A long time ago, Jesus warned us not to \u201clay up\u201d treasures on earth. How\u2019s this for serious noncompliance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c … treasures on earth…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the three years he walked the earth, Jesus said a great deal about money. In fact, fifteen percent of everything he said was, directly or indirectly, related to this topic. Clearly it was important to him. In the portion of the Sermon on the Mount I mentioned earlier, he calls money \u201ctreasures,\u201d which speaks to what money is as well as what it does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having money allows us to live comfortably, purchase things, and go places. That\u2019s what it does. But sometimes having money creates a sense of security. That\u2019s the intangible part of what money does. And it can be dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As bible verses on purity and financial stewardship guide us, we must be cautious not to let our wealth become our security or idol. Jesus speaks about storing treasures on earth and the importance of focusing on eternal investments, rather than temporary gains. Living within your means can help guard against the danger of greed, as it fosters a mindset of contentment and reliance on God\u2019s provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And according to Randy Alcorn in his classic, The Treasure Principle<\/em>, \u201chow we handle our money has everything to do with how we think about everything else.\u201d He adds, \u201cThere is a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.\u201d6<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n For Christians, financial stewardship is more than just managing wealth. It\u2019s about making responsible choices that align with God\u2019s will. Living below your means is a key principle of biblical stewardship, ensuring we don\u2019t idolize money but instead use it as a tool to serve God and others. This mindset allows us to store up treasures in heaven, where they will last forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, three different Gospels tell the story of an encounter Jesus had with a young attorney.7 <\/sup>In this account, a wealthy, educated man, accustomed to finding satisfaction through the power of what he could buy, asked what seemed like an honest question. Lovingly, but very directly, Jesus levels him by separating the spiritual from the financial. Essentially, the Messiah let him know that his riches would not be his ticket to eternal life. True then. True now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what about \u201ctreasures?\u201d What exactly are they?<\/p>\n\n\n\n My late wife, Bobbie, loved garage sales. By that, I mean, she really loved them. One of the ways we were able to check the health of the brakes in our car was to challenge them when we saw a handmade \u201cGarage Sale Here Today\u201d sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So as a dutiful husband, I\u2019d drop her off, park the car \u2014 sometimes a quarter mile down the street \u2014 and meet up in the middle of all these for-sale things. Often, they\u2019d have little white price tags hanging by a string, announcing the amount of money the owner was willing to exchange to part with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Bobbie was involved in the transaction, there was often bargaining \u2014 shades of a noisy street market somewhere else in the world. When there was agreement on the price, I would, like a good soldier, lug the booty to the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, back to the little price tag. Who determines the price of an item? You know, don\u2019t you? The owner determines the price. So, when Jesus warns his listeners about putting earthly treasures on layaway, he knows full well that it is they who determine the value of these things. It is, in fact, quite arbitrary. If it\u2019s my garage sale and I want to sell my grand piano for twenty dollars, I can do so. The piano is mine. And if I want to sell my White House cufflinks for fifty thousand, that\u2019s mine to do as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The way to avoid being controlled by my \u201ctreasures on earth\u201d is to choose to devalue them. The better I am at this, the less likely my earthly treasures will have control of my heart. What the Bible says about lust and greed in the Bibleremind us that our hearts can become enslaved by the pursuit of wealth and possessions. The Bible calls us to be mindful of living within our means and to avoid accumulating wealth that pulls us away from what truly matters \u2014 our relationship with God and his purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bible verses about finances consistently teach us that financial stewardship isn\u2019t about hoarding wealth for selfish gain, but about managing what God has entrusted to us in a way that honors him and benefits others. For instance, Matthew 6:19-21 reminds us not to lay up treasures on earth, where they can decay, but to store up treasures in heaven, where they will be secure forever. Similarly, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 encourages us to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for the future by doing good with our wealth. And in Proverbs 3:9, we are urged to honor the Lord with our wealth, showing that proper stewardship is a way of acknowledging God’s sovereignty in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Putting my treasures away in \u201csafe keeping\u201d gives me control of them. I can leave them where they are or come get them when I want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But one of the things about embracing \u201ctreasures on earth\u201d is that sometimes their safety is not in my hands. I don\u2019t have the power to uninvite moths to feed on my old wool sweaters. I don\u2019t control that burnt-umber-colored stuff that freezes up my tools or creates leakage from my old watch battery. And even if I install a top-of-the-line security system in my house, ne\u2019er-do-well marauders may choose to target my house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over these things I have little or no control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So because of this earthly treasure vulnerability, Jesus is warning us not to hoard or love them. Eventually, our affection will turn into disappointment. Living below your means and focusing on storing up treasures in heaven will ensure that our hearts remain secure, trusting in the eternal promises of God rather than the fleeting satisfaction of material wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, here\u2019s one of the ways our friend Randy Alcorn nails down exactly what these treasures are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJesus is keeping track of our smallest acts of kindness . All of them. \u2018If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because He is My disciple, I tell you the truth, ‘he will not lose his reward\u2019 (Matt. 10:42).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine a scribe in heaven recording each of your gifts on a scroll. The bike you gave to the neighbor kid, the books to prisoners, the monthly checks to the church, missionaries, and pregnancy center. All are being recorded.\u201d8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n These things are heavenly treasures, and they are not vulnerable to moths, rust, or robbers. This aligns perfectly with Bible verses about finances that teach us how to manage what we have in a way that glorifies God and impacts eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The treasures we store up in heaven come from our faithful stewardship and intentional giving, as highlighted in Matthew 6:19\u201321, 1 Timothy 6:17\u201319, and Luke 12:33.