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THE ISSUE OF IDENTITY & BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE:In today's culture, there's pressure to define ourselves by worldly standards, but for Christians, true identity is found in Jesus, not in worldly achievements or possessions.John 1:12 says: But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.DANGERS OF WORLDLY IDENTITY & SPIRITUAL PITFALLS:Focusing on wealth or success can lead to pride, envy, constant comparison, worry about finances, and disillusionment, as these pursuits never truly satisfy.Letting money or success define us can make us believe our worth is tied to our work, income, or spending, leading to a lack of peace and misguided identity. SCRIPTURAL GUIDANCE:Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 1:27 teach that our identity in Christ transcends worldly measures like job status or wealth; our true value is rooted in being made right with God through Jesus.LIVING IN — AND OVERCOMING — A BROKEN WORLD:Despite our identity in Christ, we still face challenges d

UNDERSTANDING THE PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE:Tax preparers are typically CPAs (Certified Public Accountants), Enrolled Agents, or specialized attorneys. CPAs have more stringent requirements than Enrolled Agents.There's a shortage of CPAs and Enrolled Agents, leading to firms hiring high school interns at competitive rates to encourage CPA careers.Due to professional shortages, there's a risk of encountering unscrupulous tax preparers, potentially leading to scams like refund fraud and identity theft. SAFEGUARDS AGAINST FRAUD:Seek preparers available year-round, especially useful in case of audits.Verify the preparer’s IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) through the IRS directory.Inquire about their professional credentials and continuing education to ensure they're up-to-date with tax laws.Check their professional history via the State Board of Accountancy for CPAs, the IRS for Enrolled Agents, and State Bar Association for attorneys. WARNING SIGNS TO WATCH FOR:Avoid preparers who base fees on refund p

GOD'S WORD ON PAYING DEBTS:Proverbs 3:27 emphasizes the importance of paying back debts on time: "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it."DEFINING GOOD CREDIT SCORES:FICO scores range from 300 to 850, with a good score between 670 and 739.A very good score is between 740 and 799, and excellent is 800 to 850.Higher credit scores result in better interest rate offers from lenders.IMPACT OF CREDIT SCORE ON LOANS AND INTEREST RATES:A higher credit score (740+) can significantly reduce interest rates on mortgages, personal loans, and credit cards.Example: Raising a credit score by 100 points (from 640 to 740) can save around $72,000 in interest over a 30-year $300,000 mortgage.A better credit score can also reduce interest rates on a $5,000 personal loan and credit card balances, saving substantial amounts over time. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF A HIGH CREDIT SCORE:Higher credit scores can lead to lower home and auto insurance premiums.Employers may use credit scores in hiri

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BUDGETING SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT?Perspective is key in creating and adhering to a budget.Budgeting is often viewed as a necessary but challenging task, similar to a diet.Success in budgeting hinges on understanding the 'why' behind it.Differentiating between your financial goals (what you want to do) and the underlying reasons (why you're doing it) is crucial. AS BELIEVERS, WHAT SHOULD OUR 'WHY' BE IN BUDGETING?Our 'why' should align with scriptural teachings, recognizing God's ownership over everything.Believers should form their own 'why' statements, reflecting a commitment to stewardship based on biblical principles. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO START WITH GOD AS OWNER IN BUDGETING AND MONEY MANAGEMENT?Acknowledging God as the owner defines our role as stewards, influencing our financial choices.Seeing ourselves as managers under God's ownership leads to more thoughtful and responsible decision-making. RECOGNIZING GOD AS AN ACTIVE OWNER IN BUDGETING:A passive owner

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS:A survey of 2,000 people highlights common resolutions: diet (71%), exercise more (65%), save more/spend less (32%), learn a new skill, quit smoking, find a new job, and spend time with family and friends.These resolutions are often hard to keep due to requiring significant lifestyle changes. THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIAN RESOLUTIONS:For Christians, resolutions should prioritize God's will and honor Him.Success in resolutions is more likely when they align with God's will.Examples of Christian resolutions include seeking God's guidance for resolutions and praying for wisdom and strength. SCRIPTURAL GUIDANCE:James 1:5 encourages seeking God's wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."Philippians 4:13 emphasizes reliance on Christ: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."Matthew 6:5 warns against hypocritical actions: "When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites...that they

