Second Half Stewardship

Spencer and Austin explore the deep-seated human fear of insufficiency and the quest for "enough." They draw insights from frugal multimillionaires and everyday individuals, revealing our vulnerability and desire for control.   The conversation centers on God's process of providing, with a focus on biblical accounts of Adam and Eve, as well as the Israelites in the desert. They explore God's uncon...

There is an alarming rise in the levels of anxiety in modern culture, especially after the pandemic. From a spiritual perspective, what is one way that we can press back against the fears that often entangle? We discuss how placing our trust in God's provision can bring rest and peace in the midst of life's uncertainties. Join Spencer and Austin as they uncover the choice between anxiety and faith...

How can Christians honor God with their giving? In this episode, we explore the crucial topic of giving with a focus on how Christians can honor God with their finances. We discuss the cultural trend of impulsive giving and advocate for a thoughtful process in determining where to give. Understanding that everything belongs to God causes us to consider the importance of stewardship and trust in Go...

Choosing where to give charitably can be incredibly overwhelming. Friends, churches, and organizations always have needs, and God regularly gives us opportunities to help those in need. How can you determine the best places to give charitably? Where does the Bible suggest that you give financially? Cameron Doolittle's book Joy Giving gives some helpful insights into ways to categorize giving decis...

Conversations about charitable giving often revolve around how much you should give. What if that is the wrong question to ask? What if a more important question is how much should you keep? As we explore a biblical view of giving, we begin with the belief that God is our provider. Then we live in response to His generosity towards us. If God has given us abundance, why should we not give abundant...

Giving money to church, missions organizations, or other charities can at times feel unsatisfying. Why is that? What causes us to feel apathetic towards giving? God desires that we experience fullness of life with Him, and this can come as we participate with Him in His work in the world through giving. Often times, however, we miss out on the joy of participating with God in giving because we are...

Gifts. Talents. Calling. These are all words that we regularly use to describe what we think that we are good at and where we should serve. To know when and where to use our gifts, stewards need to listen to God and listen to the body of Christ. When you login to your favorite social media site you might be greeted with a quick quiz that will tell you what kind of dog you are, or what the best job...

Every day people around the world struggle with nagging questions about their identity. Am I enough? Is the work I do fulfilling? Am I important? Essentially, we are trying to justify our existence apart from God. This inevitably will lead to internal striving and turmoil. It will drain our vitality in this life. What if we are asking the wrong questions? What if instead of asking, "Who am I?" we...

The easiest way to do damage to a relationship is through trying to control and manipulate. We all know this is true, but we often use our time and money as a way to control the people around us. What does it mean to be a generous steward of the relationships that we have? How might we use the time that we have with people or the money that we have to enhance relationships rather than control peop...

Choosing who to invest your time with is an important question for every steward? When you consider who you spend your time with, are you seeking the Lord for wisdom in those moments? Paul, in 2 Timothy, instructs Timothy to teach faithful men who will teach other faithful men. This passage is often used as we talk about discipleship, but what does it have to do with stewardship? How might we be g...

Who is the next steward?  Are they prepared?  How much is enough for the next steward? In the United States, estate planning typically follows this formula: Net Worth / Number of Kids = Amount to the Beneficiary. We rarely stop and ask whether that will be beneficial to the next generation. The Bible encourages us to pass along wisdom to those around us. This is especially important as we consider...

Almost daily, we are inundated with images of poverty that can desensitize us to the vulnerable in our midst. Often, instead of taking steps towards the vulnerable, sadly we can move away. However, throughout Scripture we see that God loves the vulnerable and wants to show his kindness towards them. The Bible highlights four groups of people that are especially vulnerable: the poor, the foreigner/...

We are constantly surrounded of images of the good life. From trends on social media to the mall to the university, our eyes and ears are bombarded with opportunities to live your best life. This vision of the good life distracts us from true life that is found in Jesus Christ.  The Lord, in Jeremiah 2:13 says, "for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living...

Jesus, even though he lived 2000 years ago in a time of greater technological simplicity, recognized the need to take time away from the hustle and bustle of life and connect with the Father. This is evident from the nine times that Luke recounts Jesus withdrawing to quiet places to pray. After spending 40 days alone in the desert Jesus was filled with the Spirit and dependence on the Father. Thro...

What does the Bible say about growing and passing on wealth? One of the most challenging money questions that we will continue to be faced with is "How much is enough?" Over our decades of reading the Scriptures, we have not found a verse where God gives us a clear number or percent. As faithful stewards, we need to ask the Lord "How much is enough" on a regular basis, and be ready to hear His wor...

How many times have you rejoiced when it was time to pay your taxes? This is a challenging question to consider, especially if we are not fond of what the government is doing with our finances. Taxes, however, are a sign of God's provision for you! When we pay our taxes, we ought to fall to our knees and rejoice that the Lord has given us income. Join us as we wrestle with a biblical view of payin...

Debt has become a normal part of our everyday lives. From credit cards to car loans to mortgages, we are inundated with debt. The Bible contains compelling warnings about debt. How should Christians approach debt? Can we be wise stewards of the resources that God has given us if we have significant debt to repay? How do our lifestyle choices affect the debt that we incur? Join with us as we explor...

Only giving can free us from the power that money has over our lives. We can use money for living expenses, to owe taxes or debt, and to grow through savings. Stewards are called by God to give, and it can be challenging to obey His call. However, when we give money back to God, as He owns it all already, we free ourselves from the temptation to use it to enhance our lifestyle. Giving brings about...

As Christians, we must be aware of our lifestyle and spending. Stewardship requires of us that we regularly seek God to determine how much is enough to live on. If we avoid reflecting on our purchasing habits, then we can start to look like everyone else around us. Consumerism is one of the idols of the modern American culture, and even faithful Christians can become trapped in its vortex. Join us...

In the United States we are inundated with invitations to spend money. Cars, clothes, and vacations are all gifts from God as He provides for us, His children. However, being a faithful steward means that we must frequently ask the question, "How much is enough?" Christians need to take that question before the Father, and patiently listen to Him as he guides us through life. We will explore verse...

Live, Give, Owe, Grow is a general framework from Ron Blue and Kingdom Advisors® which unpacks how people can use money. You can use money on ordinary life expenses, give to others, owe taxes and debt, or grow money through saving and investing. This is a helpful framework to consider where to use money throughout life. The Live, Give, Owe, Grow framework can also be helpful when categorizing a bu...

Every human is made in the image of God, and He has called us to work with Him to bring about the flourishing of all creation. The unique gifts that God has blessed us with and the experiences in life that He given us help us discover the work that He lays out for us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit working within us, we can become co-creators with God. Throughout this journey, our responsibi...

In a culture of radical individualism, how do we lay down our lives for the good of those around us? What does it look like to love our neighbor as ourselves? Who is my neighbor? In this episode, we discuss the idea that God owns our relationships. To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength will produce in Christians a love for our neighbor. However, we tend to love ours...

Every day, we are witnesses to time's progression. Daylight comes and goes; night arrives only to be followed by daylight again. We can look at our watches or clocks and see the hands moving, but in what manner is time moving? Just as the days are continuously circular, so is God's presence. He is with you now, in the past and in the future. So, how do we serve Him with our time? In this episode,...

You cannot serve two masters. You will either hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. In other words, you cannot serve both God and money. However, if we live as the current-day culture wants us to live, it is our life and we are the masters of ourselves. God knows everything, and He is the one who guides us. It is Him who is the master. So, how ca...