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sheer violence of taking a hammer to an unblemished clay or porcelain bank in the shape of a porker, always gave me the creeps. As a young boy, sliding my wealth into a slot at the top of a breakable swine and then, with a decision to extract those funds by smashing this piggy bank9<\/sup> into smithereens, just never had any appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I did have a hiding place for my funds, stowing my money in a safe place. Since the statute of limitations has expired, I can tell you where I chose to slip my cash away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the time I was in the third grade, I have been commercially employed. As the only son of a farmer working for his family,10<\/sup> my father expected no less. There were neither corporate engagements to attend nor business prospects, so I did not carry a business card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I had a card, it would have looked like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n BOBBY WOLGEMUTH<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newspaper Carrier<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a penny per paper, my paydays were events prime for celebration. I would jump on my faithful bicycle and speed off to the bank in downtown Wheaton. Laying a hundred dollars worth of small crumpled bills down on the counter at the teller\u2019s window, I would ask, \u201cCan I please have a hundred-dollar bill . . . and do you have a brand new one?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tellers always smiled at this and handed me the \u201cBenjamin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carefully folding it once, I\u2019d slip the bill in my back pocket. Returning to my bicycle parked in front of the bank, the crisp note would be taken to my parents\u2019 home where I lived. I\u2019d walk straight to the bathroom adjacent to the bedroom my brother, Ken, and I shared. Making sure the door was closed and locked behind me, I\u2019d shorten the toilet paper holder with the spring inside and remove it. Sliding the chrome interlocking covers apart and exposing the spring, I\u2019d roll up the hundred and fit it inside, then return everything to where it had been. This was my secret. No one suspected. My money was safe. Forget the piggy bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In birth order, I was number four. Spaced out two years apart, my two brothers and older sister were motoring their way through school. Ruth was in college and my dad was feeling the tuition blues. One day he approached me with a request: \u201cYour dad needs a loan.\u201d He said this, speaking of himself in the third person \u2014 which he did sometimes when he was embarrassed or a little nervous. Squeezing out a thin smile, he continued, \u201cI\u2019ll do my best to make it up to you some day when you\u2019re in college, but I need some help now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went to my rolled-up treasure in the bathroom and handed him whatever I had in there. Until I was in high school and was able to land a more lucrative job, I provided one-penny-per-newspaper financial backup for my father. Many times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This experience of living below your means and practicing financial stewardship at an early age taught me lessons about prioritizing and managing money that I would carry with me into adulthood. It\u2019s not just about accumulating wealth, but about how we handle what we\u2019ve been given in a way that honors God and reflects His purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My dad never warned me when he was on his way to my room to visit and ask for \u201ca loan.\u201d This taught me at a very early age to hold on to my stash with an open hand. I will never forget the joy of being able to provide for my older siblings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now very quickly let me assure you that this attitude was not a \u201cone and done\u201d thing. It\u2019s been something I have revisited and embraced many times since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the older I got, the more challenging not spending my money became.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, now for a fastball that may come dangerously close to your chin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m going to tell you something that may make you angry. Something that could make you sick to your stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For good reasons, you\u2019d likely set this field guide down right now and not read any further. You\u2019d tell me to save this bad news and keep these things to myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Right? Right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, since you\u2019re still reading, I am about to say something that could be upsetting to you. Thank you for hanging on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen it comes to our finances\u2014spending our money\u2014you and I frequently make bad choices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you still with me? Good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And why is what I asserted about our spending habits likely accurate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because you and I live in an instant gratification culture. We don\u2019t even need to go anywhere to \u201cshop.\u201d The mall is right there in our hands. If we want something, we can get it. Tomorrow. Maybe even today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many grownups do not get high marks in the waiting department. I\u2019m right there. Are you? Traffic lights that take forever to change from red to green. Microwave popcorn takes too long to finish. We impatiently shift back and forth when our child or grandchild is trying to finish telling a story that, frankly, has no bearing on our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, okay, we\u2019re impatient. Here\u2019s one way to illustrate this: when it comes to spending, it seems to me that there are two kinds of people \u2014 flappers and eaters. I\u2019m recommending you first be a flapper, then you will be able to be an eater. This is where financial stewardship comes into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allow me to explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many years ago, when I was a teenager living in Wheaton, Illinois, our friends, the Halleens, lived a few blocks down the street. A small pond was one of the features in their extensive backyard. The first time I saw this spread, we were experiencing one of the coldest winters on record in the Chicago area. The ice on their little watering hole appeared to be thick enough to safely suspend their substantial car. Wisely, they kept their car in the garage where it belonged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why did they keep their ride off the pond? Because half of their mini-lake was unfrozen and trying to park on it could have submerged their automobile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I asked Mrs. Halleen why her pond was half solid and half liquid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s the wild ducks,\u201d she answered. I listened but my brain was not computing. I could not make the connection between ducks and ice. And, unless you have a frozen pond in your backyard or have researched duck habits and diets, you don\u2019t either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She explained the answer to me and I haven\u2019t forgotten. Here\u2019s the gist: Wild ducks feed on all sorts of aquatic vegetation as well as small fish or mussles. But in order to reach these necessities in the winter, their food must be accessible. An ice-covered reservoir offers nothing to assuage these critters\u2019 appetites. Living below your means, she explained, helps avoid unnecessary struggles \u2014 and it\u2019s a similar lesson for our finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, even on the coldest days in our friends\u2019 backyard, the wild ducks took turns stirring the water with their wings and little webbed feet. Only when the water was perfectly still would it freeze over, so these ducks \u2014 I\u2019ve chosen to call them \u201cflappers\u201d \u2014 kept the surface agitated, denying themselves the luxury of doing nothing or unsuccessfully trying to eat without waiting. Instead of chowing down, they flapped. This kept the kitchen open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ll hang on for just a few minutes, my duck buddies are a metaphor that moves us forward. Living within your means and your money have something in common. The food I\u2019ve mentioned above was only accessible and therefore satisfying if these ducks parked their desire for instant gratification and took turns flapping. I\u2019m sure they would have rather chowed down than flap. It\u2019s a lot more rewarding. But if they didn\u2019t flap, the pond would freeze and they\u2019d starve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the meaning: I\u2019d far rather spend my money now \u2014 eating what it will buy me. But if I don\u2019t hold back my impulses to just go ahead and eat now, when it\u2019s time for dinner, my money may already be spent. Or gone. Frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I see something I want \u2014 really want \u2014 my immediate impulse is to go for it. When I was a kid, fulfilling impulses like this was a pipe dream. Now that I\u2019m a grownup, saying \u201cno\u201d when I could actually say \u201cyes\u201d can be a serious challenge. Sadly, sometimes this impulsiveness fails to deliver what I had hoped. Maybe you can identify with my plight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because I grew up in a home where there was never such a thing as getting something for nothing, every deed \u2014 good as well as not good \u2014 had a consequence. If I had money in my pocket, it was earned.11<\/sup> Because of this, gambling was a no-no. Unequivocally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And this is a good thing since the few times I took a crack at it, the results were awful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a kid, it seemed like I could single-handedly break my favorite Major League Baseball team\u2019s winning streak by betting they\u2019d win one more game. If you\u2019re also a Cubs fan, I\u2019m sorry to have been the reason, until 2016, for their perennial failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what happened to me: that vaccination I mentioned at the beginning. In college, I participated in a chain-letter get-rich-quick scheme using United States Savings Bonds. A forerunner to things going viral on the Internet, this was a letter that encouraged recipients to make copies, buy two more savings bonds, and sell their letter, list, and bond to two of their friends who would also make copies and pass them around to their friends. I would sell my two letters and attached Savings Bonds for a total of $75, making me whole. In this case, the letter promised overnight riches if you get enough down-line people to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as it was really getting off the ground, Sam Delcamp, our Dean of Students, called me into his office and told me to shut it down or I\u2019d be expelled from school. I thought about arguing with him about this draconian sentence, but the look on his face clearly informed me that there was no room for negotiation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That night and the next few nights, I went door to door in every men\u2019s dormitory on campus, requesting that the chain letter be stopped. I also asked each man how much money he would personally lose by stopping the letter immediately. I wrote the information down in a little spiral notebook and promised to pay the money back to every one of them. This cost me nearly all my wages from the next summer\u2019s construction work. Thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Living within your means and avoiding unnecessary risks like gambling is a principle that\u2019s shaped my financial journey. Regular, garden-variety gambling has been very, very bad to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular, garden-variety gambling has been very, very bad to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And because of that \u201cvaccination\u201d I received as a college student, I\u2019m not tempted to gamble with actual money. Recently, the lottery payoff exceeded $1 billion. I stood at the service desk of my local grocery store and watched people slap down twenty-dollar bills to buy tickets. Not me. As I said, there\u2019s no temptation for me to buy a ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, on the scoreboard called gambling, I do pretty well. However, before you\u2019re tempted to canonize me as a highly disciplined investor, let me bring you into a secret place. Actually, let\u2019s make that plural \u2014 secret places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though I have lived a life that, compared to the majority of the world\u2019s inhabitants, is quite comfortable, I have over the years found myself fighting a sense of discontent. With no effort at all, like a wagon wheel falling into a rut on a country road, my natural bent is to compare when I see something nicer than mine \u2014 and to compete, even though no one said anything about a game to be won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In business, this has served me well. Not a big fan of losing at the bargaining table, I have had my share of victories. But in relationships and in life, my competitiveness has always had the potential of being a nemesis. Back in the day when I played a lot of racquetball, I loved beating the daylights out of my opponent. But \u2014 and please hear me \u2014 this did not make me a better man than the other man. But the temptation to gloat was always there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then the Apostle Paul\u2019s words describing Jesus come rushing like a geyser: \u201cHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross\u201d (Phil. 2:5\u20138).<\/p>\n\n\n\n So here\u2019s Jesus. His life proved his affection for his \u201ccompetitors.\u201d He created them with the sound of his voice. He could have uncreated them with the same. And yet he loved them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a broken, sinful man, can I do any less than this? Regardless of how much I may have, financial stewardship and avoiding greed in the Bible reminds us that biblical giving and caring for others takes precedence over comparing and competing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n My dear friend, Ron Blue, has spent the better part of his storied career helping ordinary people understand how to treat their money in a biblically faithful way. In 1986, I had the honor of connecting Ron with Thomas Nelson Publishers, where I was serving as president. There we published his landmark work, Master Your Money<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the decades that followed, I served Ron as his literary agent, helping him to expand his list of published titles, concluding with the book and study guide entitled God Owns It All<\/em>, published in 2016.12<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this book, Ron summarizes a lifetime of studying, speaking, and writing about the unalterable biblical principles of finances and wealth. He writes that, since you and I must spend money to live, when you boil it all down, there are really only five uses of money. As you review these, you may wonder why I\u2019ve taken a few pages here to address something so basic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can almost hear you say as you read, \u201cThese things are so obvious, Robert. I knew that. And, again, I knew that, too.