland.
There's millionaires everywhere, like literally, and you know,
you don't know.
I mean cause they got the samehouse shooting cars and like
they don't, you don't know.
Yeah.
Vanessa (07:50):
They drive the same old pickup truck.
They eat at McDonald's you know, they buy their clothes at
Walmart, all the things that therest of us do.
Shay (07:59):
And it's like you have no idea.
And that is you know.
Vanessa (08:02):
To me that is, that's something to achieve is to get
to that point where materialitems mean so little to you you
could care less.
You could absolutely care lessabout that.
You know, and that's I thinkpeople like.
That is how you know you, youyou come from this place of okay
.
Well, we see this one sidewhere you know wealth can lead
(08:24):
to pride and false security andthis abundance, and you know
people are always buyingeverything, and I mean gosh, I
mean there are people who buytigers because they can you know
, so.
so we have, we see this one sideof it and it's just a splashy,
like I can do it all, I'm goingto do it all.
And then you have this otherside and it's like I don't want
to fall into that trap of thatfirst step you know, of of
(08:46):
having a tiger.
Shay (08:48):
That's a lot of money to take care of that tiger too,
exactly.
Vanessa (08:53):
Exactly, but you know it does.
It leads to this pride andpeople who you know.
Talk about what they have a lot.
I'm sure you've run acrossthose people and it's like they
talk about them and and thesenice things they have, and it's
all about me me, and that issuch a turnoff.
Shay (09:13):
I don't know.
I haven't met my own family, so, yeah, I'm looking at them like
, but it's so funny is thatthose people too, they may be
wealthy, but some of them, a lotof them are not right so, and
so they're talking about allthis stuff and it's like you
need to.
Didn't you just borrow somemoney from me?
Vanessa (09:25):
You're playing the part though.
Shay (09:27):
Yeah, well, I mean, yeah, it's fake.
Vanessa (09:32):
Fake it till you make it, shay, fake it till you make
it.
But you're right, yeah, peoplehave these aspirations of being,
you know, being a Kardashian,being a Carter, being whoever
you look up to, and we do thatto ourselves because we're
always watching these things.
But the reality of it is thatyou know, the people who are
wealthy that we should belooking up to.
(09:53):
We're not going to find them inthose places.
We're not going to find themthere at all because we need to
learn humility.
Shay (09:59):
We need to learn to stay grounded in our faith.
Vanessa (10:01):
I mean this can even be something that we see with.
You know, pastors inmegachurches.
Shay (10:07):
You were just reading it out of my head.
Vanessa (10:09):
I was just thinking that, right, I mean, I used to
actually work for a pastor, youknow, who had a you know a
television ministry and you knowhe lived in a very nice
townhouse, you know, did nothave an abundance of things, he
had a nice car, but he had anice car versus eight nice cars
and did things very differently.
(10:29):
And it was really nice to seethat, because he shouldn't be
punished or penalized in my mindfor doing well, because most of
his wealth came from otherthings.
It didn't come from being apastor.
Shay (10:41):
Yeah, a lot of time they're writing books and doing
exactly.
Vanessa (10:45):
And having a you know, a television show and all these
other things.
But he shared that wealthwithout hesitation.
Shay (10:52):
And that's what matters.
God wants to know our heart.
You don't care about your bankaccounts, people.
You want to know what you'redoing with that.
Vanessa (11:00):
Yeah, and we see the other side of that, with pastors
a lot too, where it's just, youknow, okay, they've not paid
their taxes in 10 years, or youknow, they, they have 14 houses
across the States, or whateverit might be.
But it's nice to see that otherside and that's who we should
be leaning towards to learn tolearn those lessons from, and we
always have to remember thatthose earthly possessions are
(11:23):
temporary.
Shay (11:25):
And they're going to go away, and they're going to go
away Yep, they're going to goaway.
Vanessa (11:28):
And something, too, that I saw growing up as well.
So I think, when you live in afamily where you have family
members who never had anything,they tend to hoard.
Yeah, and I don't know ifyou've experienced that of
course I have.
Shay (11:41):
Oh my goodness, my dad was a hoarder.
Vanessa (11:43):
Um, yes, he was a hoarder and he grew up in, you
know, in um government housing,so in the projects, with a
single mom, two other siblings.
