Faith & Finance

What does Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls do? They are Buckner International's largest humanitarian aid project. Their mission is to follow Jesus' example by serving vulnerable children, families, and seniors. One way they do that is through partnerships like Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, where they come alongside believers in churches, businesses, and families throughout the U.S. to provide new shoes for children worldwide. Why are shoes important for health, education, and opportunity, especially in underdeveloped countries?Children can't go to school without shoes in many countries where they work, so Buckner promotes education by providing that gift. Additionally, wearing shoes makes many foot-borne illnesses in some communities entirely preventable. Many of the shoes they distribute also allow Buckner ministries to meet and come alongside children and families in their community, providing redemptive ministry for them.How do shoes pave the way for sharing the Gospel?Every pair of shoes is an opportunity to directly connect with the child and let them know they're loved, cared for, and not forgotten by us or God. Additionally, every pair of shoes will have an encouraging note to them, often expressing the love of Christ for them.Every pair of shoes is often the start of a relationship between the recipient and Buckner ministries where Christ-centered redemptive ministry is being done.How can people get involved with Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls?GiveShoesToday.orgEvery $15 will provide a pair of shoes for a child worldwide, giving them further opportunities in education, healthcare, and, most importantly, the hope of the Gospel. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My wife and I want to purchase our first home in about a year. We are a single-income family: I work, and she stays and homeschools our four children. Would it be a good idea to have her listed on the mortgage when it's time to get our mortgage? Or would it be better to keep her off? I don't want her to be responsible for something happening to me. I would like your opinion on that.I had a couple of garage sales on our block this weekend. Both neighbors are selling their homes and my daughter and her husband love my neighbor's home. They got married in June last year when they got their condo. They want to buy this cute, humble home, jump from the condo, and maybe get this first home, but both are fortunate to be college-educated and are doing okay. One was late on several car payments so their credit score wouldn't be too good. Unfortunately, they need a cosigner so they asked me if I would be willing to do that. What do you think about this and more importantly, what does the Bible say about this?I have a 457 retirement plan, and my beneficiary is my wife. If something should happen to me, she would get the money, but I was wondering since she doesn't have any retirement income set up, if she would be able to roll it over so she could make it her retirement savings so that she wouldn't get hit so hard on the taxes?I contacted a Christian credit counselor because I have about $9,000-$10,000 in credit card debt. They were able to break it down so that I could afford the payments, but I'm curious how that will look in the eyes of a lender for future financing. I am looking to purchase a home within the next year, which may negatively impact how a lender views me. My husband passed away over 10 years ago and I was left with about $150,000 from the inheritance. I put about $40,000 into a CD five years ago, and the five years are almost up. I have about $100,000 sitting in a savings account making zero interest because it's in a savings account and I wanted to know what you can advise me on it. I'm 65 years old, so I don't want to do anything with a high risk, but it's just sitting there and not making anything.Resources Mentioned:GiveShoesToday.orgBankrate.comRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What options and rates do Christian Health Ministries offer?CHM is not health insurance, but medical cost-sharing, and nonprofit, enabling us to keep member costs down. CHM shares 100% of eligible medical bills, over $10 billion since its founding in 1981. Here are some of the plan costs to start (for individuals):Bronze, $92 per unit, per month Silver, $138 per unit, per monthGold, $240 per unit, per monthSenior Share, $115 per unit, per monthHow is being a member of Christian Healthcare Ministries more flexible than most health insurance plans?CHM members are not limited to a provider network. They can go to any doctor or hospital if the treatment is eligible according to CHM guidelines. This gives members more flexibility and control over their healthcare than typical health insurance plans.Where does CHM’s ministry concept originate?CHM draws its concepts from the New Testament, where the Book of Acts says that all the believers pooled their resources together and shared what they had. So, CHM practically does that nowadays with medical costs. The spiritual component of what they do is vital to CHM, as they also