\u201d However, as I said, when a man with a reputation as singular as Ron Blue boils down a lifetime of helping ordinary people and financial professionals into these items, I determined it was worth mentioning his clear-eyed wisdom here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ron\u2019s summary of the five uses for money include: living expenses, servicing debt, savings, paying taxes, and giving. And with all due and earned respect to Ron, I have taken the liberty of rearranging the order of these five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As ironic as this sounds, one of the most important things you and I can do with our money is to get rid of it with no strings attached. As a young adult I learned about this with my own eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His full name was William J. Zeoli, but everyone either called him \u201cBilly\u201d or just \u201cZ.\u201d And although I never had access to anything documenting his wealth, I know he was a rich man. A very rich man. Here\u2019s how I found out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our lives crisscrossed many times over the years, especially during his stint with Youth for Christ where my dad served as the president. When Billy died in 2015, his obituary mentioned \u201chis giant presence.\u201d My experience with him absolutely confirms this. But what about the financial stuff \u2014 my certainty about this wealth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how I know. On one occasion, more than fifty years ago, I rode with Billy in a taxi to the Grand Rapids airport. When we stepped out of the backseat and onto the sidewalk, we were greeted by the eager skycap who offered to pull our luggage out of the trunk. We agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we were getting ready to step into the terminal, Billy squeezed something into the young man\u2019s hand. No flourish. No showing off. Even though this happened quickly, I was able to see what it was. As a \u201cthank you\u201d for lifting our bags and standing them up next to the car, Billy had stuffed a five-dollar bill into the guy\u2019s hand. Let me say that again. As a \u201cthank you\u201d for what took this man less than thirty seconds to accomplish, Billy tipped him what back then, from my twenty-something experience, was a great deal of money.13<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n This thought washed over me: \u201cBilly Zeoli is a rich man. Who else but a wealthy person would exhibit this kind of lavish generosity?\u201d We were headed to different destinations, so we hugged our good-bye just a few steps inside the lobby. Trudging to my gate alone, the impact of what I had just seen was still fresh in my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And more than fifty years later I\u2019ve not forgotten that moment. Walking alone, in the quietness of my heart in spite of the frequent gate announcements blaring over the loudspeakers, I made a resolution about being generous. Silently generous. A resolve that has not expired. Loving the way Billy made me feel when I saw his generosity, I determined to grow up and be that guy. Again, I had no idea what Billy Zeoli\u2019s net worth looked like. But it didn\u2019t matter. Actually, it still doesn\u2019t matter. What I had seen confirmed in my young heart that whatever uncertainty my career would provide for me financially, choosing to be generous was something I could do. Something I would do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the years since seeing Billy\u2019s generosity firsthand, I\u2019ve discovered a truth. Something that you may find helpful as you review how much you give away and to whom you give it.Generosity breaks the power of money\u2019s influence in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here it is: Generosity in the Bible breaks the power of money\u2019s influence in my life. Living within your means and cultivating a godly relationship with money teaches us to use our resources for good, to serve others, and to follow the principles of financial stewardship that the Bible outlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After losing my wife to cancer in 2014, I fell in love with a single lady ten years my junior. After a few months of courting, thankfully this lovely lady also fell in love with me. In meeting her, courting her, proposing, and finally marrying Nancy Leigh DeMoss, I had the honor of learning to know about her dad, Arthur S. DeMoss. Having spent my adult life in close proximity to Christian ministries, I had heard about the impact of the life of Art DeMoss, but marrying his firstborn gave me a front-row seat, learning about the life and witness and lavish generosity of this remarkable man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Founder, President, and Chairman of the Board of the National Liberty Corporation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Art DeMoss was a pioneer in the mass marketing of life and health insurance. His innovative methods earned him a place of prominence in the history of insurance marketing in this country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the most outstanding feature of Mr. DeMoss\u2019s life had nothing to do with insurance. Instead, it was his deep commitment to Jesus Christ. Those who knew him best remember him as a man who was always investing his time, abilities, energies, and finances to meet the spiritual needs of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On September 1, 1979, at the young age of 53, Mr. DeMoss was unexpectedly taken to heaven. However, his life commitments have been passed on to his children. They consider the model of his walk with God and his careful teaching about spiritual things more valuable than any inheritance, regardless of its size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nancy has spoken and written extensively about her dad. Here are some of his best-known nuggets of wisdom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI believe with all my heart that there is a strong correlation between biblical giving and spirituality. I have observed that they almost invariably go hand in hand. You say that you give as much as you can afford, after taking care of your bills. Personally, I feel we might as well not give to God at all as to give merely what little we have left over . . . the more we love him the more we want to give.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter Jesus saved me, shortly before my twenty-fifth birthday, I was tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and this in spite of the fact that I had been accustomed to working seven days and five nights a week. Like many other businessmen, I had the peculiar notion that I was indispensable to my business, and that, if I left for a day or two, I would return to find the business gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Lord saved me and promised to return to me with interest all that I gave him. I am sorry to say that I was not as quick as I should have been to take advantage of his proffered goodness to me, but I can testify to the glory of God that, in spite of my frequent unfaithfulness, he has always been more than faithful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe first took me out of debt shortly after my conversion. It was so effortless, so easy. I did not need to work night and day and Sundays as in the past. All I had to do was put God first. The more time and money I gave him, the more he gave me. I have not given him nearly enough. I\u2019m ashamed of myself; he has been so good to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all the things Art DeMoss said about generosity, I think this is one of my favorites: \u201cLiving within your means, and biblical giving, is not man\u2019s way of raising money; rather, it is God\u2019s way of raising his children.