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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 already OK. And if we got this money, we’d start to rely on the shifting sands of this money for our security, instead of the firm foundation of Christ.’Long story short, they worked with his Dad to use that money to advance God’s Kingdom through giving. I was blown away by that decision.”Three Ways That Jesus Interacted With Wealthy PeopleSo, if we go through the four Gospels and find the times Jesus interacted with a wealthy person, it happened a lot. He had a pretty unique pattern, and it was three things:LoveInvitationChallengeSo for us, in our wealth today, Jesus loves us, inv

The Playbook for Chronic AnxietyIt'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’re a perfectionist, almost every assumption you hold about yourself is unreasonable. Think about it. When was the last time you looked at your work and said, "That was well done." Perfectionism is always chasing a carrot we can never reach. It’s a treadmill to nowhere. Anxiety has a competing gospel. The idea out of all of the gospels is that this is the only gospel where God pays and the human benefits. In every other belief system, the human pays and the god benefits.If you think about ancient sacrifice systems, even in the Roman Empire and the Egyptian Empire back in the days of Moses, humans paid

The Power of TrustProverbs 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 FocusThe power of focus is to ask God what the next thing He would have us do is and to focus on that one thing until we progress on it before moving to the next. Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”Proverbs 16:3 also says, to “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”Research shows we can't multitask, so focusing on one goal at a time is essential.The Power of PrioritiesWe can think of financial priorities for the "live, give, grow” pie, starting with the 10/10/80 principle—give 10% first, save/grow 10%, and use the remaining 80% for living expenses. Prioritize giving fi

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 worldwide. Why are shoes important for health, education, and opportunity, especially in underdeveloped countries?Children can't go to school without shoes in many countries where they work, so Buckner promotes education by providing that gift. Additionally, wearing shoes makes many foot-borne illnesses in some communities entirely preventable. Many of the shoes they distribute also allow Buckner ministries to meet and come alongside children and families in their community, providing redemptive ministry for them.How do shoes pave the way for sharing the Gospel?Every pair of shoes is an opportunity

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 monthGold, $240 per unit, per monthSenior Share, $115 per unit, per monthHow is being a member of Christian Healthcare Ministries more flexible than most health insurance plans?CHM members are not limited to a provider network. They can go to any doctor or hospital if the treatment is eligible according to CHM guidelines. This gives members more flexibility and control over their healthcare than typical health insurance plans.Where does CHM’s ministry concept originate?CHM draws its concepts from the New Testament, where the Book of Acts says that all the believers pooled their resources together and shared what they had. So, CHM practically

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 telling a parable about man's greed and envy, not just the man who asked the question or had the issue, but ours. So this parable is about a rich man who poured his whole heart into accumulating and essentially worshiping his wealth and died before he could enjoy it. So obviously, perishable worldly inheritance is a false solution.Where can we find more about this imperishable inheritance? 1 Peter 1:3-9 talks about our inheritance as believers, which calls it imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. And here are a few things the passage says about our inheritance. It includes a living hope in Chri

Must-Have Financial SkillsThe 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 plan is just a wish,” they say. And wishes won’t buy you a house. The fundamental planning tool we recommend is a budget, otherwise known as a “spending plan.” A budget keeps track of your income, giving, and spending, and gives you a picture of your progress towards meeting your financial goals. Download the free FaithFi app to get started.The following fundamental financial skill everyone needs is work!  Maybe your dad always told you that “Money Doesn’t Grow on trees!” Annoying as that was, it’s the truth. So, start at the bottom if you have to, work hard, and develop your resume!Colossi

The 4-Step Process For How Busy Moms (Or Stay-At-Home Dads) Can Get Control Of Their TimePrayStarting 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 prayers we shoot up throughout the day when we feel overwhelmed, aren’t sure how to approach something, or just feel extra tired or weary.PrioritizeIn the book, Crystal outlines what she calls the 6x2 Priority System. She has six Priority Areas around which she wraps her time and life, but she only picks two to focus on per day and then rotates the ones she focuses on. So, instead of trying to do all the things every day, she just intentionally spends time on two areas. For instance, that might look like an at-home date with your spouse (Marriage Priority Area) and coffee with a friend (Friendships

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 averse” and try to avoid losses, sometimes to such a substantial degree that it undermines their long-term goals. One of the trickiest parts of investing is taking enough risk to meet your long-term goals without taking more risk than necessary. There are very tangible steps we can take to reduce or mitigate risk—things like maintaining an emergency savings fund to minimize the risk of a financial emergency, such as a job loss or an unexpected major expense. When it comes to investing, diversifying your holdings rather than putting all your eggs in one basket is an example. Can someone be too

What To Do When You’re Treated UnfairlyMoney 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 a fallen world filled with fallen people, and we’ll all experience mistreatment at one time or another.It’s important to remember that you’re one of those fallen people, too. Your first instinct might be to lash out against someone who’s mistreating you, but that is not a biblical response to mistreatment. Instead, look to Christ as your model. No one suffered more injustice and mistreatment than Jesus.In 1 Peter 2:20-22, the apostle tells us how a Christian should respond to mistreatment. It reads, “When you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God

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 them.Now, of course, we always use the Bible as our ultimate guide, and Proverbs 14:23 tells us, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” That means we’d better get started with our list!So first up, Inspect your outdoor air conditioning unit to make sure it’s ready for summer. Look for debris inside and around the unit. Leaves and other material can collect over the winter and could cause damage when the system kicks on.Of course, it’s also wise to have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean the coils and service the outside unit—and that’s not