pray for each other and send cards and emails of encouragement. It is an excellent example of the body of Christ serving one another.Where can people get more information?chministries.org/faithfiOn Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I've been through over a decade of financial abuse, so I'm starting off having to reestablish with a low income. Are there any investment opportunities with a smaller amount that I can receive returns on, keeping some and then reinvesting the other? Also, do you have any other ideas for someone with a low income?I'm considering retiring to get my money out of the company I work for now, but I don't know how much the government will take because I'm not 65 yet. Is there a cut-off where they don't take anything?When I was stationed in Fort Polk and Fort Hood and bought houses, we had insurance that covered me if something happened to me, and the house would be paid for. I can't find those insurance policies anymore. Do you know of a resource that can help me track those down?Resources Mentioned:Christian Healthcare MinistriesNational Association of Insurance CommissionersRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it mean to be Rich Toward God?It doesn't mean just giving money and possessions away. Anyone can do that. And the spiritual ramifications are different depending on your heart. But Jesus is inviting us to set our hearts on an imperishable inheritance. So here's the context, a man from the crowd asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, and Jesus deflects that question. He gets to the heart of the issue by telling a parable about man's greed and envy, not just the man who asked the question or had the issue, but ours. So this parable is about a rich man who poured his whole heart into accumulating and essentially worshiping his wealth and died before he could enjoy it. So obviously, perishable worldly inheritance is a false solution.Where can we find more about this imperishable inheritance? 1 Peter 1:3-9 talks about our inheritance as believers, which calls it imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. And here are a few things the passage says about our inheritance. It includes a living hope in Christ, which is an eternal hope. Because we have the mind and spirit of Christ, we can also have joy amid trial. And then we have our genuine faith, which it says is more precious than gold. The result of faith in Jesus Christ is what we long for, and that's the salvation of our souls and abundant life. That's our imperishable inheritance.How should Christians view wealth?The Bible isn’t saying that money is evil and it’s not even saying that wealth is evil. There is nowhere in Scripture that condemns someone for being rich. Money is just a tool, it’s a matter of the heart. God’s concern is with the use of money and your attitude towards money, not the amount. Is wealth dangerous?It definitely can be when it becomes our priority. Paul David Tripp once said, “Money is one of God’s good creations, but this good thing becomes a bad thing for you when it becomes a ruling thing. You simply cannot serve the King of Kings and have acquisition of wealth as the organizing dream of your heart.”So what is Jesus inviting us into?Jesus is inviting us to set our hearts on imperishable things. Jesus is calling us to make him the desire of our hearts every moment of every day. He's asking us to surrender our lives our plans and our finances to him, to allow Him to be our ultimate treasure. Jesus invites us to say that God is our abundance now and we have an imperishable inheritance in heaven. That's good news for everyone!You can get a copy for personal study or several copies for everyone in your Bible study group to experience together. Visit FaithFi.com/rtg to purchase Rich Toward God today. On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My mom is an 85-year-old widow who lives with my sister. In 2009, my dad had enough strokes that my mom realized that she couldn’t take care of the whole house by herself. So after that, my older sister built an addition to her house and they moved in after that. My dad then passed away in 2013 and now she is a widow and now my sister is charging her rent to live in that addition of her home. I’m wondering if that is biblically acceptable. We want to put money into an existing 529 plan that our son has for their children. Do I get a tax break from it or do they get the tax break from our donation? We have a life insurance policy that is ending, and we can cash it out or roll it into a whole life policy. We also have other adequate life insurance, so we were just wondering if there is a way to put that money into a savings account for that expenditure that wouldn’t be painful for taxes, with a child going to college in about a year. I’m about to be 71 years old and I’ve been taking some monthly income from my IRA, which was based on high-dividend stocks. But as of late, I’m afraid the stocks are a little too volatile for my comfort level so my financial advisor suggested I go with a GMIC annuity that pays 7%. Should this be something I look into? I’ve always felt wrong about