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bible quotes about money often remind us that how we handle our finances reflects our relationship with God. One verse that stands out is Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This aligns with Art\u2019s understanding of generosity and how God calls us to steward what we have for His purposes, including managing our finances with integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How good is that? Although the circumstances are unknown, Nancy is quite certain that her dad and Billy Zeoli met. Regardless of how, it\u2019s for sure they had an identical view of giving and generosity. I long to be just like them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ron lists this as one of the uses of money because it\u2019s not discretionary. Try as we might, you and I cannot decide to forego paying the money due our ruling authority. Living within your means<\/strong> is one of the most fundamental aspects of financial stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to initiate a lively discussion over dinner with friends, ask them how they feel about paying taxes. Actually, you can find some interesting quotes about taxes on the Internet. A few are cute:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople who complain about taxes can be divided into two categories: men and women..\u201d Anonymous<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDear IRS, I\u2019m writing to you to cancel my subscription. Please remove my name from your mailing list.\u201d Snoopy<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn\u2019t get worse every time Congress meets.\u201d Will Rogers<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf your biggest tax deduction was bail money, you might be a redneck.\u201d Jeff Foxworthy<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the years, I have known people who delight in paying taxes. Although, to be perfectly candid, I don\u2019t \u201cdelight\u201d in stroking a check to Uncle Sam, I find myself more on the grateful side of the ledger than the resentful. In this case I\u2019m with billionaire Mark Cuban who said: \u201cWhile some people might find it distasteful to pay taxes, I find it patriotic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, paying taxes means that I have a job \u2014 an income. Second, it means I live in freedom where, as a taxpayer, I can vote in or out those in authority. Third, it inspires me never to miss participating in elections. As an American, I have a stake in this transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was in seventh grade, Mary Jane Perry, a very popular and beautiful co-ed, approached me in the school cafeteria, asking if she could borrow a quarter to buy an ice-cream sandwich. She promised \u2014 really promised \u2014 to pay me back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was too overwhelmed by the chance to speak with a classmate of such stature, the thought of turning her request down did not enter my mind. Sadly, Mary Jane never \u2014 ever \u2014 paid me back. After sixty-five years it\u2019s quite possible she\u2019s forgotten. I have not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe wicked borrows but does not pay back\u201d (Ps. 37:21). Bible quotes about money frequently warn against the consequences of debt, teaching us the importance of managing what we owe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recalling Mary Jane Perry\u2019s delinquency has made me wonder: Is there anyone out there whom I owe payment for an actual debt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there is, I\u2019m more eager to square up than you can imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Debt comes in different shapes and sizes. There are large debts like mortgages or auto loans. Then there\u2019s debt caused by smaller, more discretionary purchases, often charged to credit cards (which as of this writing has topped one trillion dollars in America).<\/p>\n\n\n\n All I can say at this point is an encouragement to you to avoid \u201cbuying\u201d things you cannot pay for immediately. If you\u2019re currently living under a heavy load of the unpaid, you get this. In the Bible on money, we\u2019re told to avoid the trap of debt and to live within our means, as a way of honoring God\u2019s principles for financial stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After marrying Nancy, a Michigan resident, I moved north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because my work was a lot more portable than hers, I trucked a thousand miles from my home in the warm state of Florida to the often brutally cold Great Lake State. At first, since we were both single, Nancy agreed to letting me cultivate a friendship with her and then visit her home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our first luncheon in the early spring of 2015 was on the deck stretched across the back of her home. And even though it was just the two of us enjoying our salads, my construction bent kicked in. \u201cIf we keep our relationship going and we marry and I move here, I\u2019d love to expand your deck,\u201d I heard myself saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And sure enough, less than a year later I was living in this house with my wife. And my tools were at the ready. But before jumping into the project, we chatted about it. A very smart lady, Nancy wondered out loud if I knew enough about deck building to tackle this project. I told her I had built other decks. Her second question was about funding the expanded deck14<\/sup> and how I was planning to pick up the tab for the materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll pay for it,\u201d I volunteered. \u201cThat\u2019s what money is for, right?\u201d She smiled but did not answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our marriage was too embryonic to start an argument, so Nancy acquiesced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Less than two months later, the size of our deck had doubled. It\u2019s not food, gas, clothing, or shelter, so some may consider this a luxury. But in the context of Christian financial advice, I\u2019d classify this as a living expenditure. A necessary one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And looking back, I can promise you that these thousands of linear feet of composite material have been our go-to place hundreds of times. And these precious experiences on our deck have provided the answer to the question, \u201cThat\u2019s what money is for, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, one of the uses of money is to cover living expenses \u2014 putting our money to work for us. This can be a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a dad, two of my favorite words \u2014 and concepts \u2014 were resourcefulness and wisdom. As often as possible, I would alert my daughters to places where these things would show up in everyday life. More times than they could ever count, I\u2019d stop whatever I was doing to show them something that reminded me of God\u2019s remarkable creativity and the things he imprinted into his creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even today, decades after they became adults, they\u2019ll tell you that way back then I\u2019d stop whatever I was doing to show them, for example, parades of tiny ants, traipsing in perfect single file across the sidewalk. Or I\u2019d spot a flawless volcano-resembling mound of sand created by these tiny critters who would build it, single grain by single grain. \u201cLook Missy; look Julie; isn\u2019t God amazing,\u201d I\u2019d say. Then they\u2019d \u201coo\u201d and \u201cahh\u201d with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I believe King Solomon had the same propensity. Listen to what he wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest (Prov. 6:6\u20138).