The following is an encore presentation from 2023.Tithing is fairly simple in your working years. Your only decision is whether to tithe on your net or gross income. But tithing becomes a bit more complicated when you retire. So we’re bringing in an expert to help simplify things today on Faith and Finance. Anthony Saffer is a Certified Financial Planner with One Degree Advisorswhere they’ve put together a handy resource to help you decide how to tithe in retirement.WHY TITHE? Let’s start by laying the biblical foundation for tithing because some folks will argue that Christians today are no longer under that law.Tthing is an act of worship that demonstrates trust and obedience to God. Key biblical verses to study include, Genesis 14:20, Hebrews 7:4-10, Leviticus 27:30-32, Luke 11:42, and Malachi 3:8-10.The practice of tithing, as introduced in Genesis 14 precedes God’s law given to Moses to guide Israel. Hebrews 7 of the New Testament refers to the event of Abraham tithing to the Priest and King, Melchizedek

The following is an encore presentation from 2023.Chad Clark is Executive Director here at FaithFi. WHERE DOES STEWARDSHIP BEGIN?Start by envisioning a target with three rings. When we think about stewardship we need to start in the inner circle, the bullseye, which is our heart.At the heart of a good and faithful steward you will find a love and devotion to Christ. Really, it’s our identity that is found in Christ as Galatians 2:20 points out “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me”.This is contrary to the world, which is focused on self. When we think of what it means to be a good and faithful steward we must start with Christ and resist the temptation to put ourselves at the center.DOERS OF THE WORDThe outermost ring of this target is APPLICATION.We are in the world but not of the world. We still have bills to pay, and financial decisions to make, but when we make decisions from the inside out, we recognize that God is the owner of everything and our role as stewards is simply to glorify Him

The following is an encore presentation from 2023.Shaunti Feldhahn is a relationship expert and the author of several very helpful books about marriage, including Thriving in Love and Money.There’s a saying about marriage: “When money troubles come in the door, love goes out the window.” But Shaunti has 3 steps for couples to keep that from happening.  3 STEPS TO ERASE TO AVOID FINANCIAL TENSION IN YOUR MARRIAGE1. ENSURE MARGIN: Make sure you have a cushion — some margin in your budget and finances. The Feldhahns conducted a three-year study involving a couple-thousand people. They found that no matter the income level, it wasn’t the topline income number that mattered. The key to avoiding tension was to spend less than they took in. This was true across all demographics. You’ve got to have a cushion to be able to make that car repair or whatever life throws your way. It’s great stewardship and helps keep you out of debt and bondage. But as it turns out, it’s not just protective of your finances, but of your

The following is an encore presentation from 2023.God’s Word contains dozens of verses about repaying debt, but usually from the perspective of owing it to others. Another example of this is Ecclesiastes 5:5. It reads, “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”We have to dig a little deeper to discern God’s will for us when someone owes us money, but one thing is very clear - the Lord expects us to act differently than the world.For one thing, if the one who owes you is a fellow believer, you should never sue to recover that money. Paul says this in no uncertain terms. In 1 Corinthians 6:6-7 he writes, “But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?”Of course, this applies only if the person owing you money is a fellow believer. The Bible doesn’t say that you can’t sue someone outside the church. If you own a business, you may

The following is an encore presentation from 2023.April is just 72 hours away and it’s one of our favorite months of the year. That’s because April is Financial Literacy Month. This event began some two decades ago to raise awareness about the critical need for financial literacy. It’s just as important as learning to read and write. We’ll talk about that on Faith and Finance. It’s not quite April yet, but we want to give you a head start on gaining financial literacy. It’s important, because if you don’t know how to set up a budget, handle credit cards responsibly, or figure out how much car or house you can afford— you’ll run into all sorts of trouble.And guess what? Financial literacy is just another way of knowing and following God’s financial principles for earning and saving money.Now, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal laid out six practical things you need to know to be financially literate, so let’s go over them one by one.6 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW1. The power of compound interest and how it wo