annuities so I just wanted to hear your thoughts.Resources Mentioned:SavingForCollege.comRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Must-Have Financial SkillsThe first “skill” is an attitude. The Bible says God owns everything, as in Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Understand that nothing belongs to you, even you. You are a manager of God’s resources, which should change your perspective on money and material things.The number two financial skill you’ll need is planning. “A dream without a plan is just a wish,” they say. And wishes won’t buy you a house. The fundamental planning tool we recommend is a budget, otherwise known as a “spending plan.” A budget keeps track of your income, giving, and spending, and gives you a picture of your progress towards meeting your financial goals. Download the free FaithFi app to get started.The following fundamental financial skill everyone needs is work!  Maybe your dad always told you that “Money Doesn’t Grow on trees!” Annoying as that was, it’s the truth. So, start at the bottom if you have to, work hard, and develop your resume!Colossians 3:23 and 24 see the key to successful work: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”The next skill is to open and manage a bank account. Then, make sure you develop habits of giving and saving from every paycheck. Watching your balance increase will encourage you to stick to your plan. Keeping track of your bank balance will also help you understand your limits. You can’t spend what isn’t there.The following skill will also help you understand your limits. Learn about credit. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that a credit card equals permission to spend all you want. Instead, keep track of your balances, pay your balances in full every month, and watch your credit score.Another essential financial skill you’ll need is an understanding of investing, including types of investments, risk, and return. Check out the great information at SoundMindinvesting.org.Finally, admit you don’t know it all and learn where to go for solid financial advice. As Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Visit faithfi.com and click on the “Community” tab to chat online about your money questions.  Or, ask someone you trust, who knows about finances, to help you.Now more than ever, young adults need financial skills to succeed in the “real world”.  Our challenge to our bright and hopeful “Gen Z” generation is to pursue a firm faith and financial literacy.  On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My house is paid for, but I am considering moving and wondering if I can borrow from my 401(k) instead of going to the bank and getting a loan.We have some stock that we want to sell and we want it to go to a charity so that we don’t have to pay taxes. How can we do that? I called in about an HSA vs. a traditional health care plan for my family and now we’re a family of six. I’m the only one who works as my wife is home with the four kids and we ended up picking the HSA to max it out financially. Six or seven years later, we’ve been maxing it out, and now I’ve rolled it over to an online investment brokerage. It’s still an HSA, but now I can put it into CD’s at 5% interest or in an index fund, so I just wanted to thank you for the advice and wisdom.Resources Mentioned:Movement MortgageNational Christian FoundationFidelityCharles SchwabRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 4-Step Process For How Busy Moms (Or Stay-At-Home Dads) Can Get Control Of Their TimePrayStarting our day in a posture of prayer and reliance on the Lord instead of trying to white-knuckle our way through life in our strength changes how we approach life. We feel a lot less stressed and more at peace, and it helps us focus our energy on those things that truly matter in Eternity. This can look like quick flare prayers we shoot up throughout the day when we feel overwhelmed, aren’t sure how to approach something, or just feel extra tired or weary.PrioritizeIn the book, Crystal outlines what she calls the 6x2 Priority System. She has six Priority Areas around which she wraps her time and life, but she only picks two to focus on per day and then rotates the ones she focuses on. So, instead of trying to do all the things every day, she just intentionally spends time on two areas. For instance, that might look like an at-home date with your spouse (Marriage Priority Area) and coffee with a friend (Friendships Priority Area). The next day, it might be spending extra time decluttering and catching up on tasks at home (Home Priority area) and having a game night with the kids (Kids Priority area).PlanCrystal suggests writing down everything you need to do or remember (even tiny things) in a Google calendar as an all-day task and assigning it to a day by which it needs to be done. Then, every night before bed, write out a handwritten Time-Blocked To-Do List with everything mapped out for the next day. It’s like a budget but for your time. PrepA successful day begins the night before. One way to make your day run much more smoothly is to take 30 minutes before going to bed to pick up the