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quite along the same lines of the eating and flapping ducks on the Halleen pond, Ron Blue would celebrate saving as one of the uses of money. Having lived plenty of my life in very cold climates, I\u2019ve marveled at the way squirrels busy themselves in nice weather, storing acorns and nuts in tree hollows so that when snow is blanketing the ground and dinner is covered under a comforter of white, they already have pantries full of good things to eat hiding in places only they know about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the same way that setting some of your money aside in savings has very little curbside appeal \u2014 you\u2019ve never heard anyone boast to their friends \u2014 \u201cHey, you wanna see the balance in my savings account? Is this cool or what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But creating \u201crainy-day\u201d funds is an essential use of your money and mine. That\u2019s wisdom and resourcefulness plain as they can be. In fact, living within your means and setting money aside for savings are both biblical principles. Money in the Bible encourages good stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us, including saving for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n Snapping a different lens on Ron Blue\u2019s experience and smarts, here\u2019s a quick list of what he believes are principles of money management. Again, there are five:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most powerful stories in the Bible is the one we\u2019ve known as the \u201cprodigal son\u201d (I\u2019ve always preferred to call this story found in Luke 15, as the \u201cwaiting father,\u201d but that discussion is for a different day). The reason for mentioning this story in light of this first principle is that Scripture says the wayward man \u201csquandered his property\u201d in the pig pen. What he didn\u2019t do was waste more than his substance, which is what we\u2019re sometimes tempted to do. If the sum total of the assets we claim is the \u201ccap\u201d of what we feel the freedom to spend, we will be more successful. This aligns with biblical scriptures on giving, where we\u2019re taught to manage our resources wisely. Living within your means is not just a financial principle but one that reflects godly stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is true in business and ministry as well as in my personal life. In fact, when I married Nancy in 2015 and was introduced to the ministry she founded in 2001, I discovered that they did not spend money they didn\u2019t have. Can you think of a more dramatic core value of an organization that embraces and teaches biblical values and wisdom? I can\u2019t either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This one is a shade of the same color. When I receive my credit card statement, there\u2019s always a message boldly printed right there where my \u201ccurrent unpaid balance\u201d is printed. This message is begging me \u2014 literally begging me \u2014 to use the \u201cavailable credit\u201d on my card. Of course, it\u2019s MasterCard\u2019s hope that I will spend this vapor on something concrete and treat it like it\u2019s my own. It is not. It\u2019s a mist. A gust of wind will come along and it will vanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am familiar with two important non-profits. If you were to ask the CEOs of these organizations to summarize their net worth, they both would tell you that they\u2019re sound. Their balance sheets show that their assets outweigh their liabilities. This is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, for one of the ministries, its assets are primarily in building and land. For the other, it is in actual cash. Even though there are times when illiquid assets are necessary for survival, your ability to quickly turn your assets into negotiable tender could spell the difference between success and failure. Like the squirrels tucking away groceries in the hollow of a tree, your ability to cover your obligations with cash will sometimes be essential for your fiscal health. Bible verses about financial blessings (Proverbs 6:6-8 & Proverbs 6:6-8) encourage saving for the future, showing wisdom in managing our resources for the long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all the men and women who helped shape and organize a group of renegades in the late eighteenth century into the audacious experiment that became the United States of America, I most wish I could spend an afternoon with Benjamin Franklin. Of course, school children know about the story of the kite and the key. Some know about how he invented bifocals to help weary eyes during his sunset years. Or how about the flexible catheter, an invention I can promise has almost literally saved my life. Yikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was also a thinker and writer. In fact, it was ol\u2019 Ben who first said, \u201cIf you fail to plan, you\u2019re planning to fail.\u201d How good is that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of my favorite colleagues is a man whom Nancy and I have hired to help us look into our financial past and invest wisely in our future, making certain we\u2019re learning from what we\u2019ve done and anticipating what is ahead. This is exactly what Ron Blue is talking about, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does the Bible say anything about financial planning and stewardship? Yes. Bible verses about money and greed, such as in Matthew 6:24, warn us not to let wealth control us. They emphasize that our hearts must be set on God, not on the accumulation of riches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the time I was teaching Sunday School many years ago, someone asked an excellent question: \u201cWhat makes Jesus mad? Is there anything that the Bible records that shows us what it looks like for God to become angry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If folks are familiar with the Gospels, the account of Jesus\u2019 \u201cclearing the moneychangers in the temple\u201d is often referenced. But I found another. It was a time when Jesus called a man \u201cwicked\u201d and \u201clazy.\u201d And do you remember what this foolish man had done? Or in this case, not done? Here it is: this guy failed to invest his money well. Instead of depositing it and at least earning simple interest, he buried it. For fear of losing it somehow, he hid his money. Matthew 25:26-30 illustrates how neglecting to use what God has entrusted to us can result in lost opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What else do we need to know about how important it is to God that we do the right thing with our money?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve covered this one pretty extensively, haven\u2019t we? Live your life with an open hand. Never hesitate to tip more than you think you should. Everyone who has the chance to serve you should know that your gratitude for them will always be expressed verbally and in tangible ways. Be that person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And remember, when it comes to giving to your church and other Christian ministries, God doesn\u2019t actually need<\/em> our money, but we<\/em> need to demonstrate that our money doesn\u2019t own us by giving it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this principle comes with a warning label. \u201cUsing\u201d money to fix broken relationships, particularly inside your family, will not work. A lunch meeting with a new friend many years ago became a watershed in this important caveat to this giving principle. I\u2019m sure books have been written about this but let me hit the high spots with a true story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I lived in Nashville, I became acquainted with the brand-new CEO of a very popular restaurant chain. We had lunch and he told me his story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kirk\u2019s family was from the hard-scrabble, rural South. He told me that he was one of the first in his extended family to graduate from high school, much less college and graduate school as he had done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His recent selection as the CEO of a visible NYSE entity made it above the fold in the Wall Street Journal. The story included his annual salary and listed his bonuses, deep into eight-figure territory. \u201cWhat does your family say about this?