Faith And Finances

Tim: They say that all good things must come to an end. We hope and pray that the Faith and Finances Podcast has been “good” to you, that the Christ-focused financial teaching has blessed and encouraged you.   Troy: In 1965, The Byrd's (can't these guys spell?) popularized the message of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 in their hyper-creatively titled song, "Turn! Turn! Turn!". The message is one of seasons—beginnings and endings. For every beginning, the Bible teaches us that there must also be an ending. That truth brings us to the final episode of the Faith and Finances Podcast.   Our Farewells: Tim: We are so thankful that you have chosen to listen to this Podcast. We have endeavored to bring valuable content and honor the Lord in every episode. I will be focusing my time and energy on my writing and live teaching endeavors. You can stay in touch, and receive my devotional writings on the subject of biblical finances by visiting www.TimRosen.org and providing your e-mail address. You can also learn where

How often are the words of the Apostle Paul, "Owe no man anything" applied to literally every form of loan, mortgage, and debt?   In This Episode, We Look At: Romans 13:8 in its proper context Types of debt to avoid Manageable, acceptable debt   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

I talk with my family frequently about the quality of food (or junk) that we put in our bodies. Yet there are times when I would see an amazing-looking dessert (just Google "Monster shakes") and all of a sudden I'm now telling my family how awesome this thing looks and that we ought to try it! That is not integrity! The healthy talk is somewhat recent in my life, but the junk food temptations stem from decades of bad habits.   In This Episode, We Look At: Deep seeded bad habits and bad behavior do not suddenly disappear overnight. This applies to financial habits and behaviors as well. You cannot dig yourself out of a 20, 30, or 40-year hole in just weeks or months. Financial integrity means handling money in a manner consistent with your beliefs—and words. Listen as we provide an Integrity self-test for Christians.   Improve Your Faith and Finances: Saturate yourself in God's Word, seeking to learn what is acceptable, and then practice awareness of your own thoughts, words, and deeds.   Share

Most of us are repelled by rules thrown at us. There’s a bit of a maverick in all of us, preferring “our way.” Just as there are laws of nature, there are laws in personal finance. They really do sound simple, yet simple is often enough. We are going to list the Simple Rules/Laws and teach you how to implement them.   Save Be aware of cash flow Avoid consumer debt

As Christ-followers, we are commanded to love others (see Matthew 22:37-40). That's a tall order. How much do we love ourselves?   In This Episode, We Look At: Love in action: With neighbors- demonstrate Christ-likeness. With our enemies. With family and the body of Christ.   Improve Your Faith and Finances: As Christ loved us unconditionally so are we to love others-unconditionally. Demonstrate that love, and also give, as giving is an act of love   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's Faith and Finances Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter

We all see the ads and the Hallmark movies this time of year. We see happy, joyful people shopping for their loved ones and enjoying bountiful Christmas dinners. In reality, do we display such joy and happiness in the marketplace while shopping for our loved ones? Why not?   In This Episode, We Look At: Three keys to a joyful Christmas shopping season. First: Determine to keep your family's focus on the meaning of Christmas. If the primary focus is the buying and giving of gifts, you're doing it wrong. Second: Determine a budget for Christmas related spending (including food). We cover some tips here in the episode. Third: Be intentional to spread joy and the love of Christ to others. Consider how other people feel as they work long hours at the stores this season, trying to tolerate impatient, rude, and belligerent customers. What difference can you make by offering a genuine smile and a "Thank you for working."   Resources and Links: Christmas Shoes - you're welcome!  :-)   Improve Your Faith and Financ

We would like you to meet Scott and Bethany Palmer, also known as The Money Couple. Scott and Bethany focus their decades of financial planning experience on helping couples strengthen their marriages and stop fights about money.   In This Episode, We Look At: Both spouses have their own unique money language and personality. You've heard of 5 Love Languages, but it’s the money language that causes most arguments and contention in a marriage. In this interview, Scott and Bethany help us to not only identify our own money personalities, but also how to understand our spouse's money personality. With this knowledge and understanding, couples can work together, knowing they are on the same team, and build their future together, instead of against each other.   Resources and Links: The Money Couple - website The Money Couple - Facebook The 5 Money Personalities - book   Improve Your Faith and Finances: Visit the Money Couple website and look around. Consider taking their Assessment. When you learn