house quickly, figure out what to do for breakfast, make lunches, get bags and backpacks ready and set out by the door and lay out everyone’s clothes for the morning. The difference this makes in our mornings and the rest of the day is incredible.On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I’ve been unemployed since February of this year and have been applying to numerous positions with various companies. All I’ve gotten is one in-person interview and a few phone interviews, but beyond that, there is nothing else. I want to find out what mistakes I’m making in this stage of the job search as I’m worried about my employability. I’m a retired military serviceman who currently has TRICARE and doesn’t qualify for an HSA because of the type of insurance I have. Am I correct in that?I’m confused about tithing. I received an inheritance about 10 years ago, and before I deposited it into my account, I tithed the full amount. After that, I put the money in an annuity to give me an income stream when I retired. My question is, do I tithe on the income I receive, or has that already been tithed on?Resources Mentioned:The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal PaineMoneySavingMom.comCareer DirectNail Your Next Job Interview: Faith & Finance EpisodeRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What is the risk of playing it too safe? That does seem like a bit of a riddle, but we can start to make sense of it by first exploring a behavioral phenomenon called “loss aversion.” Researchers have found that most people feel the pain of losing money roughly twice as strongly as the joy of gaining money. To say it again clearly: losses feel twice as bad as gains feel good. This naturally causes many people to be “loss averse” and try to avoid losses, sometimes to such a substantial degree that it undermines their long-term goals. One of the trickiest parts of investing is taking enough risk to meet your long-term goals without taking more risk than necessary. There are very tangible steps we can take to reduce or mitigate risk—things like maintaining an emergency savings fund to minimize the risk of a financial emergency, such as a job loss or an unexpected major expense. When it comes to investing, diversifying your holdings rather than putting all your eggs in one basket is an example. Can someone be too risk-averse? Sometimes, we actually increase our long-term risk by playing it too safe. One example is young people not investing aggressively enough, letting the opportunity for long-term compounding slip away.This is ironic because young people are often stereotyped as inherently bold risk-takers. We read stories about them buying meme stocks, Bitcoin, and other risky investments. But the broad research on Gen Z — adults ages 27 or younger — doesn’t back that up. A recent national study found that Gen Zers are the least financially confident generation and 57% think savings accounts are the best way to invest their money. Most financial pros would agree that savings accounts are an extremely conservative choice for those with several decades of investing time ahead of them.Even the next age demographic, the Millennials (ages 28 to 43), appear to be surprisingly risk-averse. A different Schwab study last year found that Millennials were especially interested in bonds. Bonds are generally the favorite of retirees, not 28-to-43-year-olds. These surveys indicate that younger investors are arguably too loss-averse and are making investing choices that are likely to impair their ability to build long-term wealth significantly. It’s fair to point out that previous generations didn’t have that same inclination when they were younger and less experienced investors. There’s a disconnect between making a safe 5% in a savings account or bond today and not recognizing the impact inflation is likely to have on that relatively low rate of return. Young people should target the higher returns of stocks over the decades they’re saving for retirement so they can grow the purchasing power of their savings at a faster rate than inflation over the course of their careers. What are you seeing with new retirees? Retirees often fall into the same trap. A 65-year-old new retiree who has all her retirement savings in cash told us she could live just fine on Social Security and the $450 she took out of her retirement savings each month. When we asked how long her savings would last if she kept taking out $450 each month, she knew the answer immediately—a little more than 25 years.She had run the numbers and thought she was in good shape. But she isn’t because she failed to factor in the rising cost of living. Because of inflation’s corrosive power, $450 will buy far less in the future than it does today. That means her standard of living will decline steadily as the years pass. That investor doesn’t want to take any risk. But ironically by playing it so safe, they aren’t just risking the possibility of financial trouble down the road, they’re guaranteeing it.How do we prevent that from happening?Investors normally need to accept some degree of risk to prepare for the future. That typically means