Faith And Finances

401(k)s are not perfect, but they do provide a way for workers to begin their investing journey toward retirement. They can be complex and many books have been written about 401(k)s. In today's episode, we are going to simplify it for you.   In This Episode, We Look At: What, exactly, is a 401(k)? It is an employer-sponsored retirement plan and by "employer-sponsored" we do not mean that it is completely funded by the employer. This is a program through you can contribute a set portion of your earned income into investments, automatically, which means you do not have to rely on your memory to contribute. In traditional 401(k) plans, your financial contributions come out of your paycheck without being taxed, so every dollar contributed is credited to your investment account. These "pre-tax" contributions actual allow for more of your money to be invested without hurting your budget. For example, when you earn $100 you do not take home $100. Because of taxes, you take home something closer to $70

Bob Lotich started SeedTime (formerly ChristianPF) in 2007 with a passion to help fellow believers learn how to manage their money wisely. His personal mission (and the SeedTime mission) is to make, save, grow, and give money to benefit others.   In This Episode, We Look At: Bob's vision and success in paying off debt in order to fund God's kingdom. Bob has a "radical" plan to increase his giving to match his age, as a percentage. Not only has he done this (with God's help and, he's in his thirties) but he and his wife, Linda, have paid off their mortgage all while giving almost a third of their income to the Lord's work.   Resources and Links: SeedTime - Bob's Blog and website Bob's Facebook Bob's Twitter   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter

Great things can happen, with a plan. How often do we simply hope that our finances will improve, but lack a clear action plan?   In This Episode, We Look At: The fallout from not having a financial plan. The various levels of plans. Creating a plan at the income level: Career progression, furthering education. Creating a plan for today's cash flow: Do you have a savings goal? How will you reach that goal? Do you have debt to eliminate? Create and commit to a plan to eliminate that debt. Creating a plan to generate future income. How much income will you need in the future? We talk about how to plan and invest to achieve a future income goal. Seeking expert counsel is often recommended. Must-answer questions: How much do you need to invest now, in order to create the future income you will need? What is the proper way to invest for your personal situation?   Resources and Links: The Total Money Makeover - by Dave Ramsey Against the Grain: Avoiding the Financial Pitfalls of Conventional Wisdo

Kevin Folger was the second of only two pastors in Cleveland Baptist Church's 60+ year history. This year, rather than retiring (which many men in their sixties do), he is transitioning to another ministry. Pastor Folger also prepared for such a time by planning for and preparing the pastor who would succeed him at Cleveland Baptist.   In This Episode, We Look At: An uncommon but needed practice in ministry, succession planning. How God burdened Kevin's heart early on for people in Asia. What Kevin is now doing in the Lord's service through SLC-Asia.   Resources and Links: SL-ASIA.com @KevinFolger - Twitter     Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter

When you were growing up, you may have been encouraged to "learn from your mistakes." There is certainly wisdom there, but when it comes to money, there are mistakes you do not want to learn from - you want to avoid them.   In This Episode, We Look At: Some money mistakes can be so devastating that there is no recovery, or they may require years to recover from. Today we review five money mistakes that others have made and that you can avoid. Using funds from your 401(k) for today's expenses or "emergencies." Waiting too long in life to begin paying yourself. Operating without a budget The new car habit. Allowing lifestyle creep.   Resources and Links: Tim's Blog has many helping posts on these issues.   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter

Niranjan Sundararaj recently retired after working nearly 27 years for American Express International. He has an incredible story of God's grace, mercy and guidance in his life, that is sure to encourage you. From being severely injured in a terrorist's bomb blast in Sri Lanka to taking his family to live in Sydney, Australia, and now at a time when others would retire, Niranjan is just getting warmed up, spear-heading a massive effort to reach the Lost in the 10/40 window.   In This Episode, We Look At: God's hand on Niranjan's life during times when circumstances made no sense. How God used Niranjan's professional experience in traveling all over Asia to prepare him for greater things later in life. The vision for, and the need to reach the Lost in the 10/40 window, and you can be a part.   Resources and Links: Spiritual Leadership Conference - Asia Website Niranjan's Facebook Page   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoug

The culture we live in equates being rich with happiness and fulfillment. Michael Norton is a Harvard Business School professor who has studied the connections between happiness and wealth.   In This Episode, We Look At: Mr. Norton says the research regularly points to two central questions that people ask themselves when determining whether they are satisfied with something in their life: Am I doing better than I was before? and, Am I doing better than other people? If you and I, as Christians, look to money and wealth for fulfilment, we will never find it. Riches do not always equal blessings. Psalm 37:16 "A little that a righteousness man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." Some ungodly people are very rich; don't envy them. Psalm 49:16 "Be thou not afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him."   Resources and Links: Michael Norton's Study, in The Atlantic   Improve

