NEWS & UPDATES

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?”

Proverbs 13:22 reminds us that “a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children.” That inheritance is far more than money. The greatest legacy we can leave is faith in Christ, a biblical worldview, wisdom, character, and a life that points the next generation toward God. But financial stewardship can also be one practical way we help prepare those coming behind us.

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.

What would happen to your family if something happened to you today? Would they know where to find your will, your insurance policies, your retirement account information, or your Social Security documents? For most families, the honest answer is — probably not without a great search.

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 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.

Kids are always watching—especially when it comes to money. Every purchase, every act of generosity, every sign of contentment is shaping how they see God’s provision. We’re teaching, whether we mean to or not. Deuteronomy 6 reminds us that discipleship happens in the everyday moments—when we sit, walk, lie down, and rise. That’s where financial discipleship lives too. Not in a lesson, but in a life.

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.

Most of us in ministry don’t spend much time worrying about being sued. We’re focused on serving people, not protecting ourselves from them. But stewardship isn’t just about how we give and invest—it’s also about how we protect what God has entrusted to us. That’s where umbrella insurance comes into play. In an article in Kiplinger Personal Finance, author Ella Vincent outlines several situations where additional liability coverage may be wise.

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.

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.

With Christmas fast approaching, our attention often goes to a manger scene. But the real focus isn’t the manger—it’s the Savior lying in it.

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.

Ron Blue once said, “Do your giving while you’re living so you’re knowing where it’s going.” As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s worth remembering that the holiday isn’t just about thanks—it’s also about giving. Gratitude without generosity is incomplete. Recently, I came across a secular financial blog that claimed, “Tithing is a mistake… for some people.”

A recent article I read at FaithFi by David Wills addressed the need for us to align our giving with the heart of God. That thought stuck with me—because too often, our giving starts with our desires instead of His direction. Instead of asking, “Where do I want to give?” we should be asking, “Where does God want me to give?” True stewardship begins when God—not our personal preferences—is at the center of every financial decision.