Today, your Smartphone probably knows you better than you know yourself. Simply let the device look into your eyes and in seconds, you have access to all of your financial accounts, e-mail, and everything personal you could imagine. But, how well does it know your spouse? Specifically, if you were taken out of this world, would your spouse know how to access crucial financial accounts, insurance policies, and other vital information? I'm not simply talking about what is on your phone. Would your surviving spouse know who to call, how to access money, what to pay off, and where vital documents are kept?   In This Episode, We Look At: Preparing a "What to do" list for your loved one, in the event of your passing. The time to plan is now, while you are healthy and thriving, not once you are ill, old, or injured. Do you have life insurance? If not, why not? How will your loved ones pay for burial and funeral expenses? What will be the source of your surviving spouse's income? We also review the differences bet

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Mark 10:25 Why did Jesus say that? Are riches bad? Are rich people condemned?   In This Episode, We Look At: Because the Bible gives so many warnings against the dangers of riches, some other misunderstandings have been perpetuated in the Christian community. One is that being wealthy is inherently sinful, or that only sinful people become wealthy. (R.C. Sproul) The rich who are lost. They trust their wealth and see no need for a savior. The rich who are saved may see that their needs are met, which leads them to trust their wealth also, and not consciously depending on God (which is His design).   Improve Your Faith and Finances: If God entrusts you with riches, purpose to continue your dependence on God, the Giver of all things, and not on "uncertain riches" (1 Timothy 6:17). "If riches increase, set not your heart on them." Psalm 62:10   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a ques

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 We've heard many opinions and interpretations of this verse. If we think that this verse means that Jesus wants us to have an abundance of money to spend on ourselves, and live large with an abundance of possessions, we are heading toward misery.   In This Episode, We Look At: What an abundant life is not. It cannot be the accumulation of money and things, as Jesus warned, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15 True abundance, against the wisdom of man, is found in giving. Jesus declared, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35 This is counterintuitive because we want to believe that the opposite is true, that receiving and obtaining more is better.   Resources and Links: Giving is The Good Life - Randy Alcorn   Improve Your Faith and Finances: "God takes our stinginess or generosity per

Jesus said, "For ye have the poor always with you." Matthew 26:11a There are amazing promises to those who consider the poor. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing" Psalm 41:1-3   In This Episode, We Look At: Here we see three consecutive verses, in the Psalms, with specific and wonderful promises for those who will consider the poor.   In this age, who are the poor which the Scriptures are referring to? Are they the individuals who hold up signs on the street corner? Maybe not.   The Bible speaks of four distinct groups of the poor and specifies which groups we are to help, and which not to help. The First Group: Those who are poor due to tragedy. These are commonly widows, those who have become disabled, or diseased. We are to help this group. The Second

Many are familiar with the tax-saving benefits of owning and contributing to an HSA. Today we will look at a feature that allows it to work as an additional source for future income.   In This Episode, We Look At: Contributions are tax-deductible. Funds in the account have the opportunity for growth through choosing mutual funds. Potential tax-free income. Under current laws, you can submit a receipt and invoice for a medical expense that you paid in the past, and be reimbursed from HAS funds tax-free. This means you can save up your receipts and bills for many years, then submit them, progressively during your retirement years (or earlier) to supplement your retirement income with these tax-free reimbursements! Qualifications: You must have a high deductible health insurance plan and not be covered by a second health plan. Contribution limits are: $3,500 for individuals, and $7,000 for families (2019 limits).   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite

We hear a lot of talk about a coming recession. The 24/7 news cycle would have you to worry and panic (I think that's one of their goals). There is no need. So, what's a Christian to do, to prepare for a recession?   In This Episode, We Look At: First. What is a recession? It is a natural part of the business cycle. Economies expand and they also contract. When an economy contracts the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) decreases. When this occurs for two consecutive quarters (six months) an expert government committee officially declares a recession. The good news is, recessions are temporary. Steps to consider taking, in preparing for a recession: Always trust God above circumstances, people, and employment. Increase your value as an employee (now would be a great time to start). Do extra work. Do more than is asked of you. Make yourself available for extra work, or other areas of responsibility. Increase your knowledge of your industry (read books, take online classes). Reduce unnecessary expenses.