That’s from the Christmas Story in Luke, Chapter 2. The angels announce the coming of the Savior to a group of shepherds. It sounds simple enough … but there’s more to the story. Jerry Bowyer joins us to talk about it. Our guest, Jerry Bowyer, is the author of The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics. It’s loaded with amazing insights about Jesus' time on earth from an economic perspective.  Angels carried probably the most important message in history … why deliver it to shepherds? Weren’t they social outcasts?Shepherds were under social outcasts because they couldn’t keep their sheep from going into their neighbors yard and eat the grass - thereby committing theft against your neighbor. The Temple system ran on sheep. They used a lot of sheep for the sacrifices. So there was a country set aside for sheep to be raised. This was near Jerusalem. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was born in the city where lambs for the Temple system were bred.So God’s master plan included fi

With everything going on in Israel right now why is it important to funnel resources to Lebanon?Because the level of despair in Lebanon is at an historic high.  And  . . . Because God is working there like never beforeThere is an urgency to this situation - 2.5 million refugees in a country of only 4 million.  More per square mile than any place in the worldA collapsed economy - World Bank calling it the worst economic collapse in 150 years. 85% of everyone living there needing aid and 99% of every refugee family looking for their next meal. In the middle of this despair though - - HOPE is rising.  I know you have made a number of trips there personally - how have you seen God working in the hearts and lives of the people there. Because of the relational ministry philosophy of Heart for Lebanon, everything they do points to the opportunity to share the Gospel. Lebanon remains the most democratic free society in the middle East.  We are free to share the Gospel and More Muslim Cultured people are coming to Chr

So how would God's word in particular give us guidance on this giving portfolio approach?Jesus gives His mission here on earth in Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”This is a really is a model for a giving portfolio So how do you take that and apply it to giving?Well, he really talks about 3 categories of giving. God's mercy. People that are in need, poor and needy. The prisoners, basic recovery ministries and just basic human needs like water and food, shelter and those kinds of things.God's justice, the people that have been oppressed, widows, orphans, more the helpless, the victims. God's Word. And as you know here at FaithFi, we encourage you to do your first giving to the local church, but then also to other evangelism and discipleship ministries.I love that t

Please tell us about your list titled, “Your 10 Most Important Financial Moves for 2024.”We want to help people choose the best 10 ideas that specifically fit their situation. So we discuss over 60 suggestions in the article and encourage each reader to select their personal Top 10 list. We’ve found that those who go through this process of making a personal Top 10 list — and then follow through on those action steps — become better stewards and make tangible progress toward their long-term goals. These suggestions are broken into several categories. Help us understand spiritual and financial fundamentals …We try to set the appropriate context before diving into the nitty gritty financial stuff. And that begins with understanding what God says about us, and about our money, in scripture. So a few highlights from this section include:Resting in God’s love. His love isn’t based on our worth or merit.Invest time in studying what Scripture says about money and material possessions. SMI has long believed the #1 fi

If you’ve made a resolution to manage your money better this year, how can you be sure to keep it for the long haul? Today we’ll help you avoid the pitfalls of resolution failure. No matter when you make them, resolutions are hard to keep.  The most common excuses for giving up on our resolutions are…lack of willpower, forgetfulness, and plain old laziness.   Break old habits and develop new good habits. Make a clear plan. Financial resolutions are almost guaranteed to fail if you don’t set up a budget.  Have accountability.  Don’t go it alone.  Don’t do it all in your own strength. We need to lean on the Lord.  As Isaiah 40:28 says, that’s where the power is.  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Here’s a new way to approach your new year’s resolutions.First, pray.  Ask God to show you his will for you.  As with any goals, your f