maintaining at least some exposure to stocks even after retirement age, because these days, a person needs to plan for a retirement that could last 20 to 30 years. Dialing in that “not too much risk, but just enough” balance is tricky. A good financial advisor or a service like Sound Mind Investing can really help a person figure out an appropriate level of risk and translate that into a portfolio of stock and bond investments. We’re not a big fan of annuities in most cases, but in the case of the new retiree previously discussed, even an extremely conservative step like buying an annuity with an inflation rider would likely provide her with a higher monthly income while also locking in some inflation protection. So, there are usually things that can be done, as long as a person recognizes the risk of playing it too safe. What is a better approach in a situation like this?Mark typically desires SMI investors to have a closer to a 50-50 blend of stocks and bonds as they hit retirement age. If the numbers work, a conservative investor like this might be able to reduce that to 20 to 30% in stock mutual funds or ETFs, with most of the rest in fixed-income securities. Keeping that little stock growth exposure is one way to improve the odds of having enough money in your later years. Again, we don’t take on extra risk just to grow the most giant pile of money possible, but we need our returns to be higher than inflation to protect our purchasing power. For most people, that means taking some risk. Yes, try to reduce that risk over time, and don’t take more risk than you need. Recognizing taking too little risk over the long haul can ironically be as damaging as taking too much risk. We have to weigh the risk of action against the risk of inaction.Investment risk certainly should be managed and minimized to whatever degree. No one gets bonus points for taking more risks than they need to. However, sometimes the riskiest thing you can do is play it too safely.On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I wanted to move some money from a regular annuity into a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Do you have any funds that you recommend? I’m calling about a widow that I represent. She sold her small farm property. Her income is so low that she hasn’t paid any taxes over the past 10-11 years. Is she going to have a big tax liability on selling this property? I have some questions regarding a solar roofing system. Our home is paid for and our insurance company said we need a new roof due to wind damage. We would like to incorporate a solar roofing system when we install the new roof since we would qualify for a 30% tax credit. Is the 35-40% offset on the solar roof worth it as a return on investment for our home?Resources Mentioned:The Risk of Playing It Too Safe (Sound Mind Investing Article)Project SunroofNational Christian FoundationRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What To Do When You’re Treated UnfairlyMoney is often the issue when we interact with others, and it’s a powerful motivator to strike back when we feel we’re being mistreated. Losing money we feel we deserve to have can make us feel bitter.But Hebrews 12:15 tells us, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”We live in a fallen world filled with fallen people, and we’ll all experience mistreatment at one time or another.It’s important to remember that you’re one of those fallen people, too. Your first instinct might be to lash out against someone who’s mistreating you, but that is not a biblical response to mistreatment. Instead, look to Christ as your model. No one suffered more injustice and mistreatment than Jesus.In 1 Peter 2:20-22, the apostle tells us how a Christian should respond to mistreatment. It reads, “When you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.”That’s a high bar to reach, but Peter tells us how to respond like Christ to injustice in verses 23 and 24. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”Responding Like ChristTrusting God to work for good in all your affairs is the key to responding like Christ to injustice.Psalm 37:4-6 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”One of the most significant examples of a Christ-like response to injustice is found in Genesis and the story of Joseph. He was first sold into slavery by his brothers, then wrongly accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison.Yet Joseph never reacted ungodly to injustice. He even went on to save his brothers and all of Israel when famine struck. Joseph trusted God, who eventually used Joseph’s mistreatment in a powerful way. God tests us the same way when we suffer injustice. He expects us to respond like Christ.This doesn’t mean that we must quietly accept every injustice that comes our way. It’s not unbiblical to state your case in truth and love; the result must be left to God.On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My husband and I just sold our home, and we’re close to retirement age. My husband is almost 70 and would like to retire in July, and I’m only working part-time. What we want to know is what would be a prudent amount to