## I believe the only way to break the power of materialism is first, to see ourselves as stewards that God has entrusted these money and possessions to, and second, to give. Jesus says, *“It is more blessed to give than to receive”* ([Acts 20:35](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%2020.35)).

As long as I still have something, I believe I own it. But when I give it away, I relinquish the control, power, and prestige that come with wealth. At the moment of release, the light turns on. The magic spell is broken. My mind clears, and I recognize God as owner, myself as servant, and other people as intended beneficiaries of what God has entrusted to me.

The New Testament offers guidelines for giving that can help us fight the pull of materialism:

1. __Give.__ Giving affirms Christ’s lordship. It dethrones me and exalts Him. It breaks the chains of mammon that would enslave me and transfers my center of gravity to Heaven.
2. __Give generously.__ How much is generous? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. If you’ve never tithed, start there—then begin to stretch your generosity.
3. __Give regularly.__ Stewardship is not a once-a-year consideration, but a week-to-week, month-to-month commitment requiring discipline and consistency.
4. __Give deliberately.__ Giving is at its best when it’s a conscious effort that’s repeatedly made.
5. __Give voluntarily.__ When we catch a vision of God’s grace, we will give *beyond* our duty.
6. __Give sacrificially.__ We don’t like risky faith. We like to have our safety net below us. But we miss the adventure of seeing God provide when we’ve really stretched ourselves in giving.
7. __Give excellently.__ Paul says, *“See that you also excel in this grace of giving”* ([2 Corinthians 8:7](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Cor%208.7)).
8. __Give cheerfully__. If we’re not cheerful, the problem is our heart, and the solution is redirecting our heart, not withholding our giving.
9. __Give worshipfully.__ Our giving is a reflexive response to God’s grace. It doesn’t come out of our altruism—it comes out of the transforming work of Christ in us.
10. __Give more as you make more.__ Remember: God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving.
11. __Give quietly.__ Showiness in giving is always inappropriate. (But sometimes our acts of righteousness *will* be seen by men and even *should* be.)

*[Image](https://www.epm.org/static/cache/6d/d4/6dd4f2b4249c2c09db083d5ed22590c1.jpg) used with permission.*

Eternal Perspective Ministries, founded and directed by author Randy Alcorn, is focused on investing in what lasts for eternity, and helping others to do the same.

Eternal Perspective Ministries

Articles

The only way to break the power of materialism is to do these two things...

Eleven Giving Guidelines to Fight the Pull of Materialism

Michael Blue

The Bible contains more verses on money and possessions than nearly any other topic. Howard Dayton teaches that there are over 2,300 of such verses. With so much said in the Bible on this topic, it’s no wonder that there’s confusing and contradictory teachings within the church. While the teachings on money are all over the place in our churches, a faithful study of the Bible paints a surprisingly consistent picture. Taken as a whole, the Bible provides some very clear themes and teachings on money and possessions. These teachings help us identify and defend against bad and misleading teaching in this area. In my upcoming book, *Free to Follow: Discover the riches of a surrendered life*, I take a chapter to unpack the Bible’s five overarching themes on money. Below they are presented in summary form.

