When most Christians think about the Bible and money, we probably think of the passages that warn us about its dangers. For example, Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced […]
When most Christians think about the Bible and money, we probably think of the passages that warn us about its dangers. For example, Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced […]
Proverbs 22:6 reads, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” The question is, what should that training entail? Sharing the Gospel is obviously a priceless lesson for our children, but teaching them to manage money God’s way is perhaps the next most […]
At first glance, this verse seems like a simple contrast between earthly money and spiritual reward. But when we slow down, examine the Greek, and consider how Jesus’ original audience would have understood it, we uncover something much deeper: a warning about what it means to be […]
Ron Blue speaks about five decisions we must make as Christians if we truly want to make an impact with our lives and experience financial joy. The first two decisions are about salvation and lordship. In those decisions, we come face to face with the radical grace of Jesus and His authority in our lives. […]
In the doctor’s waiting lounge, I began to look through a local “buy, sell, trade” website. One advertisement caught my attention: “I saw a pretty boat, I wanted a pretty boat, I bought a pretty boat. The boat is still pretty, but I don’t want the pretty boat anymore. I do not want to see the […]
When Jesus became human, He did so in order to reveal the Father to us. In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, He tells Nicodemus that He has come to give testimony to what is heavenly: the love of the Father. He reminds Nicodemus that, “No one has ascended to […]
If you’ve been around financial stewardship circles for a while, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “God owns it all.” And you’ve probably been taught that you’re a steward or manager of everything God has temporarily entrusted to your care. But I […]
Early in my journey of learning about money, I noticed a very odd disconnect. On the one hand, it was obvious that there’s a ton of personal finance advice readily available. Search on any financial question and within seconds you can find answers—sometimes, even credible answers! […]
Did you know there is a national Quitter’s Day? It’s the second Friday of January because that is the day when most people have given up on their New Year’s resolutions. The diet is broken; the credit cards are maxed out; the garage still needs cleaned; etc. I’m convinced that the reason so many of us break […]
We are called to go out into the world and live lives of impact. To live in synch with how God designed us. To be generous with our possessions and time so that we can “be a blessing to others.” “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will […]
In our side yard a tree has survived ice storms, heavy snows, and howling winds. Several times in the decades we’ve lived here, I thought it would fall. Now I expect it to long outlast me. I’ve taken pictures of my preschool daughters in that tree, and of their […]
Several years ago I was having coffee with a new friend named Chris when he said something I’ll never forget. He said, “The greatest obstacle between people and Jesus in our culture is money.” “I think I agree with you,” I responded, “but unpack that for me. Why do you believe […]
In December of 2006, as each week brought news of yet another publisher that had decided to take a pass on a book I had poured a year of my life and left a well-paying corporate job to write, I found myself deeply discouraged and increasingly worried. Was it a colossal mistake to […]
I used to think there were just two types of jobs in the world: meaningful jobs and all the rest. Meaningful jobs were ones in which the work itself helped people or solved some of the world’s great problems. Any other type of work was just a job. I now see it differently. Some do get the […]
Every day of our lives, we are the unwitting recipients of countless messages designed to foster discontentment. And they work really well, convincing us that we need something more in order to be happy. In order to be worthy of love or […]
It’s easy to make managing money more complicated than it needs to be. That’s because money isn’t just an objective “means of exchange” as the dictionary defines it. Money is wrapped up in our emotions – our hopes, dreams, and fears. This […]
Of all the things we can do with money, giving it away seems completely, utterly irrational, doesn’t it? After all, we work hard for what we earn. And after paying all the bills and putting a little aside for the future, there just isn’t anything left to give, right? Well, it turns out that generosity is an essential part of a […]
Stillness is devalued and often discouraged in society. All around us, people shout for our attention. Project deadlines press us hard on every side. The pace of life saps both our strength and our passion. So, what pace should we choose if we want to thrive? We think that when we drill […]
Churches and ministries need funding to address local needs, aid those in crisis, teach students, and deploy missionaries. As stewards, what should our mindset be in regards to sustaining our resources? The world says, “Resources are scarce. Supply is limited to man’s capacity. So, as a result, you […]
Financially speaking, what are you trying to change? Are you trying to get out of debt? Earn more? Save more? Part of the process will probably involve gaining some new knowledge. And part of it will involve changing behavior. But getting to a better financial place […]
I almost titled this post, “You Can’t Automate Financial Wisdom.” But then I realized, you can. A little background I have a love/hate relationship with financial automation. On the one hand, automation can be a wonderful help. In our household, we have some of our bills set up as auto-pay—those […]
It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to. — Bilbo Baggins, “The Lord of the Rings” We were made for adventure. It’s the adventures, the experiences that contain an element of risk [...]
So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. – Luke 2:16-18 A few [...]