reinvest in another home.We have about $420,000 in retirement, and my employer contributes 14% regardless, so we’ve been adding 10% extra to that for as long as we’ve been employed. We have no debt, but we owe $154,000 on our home, and I’m wondering if it would be better just to take that extra 10% every month and pay off our home.Resources Mentioned:Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here at FaithFi, we always want to help you manage your time, talent and treasure. And make no mistake—do-it-yourself preventive maintenance is a wise use of all three of those gifts you received from God. The more time and talent you have, the less of your treasure you’ll have to use to get things done. But if you don’t have the physical ability or know-how to do any of the chores on our list, it’s also wise to hire someone to do them.Now, of course, we always use the Bible as our ultimate guide, and Proverbs 14:23 tells us, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” That means we’d better get started with our list!So first up, Inspect your outdoor air conditioning unit to make sure it’s ready for summer. Look for debris inside and around the unit. Leaves and other material can collect over the winter and could cause damage when the system kicks on.Of course, it’s also wise to have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean the coils and service the outside unit—and that’s not a D-I-Y project. An annual maintenance checkup to clean coils, change filters and possibly add coolant can add years of service to the unit. Definitely worth having done.Next up, take a look at the roof.  You may be able to do this from the ground and we’d recommend that, if possible. Did you lose any shingles over the winter? If you spot damage, you can call in a professional roofer to make repairs.You may also want to start saving a little each month toward a new roof. They do wear out, and these days can cost anything from $7,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the size of your house. Set up a separate savings account that can earn interest until your roof needs replacement.Our next spring maintenance chore can’t be done from the ground—inspect for loose, leaky, or clogged gutters around the house. You’ll need to get on a ladder for this one, so if you’re not comfortable and careful doing that, again, it’s better to hire someone. It’s important to have this done, though, because drainage problems can lead to water entering your basement or crawlspace, causing further damage. If the gutters are only clogged, you can try removing the debris from the ground with one of those hose attachments shaped like a candy cane. Various models sell online for $15 to $115. Anytime you can avoid getting on a ladder, it’s best to do it.Next, check around the yard and next to the foundation for low areas. They can fill with spring rains and also threaten to flood the house. You can fill them with soil and spread grass seed there to eliminate the problem.You should also test your outside faucets for freeze damage. How do you do that, you ask? It’s pretty simple, actually. Just put your thumb firmly over the faucet opening and then turn on the water. If you can stop water from coming out of the faucet, the pipe inside your home is probably ruptured from freezing. Turn the water off immediately and replace the entire faucet unit. Unless you’re very handy, you’ll probably have to call a plumber for that one.By the way, if you’re wondering why the pipe inside your house wasn’t leaking all winter, it’s because the actual shut off valve for the faucet is in the pipe a foot or more inside the house. That prevents flooding if the pipe closest to the outside wall is ruptured.Okay, here’s a spring maintenance project you may not have thought of. If you stacked firewood for heating over the winter on your deck or otherwise near your home, it’s time to move it. You don’t want it close to the house over the summer when termites and carpenter ants get busy. Move the wood farther away, or stack it away from the house to begin with, so you don’t have to move it in the spring.Here’s another one, especially if you live in the north where moisture is constantly freezing and thawing. That can cause cracks in your concrete patio, sidewalk and driveway, so inspect those areas and fill any cracks with cement filler or silicone caulk. Otherwise, they’ll just keep growing and widening every winter.And one last spring maintenance project— prepare your lawn mower to sally forth and slay grass for another season. Do a walk around inspection and tighten or repair outside components on the mower, such as handles, grass chutes and wheels. Then change the spark plug and oil, and inspect air, oil and fuel filters. Replace as needed.Next, sharpen or replace the blades as needed…and finally fill the tank with fresh ethanol-free fuel. Ethanol is terrible for small engines and will dramatically short the life of the carburetor, so avoid that.Okay, those are your spring maintenance tips. We hope they help you to have an enjoyable summer season. Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Danger Of CovetousnessCovetousness is what happens when you see someone else’s possessions and want them for yourself.  