Designing a Life Plan with Eternal Significance
In financial planning, there is a growing emphasis on “life planning” – helping people live purposeful, fulfilling lives. Traditional planning often focuses narrowly on money issues. Life planning takes a holistic approach to aligning finances with deeply held values and goals. This reflects our desire for lives of meaning and impact. As we age, existential […]
Anchoring Financial Plans in God’s Purpose
Sound financial planning starts with an honest assessment. Examine spending habits and construct a budget aligning expenses with your Kingdom mission. This prevents life’s uncertainties from diverting your divine calling. Ephesians 4:14 warns against drifting through life, tossed about by others’ agendas. In contrast, biblical financial planning gives direction. It implements an intentional God-designed strategy. […]
Designing a Life Plan with an Eternal Perspective
As Christians, our life planning should look vastly different than secular approaches. While the world promotes self-reliance and indulgence, we seek God’s purpose. A life plan centered on His will, not our own desires, is key. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us that God’s plans prevail over our own. Thus, a successful Christian life plan starts with […]
Reflecting God’s Values in Our Spending
In my work, I often counsel Christians struggling with overspending. Our culture pushes instant gratification, causing many to make poor financial decisions. Like a driver speeding obliviously toward a cliff, it is frustrating to see people sabotage their future. As a professional money manager and financial advisor, I have an obligation to warn of the […]
Taming Spending Through Budgeting
Overspending often stems from denial and lack of planning. Without a spending plan, it’s easy to indulge impulses without considering the impact. But budgeting aligns expenses with your values. It makes each purchase a spiritual decision. God owns everything. When that sinks in, we ask harder questions. “Lord, do you want me to spend your […]
Aligning Your Spending with God’s Purpose
Creating a spending plan (budget) is an ongoing process requiring regular reworking. When emergencies or changing needs arise, revisit and adjust your plan. Use it as a tool to align expenses with your values and long-term goals. After making a plan, identify areas where spending is excessive or detracting from your kingdom purposes. Commit to […]
Seeking Godly Financial Counsel
In the story of Job, well-meaning friends offer flawed advice during Job’s suffering. They assume his misfortune must be punishment for sin. But as righteous Job insists, that’s not necessarily true. This reminds us that even godly, knowledgeable people can miss the mark when counseling others, especially on complex topics like personal finance. Their intentions […]
Perception
Perception is a powerful thing. So many of our actions are determined by how we perceive things to be. How we perceive is based on what we think we hear or see. Yet, our perception of events, words, and people can be entirely wrong. Looking back over my life, I realize during my youth and […]
Good Friends!
In the story of Job, God allows Satan to strip a holy and blameless man of everything he has: his wealth, his family, even his health. In the end, Job is found faithful and God restores to him everything he lost, and then some. Like Job, most Christians have two or three good friends that […]