UNDERSTANDING TIME'S WORTH IN GOD'S PERSPECTIVE:God values our time, as evidenced by Psalm 90:12, which states, "Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom."James 4:14 reminds us of the fleeting nature of life, saying, "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."Realizing the value of time can influence how we approach work and manage our finances.CALCULATING REAL HOURLY WAGE:To understand what our time on the job is really worth, subtract taxes (including Social Security, Medicare, and income tax) from your gross annual income.Example: Earning $52,000 annually, with $10,000 in taxes, leaves a net earning of $42,000. Dividing this by 52 weeks and then by a 40-hour workweek gives a real hourly wage of $20.This calculation helps to realize the actual earnings per hour, especially if working more than 40 hours a week.IMPACT ON SPENDING HABITS:Knowing the real cost of purchases in terms of hours worked can s

Jerry Bowyer is our resident economist here at FaithFi and the president of Bowyer Research. He’s also the author of The Maker and the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics.  Fans of the story might remember this exchange: Scrooge: “My taxes help support the public institutions which I’ve mentioned and they cost enough. Those who are badly off must go there.”Portly Gentleman: Many can’t go there and many would rather die.Scrooge: If they had rather die, perhaps they had better do so and decrease the surplus population.Portly Gentleman: Surely you don’t mean that, sir?Scrooge: “With all my heart … “ WHAT HAVE WE BEEN MISSING IN "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" ABOUT THE PHRASE "SURPLUS POPULATION"?This phrase reflects the Malthusian belief prevalent in the 1800s, suggesting that population growth, especially among the poor, outpaces the supply of resources."Surplus population" was a key term in the Malthusian debate, which argued that population growth surpasses food and resource supply, especia

Brian Holtz, joins us again today. He is the Chief Operating Officer at Compass — Finances God’s Way. He’s also the author of Financial Discipleship for Families: Intentionally Raising Faithful Children. HOW DO YOU RAISE FAITHFUL CHILDREN AS FINANCIAL DISCIPLES?A financial disciple learns and applies Jesus' teachings about money and possessions, and also shares this knowledge with others.Parents should instill in their children the understanding that everything belongs to God, as stated in 1 Chronicles 29:11 and Psalm 24:1.It's crucial to teach children about stewardship and faithful management of resources, following God's goals rather than personal ambitions. WHAT ARE THE FIVE PILLARS OF FINANCIAL DISCIPLESHIP?These pillars guide children in understanding their role as stewards of God's resources and making decisions that align with biblical teachings:1. Ownership: Recognizing that everything is owned by God.1 Chronicles 29:11 tells us everything in the heavens and earth is His. And Psalm 24:1 says the eart

Art Rainer is a regular contributor here at Faith and Finance and the author of several books, including The Marriage Challenge: A Finance Guide for Married Couples. WHAT ARE SOME WARNING SIGNS THAT INDICATE A COUPLE MAY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MONEY?Frequent heated arguments about money are a major red flag. It's concerning if discussions about budgeting, spending, debt, or giving lead to intense disagreements.Financial infidelity is another critical issue. This includes hiding purchases, maintaining secret bank accounts or credit cards, or exceeding spending limits without informing the spouse.Using money as a weapon in the relationship is a serious concern. This behavior involves controlling or punishing a spouse with money, like giving allowances or withholding funds, and contradicts the unifying purpose of money in a marriage as intended by God.Managing money independently, with separate bank accounts and financial responsibilities, is a warning sign. This approach undermines the biblical concept of marital o

WHAT IS BIBLICAL FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP ACCORDING TO FAITHFI?Biblical financial stewardship, as FaithFi defines it, is about letting Scripture influence and inform financial decisions. It's not just following financial principles from the Bible, like recognizing God as the owner and ourselves as managers, giving cheerfully, avoiding debt, and planning for the future, but it's also about understanding these principles in the broader context of Scripture. All Scripture ultimately points to Jesus, shaping a deeper relationship with Him. FaithFi's purpose is to help Christians see God as their ultimate treasure, not money or possessions. It's about changing the heart posture, aligning with the idea that where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.It's about letting Scripture guide financial decisions, going beyond mere principles.Understanding financial stewardship in the broader context of the Bible, which points to Jesus.The goal is to see God as the ultimate treasure, changing one's heart towards money