It’s part envy and part greed, and completely sinful. But what’s so dangerous about that kind of desire?Well, like any sin, its first effect is to draw you away from a right relationship with God. Envy can also destroy your relationships with other people. When you’re zeroing in on getting and keeping what you want, you’re putting your fleshly desires in God’s place. Selfishness obliterates your ability to love God and other people. One problem with a materialistic mindset is that you start to believe “more is always better”, and you never have enough.  Ultimately, covetousness is just a treadmill of frustration and desire. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon calls it “chasing after the wind.”  Jesus warns his followers against this sin, but he also gives them-–and us-–the key to a better way of living: “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”.In other words, you won’t find lasting satisfaction in getting more stuff. Material things just can’t give you the life you crave. So, what kind of abundance does produce life?”Finding Fulfillment In GodAs Luke 12 recounts, Jesus gives the answer in a story we know as “The Parable of the Rich Fool”. He tells of a rich man who is so enamored of his possessions that he decides to tear down his storehouses and build bigger ones, promising himself a long and relaxing retirement.Before the rich man can fulfill his selfish dreams, God comes to him and says, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” Jesus’s next words serve as a warning, but also a promise for those who “have ears to hear”: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”As always, Jesus is addressing the hearts of his followers.  He knows we live in a physical world, surrounded by desirable things.  But God created men and women for more than just temporary worldly pleasures and achievements.  According to Ecclesiastes 3:11, He has also set eternity in the human heart.What we really want, at our core, is abundant life. What we want is God Himself.  To possess a relationship with the Lord is to be full of His abundance – to be “rich toward God”.Here’s what Jesus says about this in John 10:9. “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”Experiencing God’s AbundanceThroughout the New Testament, and specifically in the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus urges us to take the focus off “me” and “my stuff” and put it where it belongs–on Him. True abundance comes from a personal, intimate relationship with God, through Christ.In John 15:5 Jesus confirms this: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”The tragedy of the Rich Fool is not that his life was cut short…but that he was looking for abundance in all the wrong places. In his pride and greed, he gave up the opportunity to abide in God and serve others. He failed to choose a life that was eternally “rich toward God”. Instead, he pursued a foolish life that was rich toward himself. So, are you experiencing abundant life? If not, here’s what you can do right now to turn things around: First, get things right between you and the Lord. Surrender your life to Christ. Here’s the promise from John 1:12 “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”When your desires are getting in the way, and pride and envy are making you miserable, tell the Lord about it and ask for his help. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”Another action you can take to experience God’s abundance is to read God’s Word.  Check out a Bible reading app like Bible Project, Read Scripture, or Through the Word.  Or just pick up a Bible and read the Gospel of John. Finally, find a body of believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable. The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone!Today's topic was drawn from our new study guide entitled Rich Toward God. We'd like to invite you to get a copy for personal study, or get copies for everyone in your Bible study group to experience it together. Go to FaithFi.com to learn more.On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I’m looking to buy a property for business use and I’m wondering if I could use my 401(k) funds without penalty to make that purchase? I’m getting ready to retire since I’m 62 years old and have multiple 401(k) accounts. Should I combine those or keep them separate?A good Christian friend of mine is in a lot of debt. I’ve tried so long to get this friend to see how great it is to be debt-free but I’m running out of ways to try and encourage him to do that so he stops throwing his money away. Any thoughts? Other than a 401(k), is there any other type of avenue where one can reduce their taxes? I’m currently paying about $1,000 a week in federal taxes. Resources Mentioned:Your Money Counts: The Biblical Guide to Earning, Spending, Saving, Investing, Giving, and Getting Out of Debt by Howard DaytonRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Relational Effects Of Lending MoneyProverbs 22:7 reads, “The borrower becomes slave to the lender.” Lending money can hurt a relationship. And