My grandmother worked nightshift at Levi's and she was
literally a zipper puller so shewould pull the zipper closed on
Levi jeans like every night allnight long and ended up losing
(12:03):
her fingernails because she didthat too often.
But you know, didn't have a car, lived in subsidized housing.
You know he used to joke withhis sister about how, you know,
they couldn't even afford liketomato soup and sandwiches at
night.
So you know, coming from thatplace, of not having anything
and then all of a sudden youhave more and you hoard and you
(12:25):
have these possessions and youput all your faith in your, you
know everything you have intothese things and it's so easy to
get caught up in that.
But the reality is is that meansnothing, nothing, absolutely
nothing, and that's so hard toget people like that to see it
is so hard.
Shay (12:40):
Yeah, it's a mindset issue , right?
So yeah, that's crazy, and youknow.
But also I mean living modestly.
But you want to enjoy yourblessings too.
So be mindful of extravagantpurchase.
Just don't go overboard.
I know, when I was in mytwenties and I was starting to
move up and make more money, Iwas all about buying the purses
and the shoes.
No, I have to disclaimer.
(13:02):
It's nothing wrong with that.
Like Vanessa said countlesstimes, you want to buy nice
things.
You can't.
I realized I didn't want to bespending all this money on
coaches and Michael Kors andDoody and Burps.
I just didn't want to keepdoing that because I was like,
ugh, no, I'd rather just buy areally nice one and keep it for
a year and didn't buy anotherone.
I just I didn't want to keepbuying over and over and over.
(13:23):
I just I didn't.
It didn't make sense to mebecause I wanted a nice car, I
wanted a nice house.
To me, the money made moresense that way.
So trying to be mindful of myexpenses and experiences are
very important to me too.
So I like me and my husbandlike to spend our money mostly
on our trips, like that's where,that's where I like to put our
money.
I know some people rather havethe, you know, even though Nate
has his shoes and his bourbonand all that.
(13:44):
But we still, we prioritizewhat's important to us in terms
of extravagance Right.
Vanessa (13:50):
Right and I had to learn the opposite of that.
So, cause I was always like,okay, Walmart sells, you know,
Tarjay on a good day, like thatkind of thing.
So I had to learn that it wasokay to have nice things,
because I would see a handbaglike oh, so beautiful.
And my mom actually had toteach me that and she was always
like it's okay to have nicethings, it is a okay to have
(14:14):
something nice.
You just can't have everything.
You want all the time so ifthere's something you really
like, it's okay to have two orthree really nice handbags.
They're going to last youforever.
You know that that there's atrade-off with that too, and it
took me forever, until I was inmy mid thirties, to realize that
she's right.
It's okay to have somethingnice.
(14:34):
It's okay, I don't have to beashamed for wanting that Exactly
.
You know so but you have to doit in moderation and you know so
so everybody has to learn, likeI think, we're all on these
extreme ends, whichever side, itis you know, but I was on the
other extremity, where it waslike okay, well, I'm going to
get the $5 purse that mightbreak in two weeks because it
(14:55):
was made in China.
But I went through that stagetoo, though.
Shay (14:59):
Yeah, so you have to learn that it's okay in some
circumstances, as long as you'rejust not going overboard with
things, so true, and finding abalance between enjoying God's
blessings and avoiding theaccess or the excess that could
alienate others, right Causesome people do.
They'll feel that way, I know Iwonder.
(15:20):
You know, my husband and I wentthrough this when our house,
you know, you see my house?
I didn't even did you see myold house, you didn't, but it
was similar and I just um, youknow, I just like nice things, I
like to decorate and design,and some people don't feel
comfortable in that becausethey're like what do you think
they are?
You know that kind of thing.
And some people haven't comeback to our house because they
and's like we didn't invite youover here to make you feel like
(15:43):
that or to alienate you.
It's just, I like a clean house, a nice house.
There's nothing wrong with that, that is not.
And actually a lot of stuff Ibuy is not really expensive.
So you know, so you're, you'rejust going off of what you see
and not again that hard work andthat struggle that came with
all of that.
But you know, some people are,you know, can feel alienated
(16:04):
from what you have.
Vanessa (16:05):
Well, and there's that intentional alienate and
alienate.
I can be talking there.
Shay (16:09):
So yeah.