1. __Creation is a good gift to enjoy and steward for God’s glory.__ From the beginning, the Bible teaches us that everything God created was good (Gen. 1:31). Not only that, but God gave us the task of caring for his good creation (Gen. 1:28). “One key in properly enjoying God’s creation is to enjoy it in tandem with our call to steward the earth. This means not thinking only of ourselves, and not treasuring the creation over the Creator. That means living lives of simple enjoyment both for our well-being and the well-being of others. Jesus tells us that this is the proper way to view and use creation—use it, but don’t place your joy or hope in it. Don’t get sucked into the trap of believing that a bunch of created things can bring lasting joy.” (ch. 4) *How are you enjoying and stewarding creation for God’s glory?*
2. __God will not be second (i.e., do not worship creation).__ When God appoints man to steward His creation, man almost immediately questions the goodness of God, rejects His good plan, and chooses the creation of the Creator. Man puts God in second place. This leads God to command and teach His people to worship Him and Him alone. “What we see over and over in the Bible is that God will not settle for second place. He demands to be preeminent, not merely a part of our lives. When we put anything before God, we become separated from him, and following him becomes impossible.” (ch. 4) In the New Testament, we see Jesus highlight money as a particularly destructive idol that people easily place above God (Luke 16:13). The warnings that accompany this verse are breathtaking. If we put money above God, the result is that we end up hating and despising God. Money is indeed a dangerous idol. *How have you put money in the place that belongs to God in your life?*
3. __Greed and covetousness destroy our relationship with God and are two of the chief means of turning our hearts from God.__ A detailed study of the Bible reveals that greed and covetousness are regularly warned against as being deadly to our relationship with God. From the laws in the Old Testament, to the examples of the kings of Israel, to the vast teaching in the New Testament, it is clear that greed is a deadly sin that must be dealt with. “The Bible lists covetousness in its hall of fame of sins. It calls greedy people unfruitful fools who invite God’s wrath while flittering away their eternal inheritance. When I’m greedy, when I’m rich toward myself and not toward God or others, when I believe more is the answer, I’m providing evidence that I’m not following Jesus.” (ch. 4) *How has greed and covetousness damaged your relationship and intimacy with God?*
4. __Wealth is dangerous, therefore be abundantly careful.__ The warnings, testimonies, and dangers about idolatry and greed are overwhelming in the Bible. Just look at a few of the warnings from Jesus, “He tells us that riches choke out God’s words and make us unfruitful (Matt. 13:22). He tells us that riches bring about worry, vanity, false security, oppression of the weak, and indifference to the needy (Matt. 6:25–34; 18:23–25; 25:31–46; Luke 10:29–37; 12:22–34; 14:17–21; 16:22–26). He says that riches make it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23; Mark 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30).” (ch. 4) It is odd to me how many warnings there are in the Bible about the dangers of wealth and how few take them seriously. These warnings are everywhere and they are for us to consider seriously. *How have you seen wealth draw you or others away from God or the church?*
5. __How we use our wealth demonstrates what we believe and treasure.__ The passages dealing with this last theme are some of the most challenging in the whole Bible. They warn us that when we use money to pursue the things of the world, we are demonstrating that we don’t love God (1 John 2:15–17). They warn that when we “characteristically fail to use our money to care for the poor, we demonstrate we’re not children of God” (James 2:17–17, 1 John 3:17). Finally, they demonstrate that when I fail to use my money to care for my persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ, I reveal that God doesn’t know me (Matt. 25:41–43). These passages reveal the truth that how we use our money will reveal what we believe about God. It matters how we use our money. While we can’t spend our way to salvation, we can examine our spending and see the true condition of our hearts. *What does your spending reveal about what you believe and treasure the most?*

__To learn more about what the Bible says about money and possessions, see the following resources:__

Blomberg, Craig (2000). *__Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions.__* Grand Rapids: IVP Academic.

Blue, Michael (2020). __*Free to Follow: Discover the riches of a surrendered life*.__ Austin, TX: Thirsty Land Press. (release date, late 2020)

Platt, David (2010). __*Secret Church: The gospel, possessions, and prosperity*. __Birmingham: Radical.

The Ron Blue Institute seeks to be a thought leader with great influence committed to changing the way Christians think, act, and communicate about financial stewardship, empowering the church, and changing the world.

Ron Blue Institute

The Bible contains more verses on money and possessions than nearly any other topic.

Overarching Biblical Themes on Money and Possessions

## What do I do next?

This is a common and good question. You need a path to financial health and generous living. A milestone is an important marker on a journey. It is a point of celebration. So, let's look at eight important milestones on your path to living generously.

### Milestone 1: Start giving.

God designed giving to be our first financial priority. You might already give. Keep it up. You may need to start. Let's get going. Don't miss out on what God has in store for you and your money.

### Milestone 2: Save $1,500 for a minor emergency.

You are going to get hit with unexpected expenses--a flat tire, a refrigerator that no longer cools, or a washing machine that no longer washes. Protect your generosity and avoid credit cards by having $1,500 set aside.

### Milestone 3: Max out your 401(k) or 403(b) match.

If your employer offers a contribution match, take it. Do not miss out on this incredible return on your money. Max out your match, but do not go beyond it.

### Milestone 4: Pay off all debt except your mortgage.

Now it's time to pay off your debts. Get rid of those high interest rate payments. Use the Snowball Method—paying off your smallest debt balances first.


![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/df81d0146a554f6c9a51a21ae7d95d4f.jpg/v1/fill/w_1480,h_987,al_c,q_90/df81d0146a554f6c9a51a21ae7d95d4f.webp)


### Milestone 5: Save 3 to 6 months of living expenses for a job-loss emergency.

Major medical emergencies happen. Layoffs happen. Boost your emergency savings. Your number should be based on your actual living expenses and not your income.