that can happen whether you lend the money or not. You’re “between a rock and a hard place,” and it seems like either way, someone may end up resentful.There are really only three things that can happen and only one of them is good: If you decide not to lend the money, the other person could be upset. If you do lend the money and the other person doesn’t repay it, you’ll probably be upset.It’s only the third possibility that makes everyone happy: You lend the money, and the borrower pays it back. But consider carefully why they asked to borrow in the first place. They may not be able to repay the loan if they’re already in bad shape financially, for whatever reason.Fortunately, God’s Word gives us guidance here. What does the Bible say? First, God’s Word tells us to help those in need…lending money if necessary. Deuteronomy 15:8 says, “You shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.”Turning to the New Testament, in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:42, Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”And finally, a verse that might make you think the only proper response is to lend money to a family member, in particular, is 1 Timothy 5:8, which reads, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”So should you always lend money when asked?Not at all. The above Scriptures imply a couple of things: First, there must truly be a need. And second, that lending the money would actually help the borrower and not simply allow that person to make more unwise financial decisions. Here Scripture has more to say:Proverbs 13:11 warns about one possible outcome of lending money. It reads, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” Getting a loan is often the “easy way out.”Maybe the borrower tells you the loan would be a “lifeline”—which it may be. But it’s also “easy money” and the borrower may not appreciate the effort it takes to create that wealth. When you have to work hard for something…you tend to want to hold onto it.Hard work produces character and wisdom. Proverbs 21:20 reads, “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”How can I discern a real need?So before you get out the checkbook, think carefully about whether there’s a real need. You also have to be sure that lending the money will actually help the borrower. Here are some questions to ask yourself:Can the borrower repay the loan? If there’s not sufficient income or ability, promises to repay will come to nothing.Then ask, what shape will you be in if the money isn’t repaid? If you can’t afford to lose it, you can’t afford to lend it.Then ask, can you help in another way? If the person needs money to repair a car for example—could you give rides to work until they’ve saved enough for repairs?And last, ask yourself, can you make the money a gift instead of a loan? That way you’re not expecting it to be paid back, so you can’t be disappointed and your relationship won’t suffer. But again, only do that if you can afford it and the gift doesn’t encourage more financial mismanagement.Finally, If you do decide to lend the money, draw up a written agreement—even if you’re lending to a family member. When something’s in writing, it clarifies things and makes it known who’s responsible for what and when.The loan agreement should specify the amount, interest rate if any, payment structure and collateral, if any. That will help eliminate misunderstandings later on. You can find lots of promissory note templates online. Just fill in the blanks.One final thought if you end up lending the money—make preserving the relationship your priority. Be prepared to forgive the loan if it keeps the relationship intact. But that’s only possible if you have the ability to lose it in the first place.So those are some things to consider before lending money to a family member or friend, based on God’s Word.On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My former mortgage company transferred my mortgage over to a new company and then a few months later, I received a letter in the mail from my former mortgage company that there was a breach in their system. Some of my information was taken from their system and they wanted to set me up with free monitoring from Kroll. I just wanted to make sure that this was a legitimate company that I should share my information with before I do so. My wife has not worked in over 30 years since we’ve had children but she did have employment prior to that. Will she be able to collect any social security at 65 on her own or will it only be a spousal benefit? I know you generally don’t recommend that people pay for identity protection plans since most of that stuff you can do yourself but if you can afford it, is it good to have those protection plans anyways? I just received a settlement for $170,000 and just wanted to know what is the best way to invest it? I’m currently 49 years old and I have a 401(k) with about $400,000. I also have a savings account with about $80,000 and don’t really have any debt besides a car payment. What would be the best use of this money? Resources Mentioned:Sound Mind InvestingRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.