Bountiful: The Heart Of Money Management

What do you want to be when you grow up? The world does not impose many limits on us. That means, if the Lord blesses you with time and opportunity, it’s up to you how far you want to go! This is where ambition comes in. How do we balance what we want to accomplish with making the best of our situation? How do we balance our priorities and resources against achieving our maximum potential?Resources:https://midsonshort.com/the-cost-of-ambition/https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-ambitious-should-you-be#:~:text=My%20framework%20structures%20ambition%20into,desires%20of%20those%20we%20lead. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Quotes can be interesting and meaningful ways to remember or emphasize things. In all things, we want to measure all things, even thought-provoking quotes, against the Word of God, as that’s the only way we can know if they are true. In this episode, we do just that! We chose nine quotes about financial stewardship and discussed if the Bible backs them up.Quotes we referenced:“Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” (P.T. Barnum)“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.” (Benjamin Franklin)“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” (Benjamin Franklin)“A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.” (Jonathan Swift)“When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.” (Confucius)“If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free. If our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed.” (Edmund Burke)“Money is like manure. You have to spread it around or it smells.” (J. Paul Get

The word “tithe” is sometimes used interchangeably with “give” when people talk about financial offerings for the church. Is “tithe” an appropriate word for us to use to describe the monetary gifts we offer? Does “tithe” accurately describe what it is we’re supposed to do, or are Christians called to do something different?In this episode, we define tithing, discuss its similarities and differences to giving, and determine if it’s a standard for us today.Tithing is referenced in many places throughout Scripture. Some references we made in this episode include Genesis 14:20, Genesis 28:22, Deuteronomy 14:22-26, Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 23:23, Luke 18:9-14, and 2 Corinthians 9:7.Christians are commanded to give, not simply tithe. We might use tithing as a temporary guideline, but our goal, intent, attitude, and actions are to give. There’s no such thing as a Venmo Christian.Resources:Bountiful episodes related to this topic:“The Truth About Giving”: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls3e14/“Tips For Managing Yo

Financial self-sabotage is when we undermine or damage our own financial situation. We could do this by depleting our savings as soon as it builds to something meaningful, buying things we can’t afford, or choosing to ignore sound financial advice because of fear or anxiety.In this episode, we’ll talk about how we can know if we’re self-sabotaging and how we can get out of destructive habits and make sound financial decisions.Resources:https://www.verywellmind.com/why-people-self-sabotage-and-how-to-stop-it-5207635https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-self-sabotage/https://www.amazon.com/dp/162656941X/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=162656941X&pd_rd_w=NOarZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.8c2f9165-8e93-42a1-8313-73d3809141a2&pf_rd_p=8c2f9165-8e93-42a1-8313-73d3809141a2&pf_rd_r=RNHYNCZK302SE3A1V4XY&pd_rd_wg=bJ94M&pd_rd_r=846608ab-db30-4e09-b311-5e341364252a&s=books&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We all will likely spend money on travel. We want to not only be responsible in our spending but also with our influence, especially when traveling to a foreign country. In this episode, Keith Kasarjian, Director of International Studies with Bear Valley Bible Institute, gives us his top five travel tips.Pack light. It is liberating to have less.Enjoy the journey. Traveling is more than just going from one destination to another.Be a local. Walk around the area. Adventure is no more dangerous than routine.Pack your patience. “You can complain about the wind, or you can adjust the sails.”Never stop learning. Saint Augustine is credited with the saying, “The world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page.”Resources:wetrainpreachers.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