\u201d I asked him, unsuccessfully insinuating that his annual income was likely a bigger number than all the annual wages of his entire tribe combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJudy and I love our family,\u201d Kirk told me. \u201cWhen they call because they\u2019re in need of a shoulder to cry on or actual physical help, we\u2019re always at the ready. Many times we\u2019ve driven hundreds of miles to come alongside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHowever,\u201d he said, making it clear that he was about to make a radical pivot, \u201cwe never give them money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was shocked. Noticeably, I\u2019m sure. \u201cWe have done this in the past during crisis situations,\u201d he said a moment later with a regretful sag in his voice. \u201cWhen we give \u2018our people\u2019[slightly exposing the way some in the south describe kinfolk] money, it trashes our relationship.\u201d He paused and looked straight at me, knowing I was listening carefully \u2014 and not without some wonder on my face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We sat quietly for a few minutes. \u201cGiving money within our family has irreparably destroyed many relationships.\u201d Kirk kept talking. \u201cIt\u2019s usually not enough in their minds.\u201d Or, \u201cWhen they feel like the distribution hasn\u2019t been fair, we\u2019ve descended into fights that were loud and coarse. Battles that had all the potential of literal fist fights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may disagree with Kirk and Judy\u2019s strategy. You may consider gifts to your own children different than currency donated to extended family. I get that. In the past, I\u2019ve stepped across this line and deeply regretted it. What I had thought would result in love extended and love received turned into hurt feelings. Even anger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few ideas you may find helpful: When it comes to people in your clan outside your immediate children and grandchildren, I\u2019m with Kirk and Judy. Extending kindnesses? Yes. Making personal visits with lots of time, compassion, and tenderness? Again, yes. But money? Probably not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about your own kids? And grandkids?<\/p>\n\n\n\n My rule of thumb, learned the hard way by not doing what I\u2019m about to recommend, is to never surprise with money or large gifts. Always discuss and, if necessary, secure permission. Ask more than once, especially when it involves in-laws. As I said, on one memorable and hurtful day, I did not do this and the results were predictable. Terrible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Living within your means is crucial when it comes to financial gifts. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the desire to give more than we should, but the Bible encourages us to be wise in our financial stewardship (Proverbs 21:5). Before making any financial decisions, it’s important to consider the long-term impact on your family’s financial health and avoid overcommitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n East Germany (GDR) was at one point a powerful nation. Co-opting the almost immeasurable military might of the Soviet Union, this nation had to be contended with. In fact, we remember watching the extraordinary prowess of many of their athletes in the Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in November 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the GDR ceased to exist. Gone. Kaput. Watching the news recounting the events of this historic national failure was sobering, especially seeing trains leaving their platforms with East Germans on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The news video I recall showed these people throwing trash from the train windows as they left their stations. Upon further examination, this trash turned out not to be trash at all, instead, it was paper money. East German currency, the Mark, was being tossed to the wind. Why? Because where these people were headed \u2014 West Germany and other European nations \u2014 this money no longer worked. As they say, the tender \u201cwasn\u2019t worth the paper it was printed on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This story reminds you and me that once we\u2019re dead, our money will be worthless to us. Like the East Germans leaving their beloved country, where we\u2019re headed, our money won\u2019t mean anything. Our stuff won\u2019t either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biblical giving reminds us that our wealth is temporary and should be used for eternal purposes (Matthew 6:19-21). By focusing on generosity and using money to help others, we store up treasures in heaven rather than hoarding wealth here on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my book, Finish Line: Dispelling Fear, Finding Peace<\/em>, and Preparing for the End of Your Life,16<\/sup> I challenge readers to take care of business on this side of the grave. This looks like, I argue, decluttering so your kids and other survivors don\u2019t have to decide what to do with your teacup and knife collection and making certain that you have inquired of experts to shepherd your post-mortem decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And speaking of getting your affairs in order, the first time I created a will was in 1972, soon after my first child was born. And over the years, as my life and obligations changed, this document was updated appropriately. As you probably know, far too many people my age die without a will. According to some surveys, almost seventy percent of us don\u2019t have one.17<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n What this means is that, if we don\u2019t have a will when we die, the state steps in and makes decisions about the disposal of our assets. Imagine someone you\u2019ve never met \u2014 and, because you\u2019re dead, never will meet \u2014 calling these shots without your input. How much better to be able to determine the destination of your money and stuff and what happens with your heirs and the charities you loved and supported while you were alive.18<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Living within your means is crucial when considering these matters. You can make all the plans you want, but it’s essential to start by ensuring you’re managing your finances wisely and within your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whoever came up with this slogan for Nike should be retired in the French Riviera, all expenses paid. Talk about a marketing slogan for the ages. In just three words it addresses a simple truth: if you\u2019re going to make a dramatic shift in your behavior, you need to start right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a Sunday morning service, many years ago, my dear friend, Rev. Colin Smith, said this: \u201cEvery life change begins with a single decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Colin\u2019s permission, I\u2019d add a little something: \u201cAnd no one can make this decision except you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once again, the obvious has been spoken, right? And it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the past few pages, you and I have talked about some really serious things related to how we think about money. And how we spend ours. It would be an honor, if somehow you\u2019ve been inspired by the stories and the ideas. Inspired to make a life change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please forgive the