NEWS & UPDATES

Jesus talked about money more than heaven or hell. He did so because money reveals the heart, and a heart un-discipled in this area can wreck a life. If that is true for us, it is true for our children.

"To become like Christ is the only thing in the world worth caring for." — Henry Drummond. That quote is exactly how Scripture defines success. When we're tempted to measure achievement by accumulation and applause, the Bible redirects our focus.

Wall Street has never lacked for noise in the form of predictions, "hot" investments, and promises of quick wealth. Yet George Sisti’s article, “How to Get Rich Slowly,” offers a sound reminder--successful long-term investing is generally built on simple habits practiced faithfully over time.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” That thought agrees with the biblical principle found in 1 Timothy 6:6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Contentment is one of the keys to financial freedom. Discontentment keeps moving the finish line. Regardless of how much we earn or accumulate, it tells us we need just a little more before we can be satisfied.

Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Scripture does not condemn preparation. Proverbs points us to the ant as an example of diligence, and Jesus Himself spoke of counting the cost. But James 4 warns us not to presume upon tomorrow or speak as though the future is ours to control. Our responsibility is to plan wisely and then work the plan faithfully.

When it comes to money, Jesus poses a poignant question in His Sermon on the Mount. He asks what we truly treasure? Then he adds, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). The direction of our money often reveals the condition of our heart more clearly than our words ever could.

Retirement planning can sometimes feel overwhelming. We may think meaningful progress requires a large contribution or a painful reduction in our current lifestyle. But one of the most effective approaches is also one of the simplest: increase your retirement contribution by just 1% each year—or each time you receive a raise.

Financial success is often made to sound more complicated than it really is. The world is always chasing the next trend, tip, or shortcut. But biblical stewardship is not built on fads; it is built on fundamentals—principles that do not change because they are rooted in truth.

Most people think financial planning begins with numbers: income, expenses, investments, retirement age, and tax strategy. Those things matter. But they are not the starting point. For a follower of Christ, the better question is not simply, “Will I have enough?” The better question is, “Am I being faithful with what God has entrusted to me?”

Most of the financial questions we face everyday aren't addressed chapter-and-verse in Scripture. The Bible doesn't tell you whether to lease or buy, how much to put in your 403(b), or whether to pay off debt before building an emergency fund. So how do we make wise financial decisions as followers of Christ?

While reading a recent blog from Rob West, President of Kingdom Advisors, he shared a story from Ron Blue that I remembered reading years ago. Ron Blue once asked a local pastor in Kenya what most hindered the spread of the gospel. The pastor’s answer surprised him.

When a church has a group health plan and an employee is ready to turn age 65, a common question is: should they stay on the group plan or go to Medicare? The reality is…it depends.

If I have excess funds, should I invest them or pay off my mortgage? Personal finance is just that—personal. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But I think there is a wise way to think about it—and a biblical way to approach it.

In my role I’m often asked, “When should I start Social Security?” It’s a fair question. This decision affects your income for the rest of your life, so it deserves careful thought. Proverbs 21:5 reminds us that good planning matters, and deciding when to start Social Security is one of those moments. Let's consider some of the factors.

Clergy face one of the most complicated tax situations of any profession. Ministers are employees for income tax purposes but self-employed for Social Security. Add housing allowances, parsonages, reimbursements, love offerings, weddings, funerals, and guest speaking, and it becomes clear—this is not a job for a general tax preparer.

Peter Lynch once said, “If you spend 13 minutes a year on economics, you’ve wasted 10 minutes.” That sounds strange until you remember who Peter Lynch is. He wasn’t guessing. He was one of the most successful investors of his generation. His point wasn’t that money doesn’t matter—it was that obsessing over the economy usually doesn’t help.

What if someone were to offer you a life principle that could immediately increase your fulfillment spiritually, financially, and emotionally—really in every area of life? Of course, you’d want to know what it is. The apostle Paul gives us exactly that kind of principle in Philippians when he writes, “I have learned to be content.” He did not say that contentment came automatically with his new nature when he accepted Christ; rather, he said he learned to be content.

Financial questions are an unavoidable part of ministry leadership. Pastors and church leaders are often tasked with stewarding resources wisely while staying focused on shepherding people, leading vision, and fulfilling God’s calling. When financial uncertainty enters the picture, it can become a heavy and distracting burden.

Jesus once asked a simple, almost practical question: “Which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” (Luke 14:28). Before you build anything that matters, you stop and think about where it’s headed.

The greatest thing we can give our children is not money, opportunity, or even security. It is a clear understanding that Jesus Christ is their only hope—and that a life lived apart from Him, no matter how successful it may appear, is ultimately a wasted life.