### Milestone 6: Put 15% of your gross income to retirement.

Ramp up retirement contributions. If you are approaching retirement, check out a retirement calculator or meet with an advisor to see if you need to do more than 15%.

### Milestone 7: Save for college or pay off your mortgage.

Both are good options. If you have kids, I recommend the former first. If college costs are not a concern, knock out that mortgage.

### Milestone 8: Live generously.

As your financial health has strengthened, so has your generosity. Now is the time to take your generosity to a whole new level. Live more openhandedly than you ever have before. Make a difference in the lives of those around you. Make a difference for the sake of Kingdom advancement. Make an impact for all eternity.

> __Make an impact for all eternity.__

Putting yourself in a position where you can live generously is not always easy. But these steps will help you get there. They will help you get to a place where your concern is not about which credit card payment to make, but which person or organization you can help.

([image](https://www.artrainer.com/post/the-8-money-milestones) used with permission)

You were meant for more. Your money was meant for more. You and your money are meant for an exciting, adventurous, and satisfying purpose. You were designed to live and give generously. And deep inside you know this and want this.

Art Rainer

Savings

What do I do next?  You need a path to financial health and generous living, a set of defined milestones.

The 8 Money Milestones

God’s Word tells believers to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” But it seems that economics is making that ever more difficult. We’ll talk about it with Chad Clark.
Our guest Chad Clark is normally behind the scenes, making things happen as the Executive Director of MoneyWise. But he’s also a keen observer of financial trends, so he joins us to talk about the rising cost of raising a child. Clark shares some interesting statistics about what it costs to be a parent these days.
<ul><li>According to the Brookings Institute, a married couple with two children will spend upwards of $310,605 to raise both children thru age 17.</li><li>Raising kids these days includes a range of expenses: housing, food, clothing, healthcare, child care, diapers, haircuts, and things like sports equipment or dance lessons.</li><li>And raising kids isn’t getting any less expensive. In the short term, inflation is going to continue to play a substantial role.</li><li>Prices for food at home <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-inflation-hit-households-in-july-higher-prices-for-food-electricity-and-alcohol-consumed-at-home-11660160532?mod=article_inline">were up 13.1% in July</a> compared with the year before, adding pressure to household budgets.</li><li>Even though inflation eased a bit in July, down to 8.5%, food prices continued to climb in July, up 10.9% on an annual basis.</li><li>Clark shares four financial keys to raising kids:</li><li>1. Have a spending plan</li><li>2. Track your expenditures</li><li>3. Communicate with your spouse</li><li>4. Communicate with your children </li></ul>On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: 
<ul><li>How should you go about preparing to sell your home?</li><li>What is the best way to evaluate a financial advisor?</li></ul>RESOURCES MENTIONED: 
<ul><li><a href="https://www.moneywise.org/find">Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor</a> </li></ul>Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to <a href="mailto:questions@moneywise.org">Questions@MoneyWise.org</a>. Also, visit our website at <a href="http://moneywise.org/">MoneyWise.org</a> where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app.

Biblical Wisdom For Your Financial Journey

MoneyWise

MoneyWise is a daily radio ministry of MoneyWise Media. Hosted by Rob West and Steve Moore, the program offers a practical, biblical and good-natured approach to managing your time, talents and resources.

MoneyWise with Rob West

Psalm 127 reads, “Children are a heritage from the Lord like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.” ﻿God’s Word also tells us to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” but it seems that economics is making that difficult.