presumption, but unless these things have caused you to actually do something about them, the time you\u2019ve spent reading this has been a waste of your time. Over the years I have thought about what it would have actually been like to be Jesus\u2019 brother. Eating meals with him? Walking and playing together. Sleeping in the same room with lots of unrecorded latenight conversations. Can you imagine? This reality makes the New Testament book of James especially meaningful. Like the following he wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin\u201d (James 4:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing what we just said about the proximity of Jesus\u2019 brother, James, makes this simple statement more of a confession, doesn\u2019t it? James\u2019 life would have been stacked with experiences with the Messiah and spoken truth from his lips. But the difference between knowing and doing can be vast. Again, I\u2019m not equating what you\u2019ve just read in this field guide with holy writ, but there are some truths tucked into these pages that have the potential of making an actual difference in your experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How silly it would be if Nike\u2019s trademark slogan was \u201cJust read about it.\u201d Or, \u201cJust learn about it.\u201d Or \u201cJust listen carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. Instead, as I\u2019m humbly challenging you here, like a very expensive pair of basketball shoes, the sports-wear slogan fits nicely. You and I are with James, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then . . . \u201cJust do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given a choice, you and I would rather be wealthy than poor, right? Would we rather have an open account at Neiman Marcus than at the Salvation Army thrift store?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the preceding pages you\u2019ve learned a little about my family, but where I\u2019ve crossed into the awful presumption of showing you \u201chome movies,\u201d I apologize. No one \u2014 stranger or friend \u2014 should ever be forced into enduring such a thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before saying good-bye, there is something, with your permission, I\u2019d like to add as an epilogue and it involves someone in my family: my wife, Nancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art DeMoss was her daddy (even now, that\u2019s what she calls him). He stepped into heaven in 1979 on Nancy\u2019s twenty-first birthday. And of all the things she learned from him, this is quite near the very top. Wealth has a first cousin: lavish gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your balance sheet can be overloaded with assets, but if you aren\u2019t a grateful person, you are as poor as a church mouse. No matter what your financials look like, if you aren\u2019t a thankful person, your life casts a tragic shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, to Nancy, gratitude must include a modifier: the word, \u201cChristian.\u201d Here are some things she says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThankfulness requires a \u2018you\u2019 to say \u2018thank you\u2019 to. And to be thankful to the living God implies a corresponding level of trust in him that can only reside in a believer\u2019s heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo send up a \u2018Thank you\u2019 in heaven\u2019s general direction at the sudden appearance of a good parking spot, the dismissal of a speeding ticket, or a phone call from the doctor\u2019s office that tells you all your tests came back negative is not distinctively Christian gratitude. This kind of me-first thankfulness is the sort that only kicks in when things are going well and when positive blessings are flowing our direction. It\u2019s little more than an automatic reflex, like saying \u2018Excuse me\u2019 after accidentally bumping into someone, or \u2018You too\u2019 after being encouraged by a sales clerk to have a nice day.\u201d \u201cChristian gratitude, on the other hand, involves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013<\/strong> recognizing<\/em><\/strong> the many benefits we\u2019ve received from God and others (including those blessings that may come disguised as problems and difficulties) Wealthy or not, I want to be this guy. I\u2019ll bet you do, too. Thank you, Nancy Leigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name (1 Chron. 29:12\u201313).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This aligns with biblical prosperity scriptures that remind us wealth comes from God and that financial blessings are rooted in honoring Him with what we have. It also echoes the biblical principles of financial stewardship, emphasizing the need to live within our means and use what we\u2019ve been given wisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ROBERT D. WOLGEMUTH<\/strong> is the father of two adult daughters, five grandchildren, and so far, two great grandchildren. He has been in the media business for thirty-nine years and is a former president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, he was the founder of Wolgemuth & Associates, a literary agency exclusively representing the writing work of more than two hundred authors. Officially retired from actively involved in the business world, Robert is a speaker and bestselling author of over twenty books.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Site<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5983,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true},"class_list":["post-3126","field_guides","type-field_guides","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMoths, Rust, and Thieves<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Treasures in Heaven<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave bike, will deliver.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
I Can Hardly Wait<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Discussion & Reflection:<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
Part 2: That Balance in my Checking Account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Biblical Giving<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Art DeMoss<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Taxes<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. Paying Debt<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5. Living Expenses<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thementoringproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-4-1024x768.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thementoringproject.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-5.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. Savings<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Discussion & Reflection:<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
Part 3: Putting the Principles to Work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Spend Less Than You Earn<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Avoid the Use of Debt<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Build Liquidity (save)<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. Set Long-Term Goals<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5. Give Generously<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Long View of Your Money (and Your Stuff)<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Just Do It<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Discussion & Reflection:<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Epilogue: Thank You<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2013<\/strong> acknowledging<\/em><\/strong> God as the ultimate Giver of every good gift, and
\u2013<\/strong> expressing<\/em><\/strong> appreciation to him (and others) for those gifts.\u201d19<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\nEnd Notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n