Dean Miller is a pastor, a sought after Youth preacher, and evangelist. Dean had pastored Central Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, MI, for thirteen years, then God brought change in Dean’s life and ministry. This type of change makes people nervous. It makes other pastors nervous.   In This Episode, We Look At: How Dean responded to a prompting from God on his heart. How would he know it was really God’s will to leave his current church and pastor a new church? How would his current congregation respond? I believe what you will learn from Dean Miller will encourage you and challenge your faith at the same time. You will learn how to respond when you feel God is bringing change in your life.   Resources and Links: Dean Miller’s Facebook Page Front Range Baptist     Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter

The Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. has exhibit rooms that are built slightly off-center, the floors slope a tad, and the walls are not “plumb.” The intended effect is to make the visitor feel a little disoriented, to give just a hint as to how the Jews felt being taken from their homes and herded into a strange place.   Feeling off-balance isn’t pleasant, we crave balance in most areas of our life.   In This Episode, We Look At: We often find ourselves out of balance in our finances, and many remain in that state more than they care to. The needs and wants of today consume our time and resources, often leaving plans for our future in the dust. Yet we age, and there is no slowing down that process, and there will come a time when we will need income but cannot earn it any longer. There is a biblical process by which we can strive for financial balance and honor the Lord in the process.   Improve Your Faith and Finances: Perfect balance may be unattainable. Our lives will be a series of adju

We all experience struggles of some nature. Sometimes they are physical, sometimes, spiritual, and of course, financial.   In This Episode, We Look At: Struggles are part of life. Some struggles are self-inflicted. A struggle is not necessarily an indication of God's punishment for sin. Many struggles are Father-filtered with the purpose of strengthening our faith and dependence on God. Even children can learn and grow through struggles. Though it may be difficult, there are some struggles which we should allow our children to work through (age appropriate, of course)   Resources and Links: The fixed heart is the secret of courage. G. Campbell Morgan "…not be afraid of evil tidings: for his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:7 Bible Steps: Receiving God's Financial Promises and Provisions - Free book download   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter

In Jesus’ parable of the talents, one servant receives five talents, a second receives two talents, and the third servant receives one talent. Why did each receive a different amount of wealth?   In This Episode, We Look At: Today, we see that God has provided Christians with varying amounts of money for the purpose of occupying until he returns. The key wording in this passage is “…according to their several ability.” Everyone has their own level of faithfulness with God’s resources. We see in Scripture that this who are faithful “in that which is least shall be faithful with much: and that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10 God knows our individual strengths and weaknesses. What does financial faithfulness look like? Honoring the Lord. Taking care of our families Saving a portion Setting aside for a future need (investing)   Resources and Links: Multiply: What the Bible Teaches About Saving, Investing, and Planning for Your Future- by Tim Rosen   Improve Your Fait

A storyline from the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) guides the reader. Here you have two faithful servants who double their lord's wealth, and one who hides the money. What were these servants' views on ownership?   In This Episode, We Look At: Whose wealth did they manage and multiply? In verse 14 the Bible says "… and delivered unto them his goods." They knew that, while they were in physical possession of riches, the wealth actually belonged to their lord. The financial resources we have, in a practical sense, is ours. Yet in the spiritual sense it all comes from God, and He calls us to honor Him in our finances. How is your personal view of ownership? How wonderful is it, when we acknowledge that our resources are God's resources, that our burdens also are God's burdens?   Resources and Links: Multiply: What the Bible Teaches About Saving, Investing, and Planning for Your Future New book, by Tim Rosen   Improve Your Faith and Finances: Acknowledging God's ownership of all that we phys

Why write a book on the subject of investing, when there are already so many others? Christians still experience stress, fear, worry, and confusion over the matter of planning for their future, and yet the Bible has so much to teach. "Multiply" teaches those principles and guides you in today's applications.   In This Episode, We Look At: Most of us are not planning adequately for the future, for varying reasons. An estimated twenty-one million American workers say that they are counting on depending on social security for their retirement needs, and yet 56% say they do not understand how social security works. Many of our pastors have been advised by well-meaning mentors of the past, "just stay faithful and God will take care of you." While there is some truth to that statement it omits other important truths. The Bible teaches that there is wisdom in planning for a future need. Thus, trusting in the Lord, and planning, are not mutually exclusive. There are some that are doing well financially,

Where does money come from and why do we value it so much?   In This Episode, We Look At: Money is one thing can so quickly turn the Christian’s heart away from the Lord and into idolatry. (I am not saying money is bad). Since antiquity there has always been some sort of money (something of value exchanged for something else of value). The more you have the more stuff you can obtain. How money is viewed. Our view of money can be very subjective and often progresses (or regresses) through varying seasons of our lives. Thankfully we have Scripture through which to view money. God provides money for the meeting of our needs, and some God-honoring pleasures (1 Timothy 6:17), equips is for a life of faith ( 2 Cor. 9:8), and we ought not worry, even about money (Phil. 4:6, Luke 12:22-32)   Resources and Links: Multiply: What the Bible Teaches About Saving, Investing, and Planning for Your Future   Improve Your Faith and Finances: God, who gives you the ability to earn money (Deut. 8:18) promises to