The Cost of Raising a Child With Chad Clark

You work hard for your money. Isn’t it about time your money worked hard for you? You have to make a basic decision about your finances. Will money work for you or against you? The way you manage it can bring prosperity or drag you down into financial bondage. This is MoneyWise Live - biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. We often quote Proverbs 22:7, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” We all know that’s true, but I want to drill down a bit into exactly how money can make you a slave, and how you can prevent that from happening. It all about compound interest, which Einstein once called “the 8th wonder of the world.” And like many wonders, it seems there’s still some mystery about compound interest. A recent financial literacy survey found that individuals who fail to grasp this concept have higher transaction fees, run up more debt, and pay higher interest rates on credit cards and other loans. “Compound” means that two things are added together, in this case, principal and interest. Here’s how compound interest can be either a financial blessing or a curse. It works the same for both savings and debt. In very simple terms, compound interest means that your savings account, or your debt, will grow quickly. It’s calculated on your principal amount, plus your accumulated interest. So the total amount you pay, or receive in the case of a savings account, will change. It grows over time. Compound interest either accrues or pays interest on top of interest, and that’s how it grows so fast. It also makes it a double-edged sword. Compound interest works FOR you if you’re saving money, but AGAINST you if you’re borrowing. Let’s use the example of a credit card. Say you have a $6,000 balance, and we’ll use a compound interest rate of 17%, which may even be a bit low these days. Assuming you’re paying only the minimum amount due each month, after five years, your $6,000 balance will grow to $9,000 because you’ve accumulated almost $3,000 in interest! After 10 years, your balance will be $15,500 because you’ve added an additional $6,500 in interest. At that point, you actually owe more in INTEREST ALONE than you did with your original principal. It gets even scarier, after 15 years, your balance is a whopping $26,000! That’s how compound interest works AGAINST you, and that’s how the borrower becomes slave to the lender, especially in the case of today’s rising interest rates. Compound interest works in your favor when you become the lender. That’s what you’re doing when you put money in a savings account. You’re loaning money to the bank. And just as rising interest rates hurt you as a borrower, they make your money work even harder for you when you save. Using the same amount we started with in our credit card example of $6,000, but flip it around. You put that amount in your savings account earning 1.2% interest, which is even a bit low these days with online accounts. And you make no additional deposits or withdrawals. After five years, at even that low rate, you’ve earned almost $400 because of compound interest. Each month your principal grows, and you’re paid even more interest on that higher amount. After 10 years, you’ve accumulated nearly $1,000 in interest. And after 15 years, you’ve earned about $1,500 in interest. The lesson here is easy to understand. You have to make a decision whether compound interest will work for you or against you. Obviously, you want it to work for you. That means NEVER CARRYING A BALANCE ON CREDIT CARDS. Pay off the entire balance each month. Also, pay off other consumer loans as quickly as possible, making additional payments on the principal if you can. You also need to start saving. And the first place is with your emergency fund, to eliminate the need to use credit. Start by saving $1500. Keep going until you have one month’s worth of expenses saved. Eventually you want 3 to 6 months worth in your emergency fund. Keep that in a higher interest online account. They give you a better rate than brick and mortar banks. We like Ally, Marcus and Capital One 360, to name a few. They’re very safe and carry FDIC insurance up to $250,000. Links: <a href="https://www.marcus.com/us/en">marcus.com</a>, <a href="https://www.ally.com/">ally.com</a>, <a href="https://www.capitalone.com/bank/savings-accounts/online-performance-savings-account/">capitalone.com</a>. Do those things and you’ll put your money to work for you, not against you. On-Air Mention: MoneyWise has a proven tool to help you consistently apply more to your investing plan by making it an automated step in your budget. In addition to managing all of your accounts in one place, the MoneyWise app can also keep you disciplined about contributing to your investing plan, too. Choose from 1 of 3 options depending on your management style, and it's available on desktop or mobile. Go to <a href="https://www.moneywise.org/">moneywise.org</a> and click the App tab for more details. Next, Rob answers these questions at 800-525-7000 or via email at Questions@MoneyWiseLive.org: <ul><li>How can you invest funds for your new grandchild without the parents or anyone else being able to touch it, and how much can you gift him every year? (Rob suggested looking into <a href="https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/research/indepth/ibonds/res_ibonds_ibuy.htm">I Bonds</a>).</li><li>Should you use the money you have been saving for a house to pay off your boyfriend's credit card debt if you might get married next year? (Rob suggested the boyfriend contact <a href="https://www.christiancreditcounselors.org/">christiancreditcounselors.org</a>).</li><li>How do you manage resentment and money issues over care-giving for your 98 year old grandmother who lives with you full-time, if she has been giving funds to her daughters who have not been contributing as much to her well-being?</li><li>How should you designate IRA beneficiaries if your three children are currently equal inheritors in your will but you also want to provide for your grandchildren?</li></ul>Rob suggested some actions to take during the current uncertain economic environment:<ul><li>Control your expenses - delay large purchases and don't go into credit card debt.</li><li>Make sure your emergency fund is adequate.</li><li>Trust that God has a plan for you and your family.</li></ul>Be sure to check out the rest of MoneyWise.org to connect with a MoneyWise Coach or access our books and our many free helpful resources. You can also find us on Facebook (MoneyWise Media) and join the conversation. Thanks for your prayerful and financial support that helps keep MoneyWise on the air. And if you'd like to help, just click the Donate tab at the top of the page.