Vanessa (16:10):
So there's this, the intentional, versus not trying
to do so, cause you were nottrying to do that with anyone.
Not at all you weren't tryingto alienate anyone from that
situation, but there are peoplewho like to be flashy and show
off and and they're like youknow, look at this and I spent
this much on that and that.
To me, that is where there isjust this Nope, let's, let's
(16:31):
stop this.
I'm not, I don't want to bearound somebody like that I
don't want to be around nobodyeither.
Shay (16:35):
It's annoying, exactly.
Vanessa (16:43):
But if it's unintentional, um, that's a hard
place to be too.
I remember growing up I had afriend come over and she told me
the next day at school that hermom sat in the car and cried in
front of her house because welived in a real house and she
lived in a trailer oh, that'sright, you told me the story and
it broke my heart as a littlegirl because I was like you know
, I don't understand.
I didn't understand because Ihad friends who lived in
trailers and I would go totrailers and sometimes the
(17:03):
trailers were nicer than myhouse.
Shay (17:06):
Yes, they are.
Vanessa (17:07):
They can be my best friend, her parents had one and
I was like she has like asoaking tub and then there's a
jet tub over here and I'm like Iwant that, I want to live here.
But you know, I think it's oneof those situations where, if
you are truly humble, peoplewill see that and they're going
to see that you're not trying to, you know, to show off or to be
(17:29):
in that place, it's just, youknow, I think sometimes people
feel that because they feelashamed or embarrassed about how
they're spending their ownmoney too.
Shay (17:40):
Exactly.
It's their own feelings theygot to deal with and work out.
Yeah, and you know, we can alsomodel contentment for others,
especially our family and kids.
So having that justsatisfaction around them and
just not, like you're saying,being flashy and being humble,
we can model that for our familyand say, yes, we have a nice
house or car.
I always use those examplesbecause those are usually the
(18:01):
most expensive things that youbuy and then excuse me and then,
but I also know that God, firstof all, this came from God.
Second of all, my husband and Iworked hard for this.
Third of all, we take care ofit, because I think that's a big
piece that's missing.
When I was cleaning my and I'mgoing to say this, and I was
going to share it with a familymember the other day, but I
didn't want to offend her, but Iwas realizing, instead of
(18:23):
watching a bunch of TV, thisweekend I took care of my house,
which I obviously.
I do that because I love toclean, I love to, you know, but
I was clean.
I cleaned all 22 windows, likeliterally use just cleaning and
cleaning.
And as I'm cleaning andlistening to music and talking
to God, I'm like this is what hewants us to do when he blesses
with something he wants us totake care of it and then guess
(18:46):
what?
It lasts longer and then youdon't have to go buy another one
like right away because it'snot breaking out.
Like that's why we get on mydaughter all the time.
My husband, I'm like go getyour damn excuse my language car
(19:08):
wash, because that's she reallydoesn't believe it.
I'm like, dude, you ain'twashed your car in like a year.
Like to me, that'sdisrespectful and many reasons,
but it's not showing that you,you care for your stuff and your
my stuff.
I have stuff from 20 30 yearsold because I take care of
myself.
I really believe cleanliness isnext to godliness.
It shouldn't have a bunch ofdust and dirtiness because if
you don't clean your stuff, itstarts, starts to deteriorate.
I know this to be true.
So anyway, I'm going to have tohand it to you.
So I was saying modeling thatbehavior and showing people that
(19:30):
I care about my stuff, and Ithink that speaks more than even
how much something costs in myhouse or when they're around me.
They know I care about itbecause I take care of it, and
so to me that's what God wantsus to do.
Vanessa (19:43):
And if you're modeling that to your children or your
siblings or whatever that mightbe they're going to learn that.
Okay, I need to respect thingsI need to respect these items
and respect your items toobecause you do take care of
things and you know they do last.
You're not just buying a newone every other week.
You know Exactly and I know youdo that with your stuff.
Shay (20:02):
You and TJ, like you guys, take good care.
I could just tell you're thosekinds of people, but I know you
are.
I've never seen TJ's house, butI know y'all are clean and to
me it's not only to enjoy theclean, but there's a reason why
you should be cleaning yourstuff.
And it's just showing upBecause you're thankful.
(20:26):
You are thankful, yes, you'rethankful.
And so, cleaning those windows,I'm like, oh, my god, it's such
a beautiful thing to have allthese windows of fresh air and
sunlight.
And I don't know.
I was just honored to cleangod's windows this weekend.
So this is weird, I know.
But yeah, and also, you shouldchoose quality over excess,
right.
One nice vehicle instead of afleet.
Now, I know there's some peoplethat got eight, nine, 20 cars.
That ain't never going to be me, but that's how I feel about
(20:48):
shoes and stuff, even though Ihave a husband has a lot of them
too.
That's just me personally.
Again, no offense to those thatdo that.
I don't need a bunch of stuff,I just need one or a couple of
nice things, right?
Vanessa (21:02):
nice things, right, yeah, so yeah, you know I've
seen this so many times becauseyou know I am like I'm from
redneck city and a lot of peoplewith my background we do that.
We buy all these cars and wejust kind of let them sit and
deteriorate in your driveway oron your, you know, propped up on
blocks, you know that kind ofthing.
And my sibling is the same way.
It's like one of thosesituations where you can drive
by his house and you can countthe number of cars and I mean at
(21:26):
one point he had to have apiece of property to put the
cars on.
Oh wow, I think there were like30, 40 vehicles that he bought
at an auction one time that hewas going to sell.
That has never sold and I thinkit's been like 20 years now.
(21:47):
But you know, having all thesevehicles and I'm like I would
much rather have one nicesomething as to have, you know,
20, 30, 40, because I'm alwayslike you can only drive one car
at a time.
I mean, that's just the realityof it, so you can't use them
both at the same time.
Shay (21:52):
That's how I feel about underwear socks.
That's how I feel about clothesand shoes.
Like you know, nate has like ahundred.
I got like five.
I mean I actually have a lotmore than that when it comes to
nice shoes.
But when it comes to myeveryday shoes, I have like
three pair of Skechers and liketwo pair of boots and like two
splats Like I literally can namewhat shoes.
Him and Alana got more shoesthan me Because I'm like I don't
(22:13):
need all of that.
Now I have dress shoes.
I do have a little more ofthose, but I mean I don't even
wear those because they're heelsand since the pandemic, I don't
really wear heels anymore.
Vanessa (22:22):
We have a saying in our house.
My mom's one of her really goodfriends, sharita.
She used to always say and TJsays this to me all the time,
but it's kind of a joke that wesay now, but there's so much
truth in it it's like you mightneed new, but you don't need
more, and she lived her life bythat.
She still does.
Like you may need new, but youdon't need more.
(22:44):
So anytime she would getsomething new, she replaced it.
Shay (22:48):
So me too.
That's what I do with mysketchers.
I wear my sketchers down to thelast minute, and then I'll see
my husband makes fun of mebecause I wear sketchers.
But I'm just gonna say snoopdogg and martha stewart.
And then we also should travelwith purpose, right, I always
said that this is.
And Martha Stewart wearSkechers.
Now it's cool to wear Skechers.
Now it's cool to wear Skechers.
And then we also should travelwith purpose, right?
I always said that this is whatI love to put our money into,
(23:09):
vacations to see God's creations, whether they're mountains,
pretty things.
Travel is a great time for youknow, making memories with your
loved ones and, just you know,spending quality time with God.
You know, like to me, myfavorite places go to the beach,
because it's relaxing, it'sbeautiful, but it's also
something super spiritualspiritual about going to the
body of God's water, like Idon't know.
Vanessa (23:30):
Nothing beats it but going into God's water, I'm with
you, yeah, yeah, travel hasalways been important to me and
I've always preferredexperiences over, you know,
having a physical item, and it'sjust because, yeah, things
break they.
You know, having a physicalitem and it's just because, yeah
, things break they.
Shay (23:44):
You know, get old they're not relevant anymore.
Vanessa (23:46):
whatever that might be Same thing.
But those relationships andthose bonds that are built on
those trips and the lives youcan touch on that trip, that's
another thing.
You know, that's something thatI try to do is if I see
somebody who needs something andI'm out and about and I'm not
at home, I'm going to help if Ican.
And it's usually one of thosesituations where, if I don't use
(24:08):
the budgeted money for lunchthat day, there's an opportunity
that presents itself later ofsomebody who needs that extra
money.
And that is always amazing to mewhen stuff like that happens.