As Christians we need to remain diligent and guard our hearts against the constant push of how we ought to live and be entertained.   In This Episode, We Look At: Self-inflicted consumer debt. We take out a loan or use the credit card to get something now, that we cannot afford, and worry about paying for it later. Is the verse, “Owe no man anything” to be taken literally? We’ll tackle that on today’s episode. Resources and Links: Multiply: What the Bible Teaches About Saving, Investing, and Planning for Your Future                 Improve Your Faith and Finances: Resolve to keep yourself and your family out of debt. Patiently save and pay cash for wants in life (this gives you time to consider whether you really want it, or if it was just an impulse!)   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter

If you are listening to this Podcast in a developed country, you likely own a Smart phone which costs somewhere between $300 and $900. Whether you paid for it in full, put it on a credit card, or had the cell company add the balance to your monthly bill, it was important to you and you may a way to obtain the phone. The same applies to our cars, computers, and other things that are a priority to us; we find a away to obtain.   In This Episode, We Look At: If we find ways to own Smart phones, cars, tablets and computers, why is it that the bulk of Americans are setting aside adequate dollars for their future? Isi it procrastination? Is it because we enjoy today's dollars and we don't want to part with that money? Are we in denial about aging and some day needing income? Do we believe what we can afford to invest is not significant, or would make little difference? We have more than we think. We will need more than we think. It takes effort today to have income tomorrow. You can do it, but you will have to g

Time and time again in Scripture we see Jesus' disciples limiting the power of God in their lives through their doubt or disbelief. Peter cast one net instead of two, as Jesus instructed. And again, when told to come out and walk on the water. If his disciples, who were physically with Jesus for over three years, had times of doubt and uncertainty, we can be assured that we will also.   In This Episode, We Look At: We are a people in complete need of God. He is the One who provides for us and protects us. He is the only One who can save us and our loved ones. At times we limit God from doing wondrous things in our lives, sometimes , because we cannot imagine, or picture our lives being any different, or our finances improving. He is more than able to exceed all that we ask or think.   Improve Your Faith and Finances: God promises that when we ask, according to His will, believing, that He will answer prayer (unless we ask wrongly, James 4:3). How is your prayer life? Are you coming boldly (and humbly

Like the sights and sounds of a Vegas casino, the investing world is full of "sights and sounds", luring the investor to play.   In This Episode, We Look At: Some approaches to investing can be considered speculating, or gambling, with your money. Single stock picking. Attempting to time the market. Even choosing a mutual fund based on the reported past performance. In this episode we also look at the benefits and applications of diversification in your investing experience. Jack Bogle said, "Instead of trying to find a needle in a haystack, just buy the haystack." We talk about  striving to make earn market rates of return, rather than attempting to beat the market.   Resources and Links: "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth." Ecc. 11:1-2   Improve Your Faith and Finances: Investing should be viewed and approached as a long-term discipline. Taking short-cuts or being "hast

In your adult years have you ever resisted advice that was good for you? We could respond with “You can’t tell me what what to do!” Hearing that we ought to live within our means can generate that same resistance. If we are honest with ourselves, we lean toward living how we want to live.   In This Episode, We Look At: Most Americans live beyond their means, as measured by consumer debt held by the average household. There is not safety in these numbers. Debt means using someone else’s money to obtain what we want and an obligation is created. (Romans 13:8) It is both possible and rewarding to live within your means. Guard against: pride, coveting, mindless spending, fear, and comparisons.   Improve Your Faith and Finances: Take an honest look at where every dollar is going. What area(s) is causing you to come short of financial health. What changes do you need to make? Think about the rewards and benefits of making those changes.   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about t

We work, often full-time, to earn money. We struggle sometimes to meet today’s financial demands, set some money aside in savings, while trying to squeeze in some dollars for the future.   In This Episode, We Look At: We are bombarded with materialism. We are prone to worry, stress, and hoard. The very kingdom we spend time, energy, and resources to build will ultimately and literally pass away. It will be burn and God will replace it with a new, perfect earth.   Resources and Links: Faith and Finances: Eternal Promises for Today's Resources Book, by Tim Rosen   Improve Your Faith and Finances: We cannot anticipate or desire what we cannot imagine. As long as the resurrected universe remains either undesirable or unimaginable, Satan succeeds in sabotaging our love for Heaven. Randy Alcorn   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts. Podcast on Facebook Tim Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter