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 resourc...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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’...

The Power of Trust

• Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “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 ...

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 worldwi...

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):

• Bronze, $92 per unit, per month 
• Silver, $138 per unit, per month
• Gold, $240 per unit, per month
• Senior Share...

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 tell...

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...

The 4-Step Process For How Busy Moms (Or Stay-At-Home Dads) Can Get Control Of Their Time

Pray

• Starting our day in a posture of prayer and reliance on the Lord instead of trying to white-knuckle our way through life in our strength changes how we approach life. We feel a lot less stressed and more at peace, and it helps us focus our energy on those things that truly matter in Eternity. 
• This can look like quick flare pray...

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 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...

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 ...

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...

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: 

• If you decide not to lend the money, the other...

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 se...

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 ...