Listen to MoneyWise Live each weekday at 4pm EST on Moody Radio.

MoneyWise Live

You work hard for your money. Isn’t it about time your money worked hard for you? ﻿You have to make a basic decision about your finances. Will money work for you or against you? The way you manage it can bring prosperity or drag you down.

Put Your Money To Work

You have to make a basic decision about your finances: Will money work for you or against you? The way you manage it can bring prosperity or drag you down into financial bondage. We’ll talk about that first on MoneyWise. 
<ul><li>Proverbs 22:7: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”</li><li>Now, we all know that’s true, but today we want to drill down a bit into exactly how money can make you a slave and how you can prevent that from happening. It’s all about compound interest, which Einstein once called “the 8th wonder of the world.”</li><li>And like many wonders, it seems there’s still some mystery about compound interest.</li><li>THE POWER OF COMPOUNDING</li><li>A recent financial literacy survey found that individuals who fail to grasp this concept have higher transaction fees, run up more debt, and pay higher interest rates on credit cards and other loans. “Compound” means that two things are added together, in this case, principal and interest.</li><li>And here’s how compound interest can be either a financial blessing or a curse. It works the same for both savings and debt. In very simple terms, compound interest means that your savings account — or your debt — will grow quickly.</li><li>It’s calculated on your principal amount, plus your accumulated interest. So the total amount you pay — or receive in the case of a savings account — will change. It grows over time. Compound interest either accrues or pays interest on top of interest, and that’s how it grows so fast.</li><li>It also makes it a double-edged sword. Compound interest works for you if you’re saving money but against you if you’re borrowing.</li><li>Let’s use the example of a credit card. Say you have a $6,000 balance, and we’ll use a compound interest rate of 17-percent, which may even be a bit low these days.</li><li>Now, assuming you’re paying only the minimum amount due each month, after five years your $6,000 balance will grow to $9,000 because you’ve accumulated almost $3,000 in interest.</li><li>After 10 years your balance will be $15,500 because you’ve added an additional $6,500 in interest. At that point, you actually owe more in interest alone than you did with your original principal.</li><li>And it gets even scarier, after 15 years your balance is a whopping $26,000! That’s how compound interest works against you, and that’s how the borrower becomes slave to the lender, especially in the case of today’s rising interest rates.</li><li>But compound interest works in your favor when you become the lender. That’s what you’re doing when you put money in a savings account. You’re loaning money to the bank. And just as rising interest rates hurt you as a borrower, they make your money work even harder for you when you save.</li><li>Let’s use the same amount we started with in our credit card example: $6,000, but flip it around. You put that amount in your savings account earning 1.2% interest, which is even a bit low these days with online accounts. And you make no additional deposits or withdrawals.</li><li>After five years, at even that low rate, you’ve earned almost $400 because of compound interest. Each month your principal grows, and you’re paid even more interest on that higher amount.</li><li>After 10 years you’ve accumulated nearly $1,000 in interest. And after 15 years you’ve earned about $1,500 in interest.</li><li>Again, you have to make a decision whether compound interest will work for you or against you.</li><li>MAKE COMPOUND INTEREST WORK FOR YOU</li><li>Obviously, you want it to work for you. That means never carrying a balance on credit cards. Pay off the entire balance each month. Also, pay off other consumer loans as quickly as possible, making additional payments on the principal if you can.</li><li>You also need to start saving. And the first place is with your emergency fund to eliminate the need to use credit. Start by saving $1500. Keep going until you have one month’s worth of expenses saved. Eventually you want 3 to 6 months worth in your emergency fund.</li><li>Keep that in a higher interest online account. They give you a better rate than brick and mortar banks. We like <a href="https://www.ally.com/">Ally Bank</a>, <a href="https://www.marcus.com/us/en">Marcus</a> and <a href="https://www.capitalone.com/bank/checking-accounts/online-checking-account/">Capital One 360</a> to name a few. They’re very safe and carry FDIC insurance up to $250,000.</li><li>Do those things and you’ll put your money to work for you, not against you.</li></ul>On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: 
<ul><li>How do you select the best mortgage for a home purchase? </li><li>How can you help young adult children to build credit without taking on debt? </li><li>Should you consider working with a company that offers cash in exchange for a percentage of your home’s future value? </li><li>How do you go about finding a good used car?</li></ul>Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to <a href="mailto:questions@moneywise.org">Questions@MoneyWise.org</a>. Also, visit our website at <a href="http://moneywise.org/">MoneyWise.org</a> where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app.