The Danger Of CovetousnessCovetousness 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 what you want, you’re putting your fleshly desires in God’s place. Selfishness obliterates your ability to love God and other people. One problem with a materialistic mindset is that you start to believe “more is always better”, and you never have enough.  Ultimately, covetousness is just a treadmill of frustration and desire. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon calls it “chasing after the wind.”  Jesus warns his followers against this sin, but he also gives them-–and us-–the key to a better way of living: “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”.In other words, you won’t

Relational Effects Of Lending MoneyProverbs 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 person could be upset. If you do lend the money and the other person doesn’t repay it, you’ll probably be upset.It’s only the third possibility that makes everyone happy: You lend the money, and the borrower pays it back. But consider carefully why they asked to borrow in the first place. They may not be able to repay the loan if they’re already in bad shape financially, for whatever reason.Fortunately, God’s Word gives us guidance here. What does the Bible say? First, God’s Word tells us to help those in need…lending money if necessary. Deuteronomy 15:8 says, “You shall open your hand to him a

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 servants buried his talent in the ground. The master asked why he did that and the servant said he was afraid, and the master was displeased.All too often, annuities are marketed and purchased based on fear. What should we look out for?If a salesperson is ONLY selling annuities, rather than a full suite of investment options, that’s a potential problem. If he or she only has a square peg to sell, they’ll always try to sell a square peg, regardless of whether the hole is a square, a circle, or a triangle. Also, if an annuity salesperson is trying to get you to put a large percentage of your money into a

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 someone can afford taxes and maintenance which are recent within the last 10 years or so to eliminate problems in the program.How is a HECM (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) reverse mortgage similar to a Swiss Army knife? There are so many different ways to use them. Just like a Swiss army knife has multiple tools, reverse mortgages can be used for various purposes beyond just being a loan of last resort. This is in contrast to many people's perception that reverse mortgages are only designed for people who are broke.How can a reverse mortgage help keep your Medicare premiums low? A reverse

So, how much is enough for Christians?If you’re just starting out, or struggling financially, “How much is enough?” might seem like a silly question. The bottom line for you is that you just need more money at the moment! Why should you think about “how much is enough” when you hardly have anything?  And what if you’re at the other end of things? If you’re approaching retirement, you might be thinking about the size of your nest egg. But why put a limit on accumulating money and possessions?  Based on these two examples, the definition of “enough” seems to depend on what stage of life you’re in. Well, let’s look at what the Bible has to say about what’s “enough”.  In Luke 12:15, Jesus says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Jesus is making a rather unexpected statement: Getting more money is never the goal, no matter how old you are. Jesus As The Source Of LifeThe desire of every human heart is for life, which means satisfying, abun

It All Starts With CommunicationCommunication is crucial for estate planning in blended families, highlighting the importance of being open, transparent, and truthful. While this may be difficult at times, it's essential for bringing issues to the forefront, suggesting that effective communication is the foundation for addressing the unique challenges blended families face in estate planning.How do blended families with different goals work it out?When spouses in blended families have different goals, they should prioritize seeking understanding and compromise. Seek first to understand and then to be understood, emphasizing the value of asking questions like "tell me more about that" to gain insight into the other person's perspective. When disagreements become particularly challenging, involve a third party for neutral counsel. This approach aims to help spouses find common ground, or at least agree to respect and support their separate goals, fostering unity and cooperation.The Importance Of Meeting The Nee

Albert Einstein is credited with saying that the power of compounding is the eighth wonder of the world, and “He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it. And Ron Blue shares a story for us about a couple who apparently understood this very well.“I received a call from my 30-something-year old son awhile back. He’d been married for some time and he is a teacher and his wife Ann was a teacher. And his question to me was, “Dad,” he said, “You know, Ann and I are just teachers and we're just never going to have enough, probably, to ever retire.So I said, well, Tim, tell me a little bit about your financial situation. And what he said to me was truly amazing! They have never ever used credit card debt. They didn't have any car loans. They had a home mortgage and they had a savings account and their savings account was maybe 30-thousand. I don't remember the exact amount. And the reason they had a savings account I think is significant. It’s that when they both worked, they saved one of the salaries.

The Financial Impact of College EducationGoing to college is a financial decision, second only to buying a house. More specifically, it’s an investment decision. Will it pay off? Perhaps the most important factor determining that is whether you graduate with a degree. Fail to do that, and any money you spend, or borrow, for college, will likely be money down the drain in terms of future earnings.The good news is that data just released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that earning a college degree is still financially worthwhile—generally speaking. The data shows that recent college grads working full time earn about $25,000 a year more than those with only a high school diploma.The catch is, they have to be working. That means majors chosen by college grads must give them skills that managers are willing to pay for.Another study by the American Educational Research Journal shows that engineering and computer science degrees give the highest rate of return on dollars spent for education. They’re

Historical Context and Modern ImplicationsAfter crossing the Jordan into the promised land, the Israelites fought the battle of Jericho. Joshua was their leader, and the Lord gave them the victory. In Joshua 24, the general reminds his people of God’s faithfulness to them at Jericho and through their history.  He ends by making that memorable statement of faith: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”As Christians in a non-Christian culture, we are also called to take a stand. We can either choose to serve the gods of this world, or the Lord. It’s not easy for us, and it wasn’t easy for the Israelites. There were temptations everywhere to serve other Gods.  That’s why Joshua reminds the people over and over, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.”In the New Testament, Paul echoes Joshua’s call to the Israelites in 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” It takes courage, determination, and trust in the Lord to withs