So you know you can alwaystravel with purpose that way too
, to do the good that you can dowhen you're there.
Shay (24:24):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Vanessa (24:25):
Yeah, you know, and we always have to think about
wealth too, as it provides aplatform to influence others
positively.
So we can use our money to helpwith.
You know, somebody may want usto be their mentor.
We may need to go into thecommunity and start a program,
do something like that.
We can invest locally.
There's so many things that wecan do with that money that can
(24:49):
help others and that is huge tobe able to do that and be able
to bless somebody else.
Shay (24:57):
Yeah, exactly, just be generous and inspire others,
right, do that?
I mean I love mentoring, I lovehelping the community.
I am definitely prior considermyself a community activist and
also just a servant, and howeverway I can help, I know every,
almost every job I've ever hadhas been in some kind of servant
role.
I mean us as financialcounselors.
(25:17):
We're serving people, helpingthem with their financial
counseling, their account offinances.
So I, that's serving Right.
So I, just I, you're right,definitely.
And as I make more, I try togive more.
Vanessa (25:28):
Yeah, yeah, I always tell the story about Mr Dyer,
who gave my parents their veryfirst loan and the bank wouldn't
give them a loan.
Um, because you know, myparents were just two.
You know normal people.
My dad worked in a copper mine,my mom worked for the city.
He didn't have anything extra.
He believed in other people andwanted to see other people
thrive and build things in acommunity that needed resources.
(25:51):
So he loaned my parents moneyto build their first movie
theater that they had beenwanting to have their own
business, and they were like,okay, we can keep our day jobs,
which we need to fund our life,and then work at night there.
And you know, mr Dyer, he livedto be 103.
And I remember, you know, wewould have conversations and I
(26:13):
would take food to him and dodifferent things and he was
always like you know, let me payhim, like you pay for my
college.
Basically, like you know,because of you and your gifts
and wanting to see other peoplethrive, this community has gone
from not having much to havingso many things that want, you
know, to bring tourists intotown and people to move in, and
(26:33):
and one person has made such adifference, and he could have
been, you know, an ebenezerscrooge and just kind of kept it
to himself.
But he didn't do that.
He wanted to see other peoplethrive and I think if we have
those funds and we're trulyusing those funds to um, to
build the kingdom, we'll seethat and we want to be a part of
that too Exactly, yeah, yeah.
(26:55):
And, like I said, wealth isn'tfor hoarding, it's for serving.
Shay (26:59):
It really is y'all, and I know I have to learn.
I mean, I'm all over the place.
It might sound like it but Iknow sometimes I'm like man.
I got this.
Savings or invest in.
What else can I do to helpmostly people outside of family
Because they got enough?
in my mind so.
And then practicing small,uninspected acts of generosity
is a way to be generous.
(27:20):
And leaving the server, forexample, leaving the server an
extra tip, paying for astranger's groceries I put in
here, pay it forward.
I love that.
When we can pay it forwardright and speak volumes about
this, speaks volumes about God'slove.
So how you're using it andagain, I say, what God's really
concerned about is our heart andhow we're doing what we use our
money for, and so that's veryimportant.
(27:40):
Exactly, yeah, exactly what weuse our money for, and so that's
very important.
Exactly, yeah, exactly.
And generosity generosity isn'tabout what you give, but the
heart behind it.
I already said that.
So, kind of speaking of it.
I would say, but um, it reallyis.
And um, I would end with sayingProverbs 11, 25,.
A generous person will prosper.
Prosper Whoever refreshesothers will be refreshed.
(28:02):
And you know, I know I wastalking to somebody just a
couple weeks ago about relaxing,refreshing and recharging.
It's all different and you knowyou can refresh others by being
able to share your.
Vanessa (28:14):
You know your wealth, and so, yeah, any my own
thoughts I would say justremember that you don't have to
give everything away.
Shay (28:21):
It's still okay to have things and to enjoy life, but
give what you're called to give.
Yeah, I would echo that andthank you guys again for
listening and hope all is well.
A big thank you for listeningto this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
(28:42):
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Vanessa (28:44):
Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and
please feel free to leave us areview yes, and for the latest
Yahweh's Money content, visit usat www.
crusaders4change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired.
Shay (29:03):
And remember it's always better Yahweh's way.
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