NEWS & UPDATES

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.

Here is a question I grapple with in no small way: How much money is enough? I have found that few of us have ever clearly defined this number. If we have, it often becomes a moving target that fuels anxiety, drives decisions, and keeps us chasing more without ever finding rest.

I used to enjoy listening to a local sports radio station in the Little Rock area. Lately, however, I can barely get through a segment without hearing a betting line, odds update, or gambling sponsor. It's everywhere — and it's not accidental. Sports betting is now a $160 billion industry, and it's buying influence fast.

While reading a recent article by Jim Denison, I was reminded of a timeless question: “How much money is enough?” The answer often reveals more about the human heart than the size of a bank account. It is often said that John D. Rockefeller was once asked how much money was enough, and he replied, “Just a little more.”

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.

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.

As we enter the Advent season, I’m reminded of something simple but convicting--the greatest investment ever made wasn’t financial. It was God giving His only begotten Son. There’s no comparison. And when we consider that truth, it forces us to look at our own priorities a little differently.

Happiness is something most everyone longs for. Yet, this emotion can be elusive if we are not proactive in our approach to life.

At BMA Financial, we wish to come alongside and assist you in building both an eternal and earthly portfolio. Today, we'll focus on the form

Someone once noted that the most sensitive nerve in the human body is the one to the pocketbook! We must be a good steward of God's money.

While we are in the world, we are not of the world, and the way we manage our finances should reflect this fact.

Knowing the will of God for your life is an age-old question. Yet, have you ever considered "What is God’s will for my financial life?"