Christians can go to prison-because of financial matters (theft). They can divorce over financial matters, and can even keep themselves out of the will of God, due to their heart and actions in financial matters. The wealthiest twenty-five pastors in America are prosperity preachers.   In This Episode, We Look At: We memorize Scripture to help keep us from sinning (Psalm 119:11) and we use Scripture in spiritual battle (Ephesians 6). Jesus quoted Scripture in response to Satan's temptations. Our enemy uses money issues in the arsenal of attacks toward us, and we need the Truth to guide us (he cannot stand against the Truth). This week we are providing a list (abbreviated) of scriptures you can work on memorizing, to help in varying areas of money.   Resources and Links: Understanding True Ownership The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1 Guarding our hearts regarding money "…if riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Psalm 62:

We are distracted people. There is everything from minor distractions (the doorbell rings) to major distractions (insert favorite social media platform here.) In truth, the enemy, Satan, is expertly skilled at distracting us. You see, if we are distracted, mentally, emotionally, or physically, we will easily forget our true calling - reaching the Lost and impacting this world for eternity.   In This Episode, We Look At: When we live with a worldview of life, our affections are set here, on earth, and our efforts not only seem empty but bring emptiness. Try as we might, building a kingdom on earth is much like earning money and placing it in a bag with holes. Wait, that’s in Scripture! Everything we see, touch, and strive for "under the sun" will pass away, meaning (literally), that it will all burn. The solution is to seek those things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and "set your affections on the things above not on things below." (Col. 3:1-2)   Resources and Links:

We all have needs. God even designed our lives to bring us to dependence on Him. This dependence is voluntary, He does not force of to depend on Him. Do you desire to be closer to God? Did you know that in Scripture we are taught that we are to make the first move, draw near to God, then God moves, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)   In This Episode, We Look At: In money matters we have need for: Food, shelter, and clothing. Our first move is to seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, then His move is…and all these things (food, clothing, shelter) shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) We need money to run our household and other day-to-day expenses. Our move is to honor the Lord with our substance and with our tithe, then God's move is to fill our barns with plenty and our vats with new wine (in other words, more than enough resources to meet our needs.) We desire to have money to give to the Lord and kingdom purposes. Our move is to give by faith, and God's move is His promise

Today's twenty-somethings have many tools and technologies available to them that did not exist a generation ago. They also face different challenges than were faced twenty years ago.   In This Episode, We Look At: The importance of trusting and depending on God. Learning to honor the Lord in your finances. Developing the habit of paying yourself with each paycheck. Continue learning. Obtain low-cost life insurance to cover the risk of a lost income (if married.)   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's Faith and Finances Website or Twitter Troy Twitter Matt Website or Twitter

How much of our lives do we leave up to God? How much of life is our responsible. This is an intriguing question and we tackle this subject in today's episode.   In This Episode, We Look At: We know that we are to trust God and depend on Him, completely. We also know that it is not God's plan for His children to worry or fret. What then would be considered our part in planning and preparing for surprise events in life? We find in Scripture that we are to labor to earn income. We ought to save money for life expenses and future needs. We look at the role of appropriate types of insurance and Estate Planning: Disability, Life, Living Trusts   Improve Your Faith and Finances: Focus on preparing, within your means. We should all save a portion of our income on a regular basis. As Christians, we are called to do our best in the work place. If you are able, buy life insurance with no bells and whistles for the lowest price, from a reputable company.   Share Your Thoughts: If you have a question or comme