To celebrate our 200th recorded episode, we’re sharing some lessons we learned about podcasting that correspond to principles of stewardship. In this episode, we’ll talk about those principles, how we apply them on this show and how we can all apply them in our personal finances.Keep going even when it’s inconvenient.Doing something is always better than doing nothing.It’s better unscripted. You can’t control everything.It works better when the load is shared.Look back and see your growth if you can do so without judging your situation harshly.Reexamine your strategy.Resources:https://veritysangan.com/should-i-quit-my-podcast-and-how-to-quit-gracefully/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mortgages have been in the news a lot recently. Higher interest rates combined with higher prices have made mortgages more expensive than in the past few years. In this episode, Gary & Christy take away the click-bait words and (some) bias as they discuss interest rates, home prices, and things to consider when applying for a mortgage today.Regardless of what mortgage rates do, remember this world is not our home. Even if you don’t get your dream home on earth, don’t let it discourage you to the point where you forget about your dream home in heaven. Jesus paid the price for that eternal home, making it affordable for everybody. Our part is to apply for that spiritual mortgage and stay faithful to our obligation to the Lord.Resources:https://money.usnews.com/loans/mortgages/articles/historical-mortgage-rateshttps://www.macrotrends.net/2015/fed-funds-rate-historical-charthttps://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/pros-cons-adjustable-rate-mortgages ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Conformity can be a good thing, especially when it involves positive peer pressure or keeping things organized. However, not all conformity is good. In fact, the Bible challenges us not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). In this episode, we talk about conformity in our personal finances. This could happen when we spend how everyone else is, borrow how most people do, buy what most people get, or use our money the way most people do. As Christians, do we challenge ourselves to be intentional in our stewardship of God’s material blessings, or do we blindly follow the decisions of someone else?Resources:https://www.lads2leaders.comhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2023/11/21/what-is-the-average-retirement-savings-by-age/?sh=3f70a5a7fdadhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJdBNYWG4a0https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-american-debt#:~:text=The%20average%20debt%20in%20America,has%20the%20lowest%20at%20%2464%2C320.https://www.debt.org/faqs/americans-in-debt/demographicshttps://www.ner

When we invest in a 401(k), IRA, or other type of brokerage account, we normally put money into individual stocks, individual bonds, or “baskets” like ETFs or index funds. We want to put our money to work for us in ways that will yield good returns, but do we look into those companies or agencies in which we invest to understand the values they promote? These companies produce, distribute, and are involved in various activities, but do we know whether those are activities we want to promote?Dale Hubbert joins us for this episode to discuss values-based investing (VBI). This type of investing helps us be more intentional with our long-term savings by aligning our investments with our moral and spiritual convictions. VBI gives Christians the ability to screen out things we would not want to support and elevate companies seeking to do things that are wholesome for humanity. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It’s not always pleasant to talk about “ways people try to steal your money”, but it’s a necessary discussion. Part of being a good steward is learning the art of financial discernment – learning how to make wise decisions regarding our personal finances. One area of discernment is protecting ourselves from people who try to steal our online identity or steal our money. In this episode, we discuss some things we can do to help prevent us from being fooled by scammers and identity thieves.Episode ResourcesBountiful episode “Identity Theft” https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls8e6/https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/choosing-and-protecting-passwordshttps://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scamshttps://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scamshttps://www.fdic.gov/resources/consumers/consumer-news/2021-10.htmlhttps://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-stay-safe-from-financial-scamshttps://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/did-someone-insist-you-pay-them-cryp

Boundaries are an important part of having a healthy life and good relationships. In this episode, we discuss some tips on setting effective boundaries. These tips will help in most areas of our life and especially with our personal finances.Resources:https://www.scienceofpeople.com/how-to-set-boundaries/https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/setting-healthy-boundaries-in-relationships.htmhttps://www.hollyscherer.com/boundaries/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jesus talked a lot about stewardship during his ministry. In this episode, we highlight four things Jesus said that are recorded in Luke 12. Then, we discuss how we can live those things out. The passages we review are:Luke 12:1 – “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”Luke 12:6-7 – “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”Luke 12:15 – “Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”Luke 12:35 – “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.” ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Financial literacy involves knowing the core building blocks of personal finance on which we can increase our knowledge. But, is financial illieracy a problem? Can we be faithful in our stewardship of God’s money without understanding money & how it works? In this episode, we describe what financial illiteracy may look like and whether we should be concerned about it.Episode Resources“Bountiful 101: Introduction to Cryptocurrency” (Bountiful S9E15) – The Light Network“How To Build a Budget” (Bountiful S15E3) – The Light Network“Bountiful 101: Introduction to Investing” (Bountiful S10E2) – The Light Network“Signs of Good Financial Health” (Bountiful S1E12) – The Light Network“Making an Effort” (Bountiful S12E3) – The Light NetworkFinancial Illiteracy Statistics: Recent Data, Causes & Solutions | NFEC (financialeducatorscouncil.org)According to the National Financial Educator’s Council, financial illiteracy is, “Lacking the skills and knowledge on financial matters to confidently take effective action t

Buying a car can have an emotional aspect to it. Sometimes we view the vehicle we drive as an extension of ourselves, and this can complicate matters when what we want doesn’t fit within our budget.In this episode, we discuss five things to keep in mind when you’re in the market for a vehicle.First, know what you can afford. Just because we have money doesn’t mean it’s available to be spent on a large purchase.Second, do research. This can be a fun and daunting task because there’s a lot of information available. Set aside your emotions for this part and focus on the potential practicality of this vehicle.Third, test drive. It’s difficult to be comfortable with a car purchase when you’ve never driven it. There’s also some aspects of this that don’t involve driving (e.g. comfort of the seats, ease of opening doors, etc.)Fourth, prepare to negotiate based on information rather than bias. When discussing with a salesperson or an individual about how much you’re willing to pay, base that number on facts. While it

Bountiful 101 is when we take a subject, like fiduciaries, and introduce some of its concepts. Our goal for episodes like this is to combine our Christian attitude with a little bit of knowledge in order that we may glorify God by making wiser decisions with the money & possessions with which we are blessed. Fiduciary relationships involve trust, loyalty, and honesty. In this episode, we discuss what this could mean from a financial perspective.Episode ResourcesOther Bountiful 101 episodes:Banking: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls3e8/Credit Scores: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls3e13/Retirement: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls7e2/Buying a Car: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls7e4/Cryptocurrency: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls9e15/Investing: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls10e2/https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-fiduciary-en-1769/https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/fiduciaryhttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/l/top-fiduciary-financial-advisorshttps://www

Even though the recommended savings goal is typically 10% of disposable income, research suggests that the average American saves less than half that amount. There are many reasons why many of us fall short of that 10% ideal, and some of those reasons are within our control. In this episode, we discuss some things we could do to help us be better savers.First, there’s the mentality of saving. To be a better money-saver involves being patient. Having patience helps us avoid mistakes and make better financial decisions.Then, there’s the practicality of saving. We can save money more effectively when we understand where it is going and when we take the time to look for opportunities to improve that. This could mean asking our family for insight and help or setting up automatic transfers to set aside money regularly. Episode ResourcesBountiful episode “3 Ways To Be A Better Saver” https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls9e9/Bountiful episode “Introduction to Investing” https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls10e2/https

Unexpected expenses are, ironically, something we expect to happen. This could be a home repair, medical bill, school expense, or an event in your life. In this episode, we talk about what we can do when unexpected expenses happen. Even though we cannot control what or when or how much an expense would be, we can control how we handle that situation. Colossians 4:5-6 teaches us to walk in wisdom toward outsiders and let our speech always be gracious. We should never allow a financial setback to lead us to a spiritual setback.Episode Resourceshttps://www.rentdata.org/states/2024/https://careerlifechoices.com/how-to-cope-with-the-unexpected/https://www.self.inc/blog/unexpected-expensehttps://www.moneycrashers.com/types-unexpected-expenses-plan/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Budgets are for everybody. While a budget may look different from person to person, everyone can reap the benefits of having an outlined spending plan.In this episode, we talk about what a budget is, the importance of budgets, and then how to make a personal financial budget for you and your household.A budget is a written plan that shows your anticipated income and your anticipated expenses and outlines how you can reach your financial goals. Budgets may feel restrictive, but they’re really empowering. They can help us prepare for emergencies, reduce financial stress, and have confidence in our ability to pay our bills and reduce our debts. Budgets also provide an objective measuring stick, and provide insight into our stewardship of God’s material blessings with which we’ve been entrusted.Listen to this episode to hear more and learn the nuts and bolts of building your own budget.Episode Resourceshttps://www.thepennyhoarder.com/budgeting/budgeting-statistics/https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/budgeting/budgeti

When it comes to our material possessions, including money, we want to make sure to keep them where they belong. If our money is “rightly placed”, so to speak, then our plans to give, save, and spend have good chances of success. We would also be more likely to live bountifully in service to God, using his blessings in the best way.In this episode, we talk about 3 ways to keep money in its place. By following these principles from 1 Timothy 6:18, our material blessings will be put toward doing good like Jesus did when He walked among us. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We usually like to keep things in their “spot”. Car keys, wallets, and toothbrushes all have a place where they belong. If these get misplaced, we have trouble finding them. We try to proceed through our day, but we have to backtrack to find, not what was rightly placed, but what was misplaced.When it comes to our material possessions, including money, we want to make sure to keep them where they belong. If money gets misplaced, then our plans to give, save, and spend can be upended. We try to move forward with our finances, but we have to look through account statements asking, “Where did we spend that…?” And instead of living bountiful lives in service to God, we realize we aren’t using his blessings in the best way.In this episode, we talk about how to misplace money, as a sort of “how to not” practice stewardship. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★