Are you financially free? Or in bondage to money? Rob West directs us on how to find the path to true financial freedom.

The MoneyWise Minute is a great way to be reminded of God's financial principles with actionable items you can easily apply to your daily life.

MoneyWise Minute

Are you financially free? Or in bondage to money? Rob West directs us on how to find the path to true financial freedom.

True Financial Freedom

Do you know why ducks can’t keep a secret? It’s because they always quack under pressure. Okay, sorry about that one but since there aren’t many ducks in the audience, it’s safe to let you in on a few secrets for financial security, ways to finally get control of your money. This is MoneyWise Live - biblical wisdom for your financial journey.
Full disclosure - these aren’t really secrets, but they might as well be, since so many people don’t do them. If you know one of those people, maybe you can pass these along. <ol><li>Live on less than you earn. If you don’t, there’s no way to save and you’ll almost always run up debt. But if you can get on a budget that allows you to live even a little below your means, you’ll stay out of debt and have something to put in the bank for emergencies. Fail to do this and you’re looking at a long, hard road full of financial potholes. The MoneyWise app makes setting up a budget a breeze. At your app store, just look for “MoneyWise, biblical finances.”</li><li>Ignore investing “experts” on TV , especially if they tell you to buy everything in sight when the market’s up, or that the sky is falling and you need to sell now. The real secret to successful investing is to own quality index and mutual funds, along with some bonds, and to hold them for a very long time, regardless of what the market’s doing. Unless you’re a very savvy investor, or have money that you can afford to lose, shy away from individual stocks. Forecasting the profitability of single companies is too complicated for the average investor.</li><li>Buy term life insurance to protect your loved ones, should something happen to you. Avoid whole life and permanent policies that mix insurance with investments. Anything but term insurance is too expensive and won’t give you the returns you can get by investing separately.</li><li>Extremely important in times of high inflation: Get rid of credit card debt. Use the snowball method to pay down the smallest balance first, and then move on to the next. But you can only do this if you’re following the first secret, live on less than you earn. That way you’ll have extra each month to retire your credit card debt. Paying interest on consumer debt is like burning money. Can you really afford that?</li><li>Buy cars for the right reason. Cars are expensive and having sky high monthly payments on a car loan is a sure way to bust your budget. Buy cars for reliability and fuel efficiency, not to show off to the neighbors.</li><li>There’s more to relationships with those living around you than just being social. For example, a neighbor can be a source of tools you won’t need to buy, as long as it’s a two-way street and you always return anything you borrow in good condition. Neighbors can also be a wealth of information about your area, like the best places to shop and what deals are out there. Just be sure to give as much as you receive.</li><li>Don’t touch your retirement savings. Throughout your working years, there will be many times when it seems like a good idea to tap into your 401(k) or IRA. But it’s a quick, short term solution that’ll cause long term pain. Instead, work diligently to build an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months living expenses.</li><li>Turn off the TV. How will that help? You won’t be bombarded by advertising. Financial teacher Ron Blue likes to say that advertising convinces you to buy things you don’t need and can’t afford, to impress people you don’t like. The less advertising you see, the less likely you’ll be to buy something on impulse that will almost certainly end up in a closet or out in the garage when the novelty wears off.</li><li>As an extension of the above, have you ever invested in a hobby that you later realized wasn’t all that fun or interesting? Like taking up golf or scuba diving? These can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars just to get started. Instead, look for hobbies that have little or no ongoing costs. An example might be teaching yourself how to play a musical instrument or taking a class on building a website or cooking. You can do many of these things online now at relatively low cost.</li><li>Don’t gamble. That includes not playing the lottery. You have better odds of being hit by lightning twice than winning what is really just a state-sponsored numbers racket. It’s also bad stewardship. Gambling doesn’t glorify God in how you use His money.</li></ol>On-Air Mention: As we talk about today’s topic, it reminds me of Proverbs 25:28 that we featured in our latest Weekly Wisdom email where King Solomon said, "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." The paradox in this verse is the idea that financial discipline is also an element of financial security. A paradox is something that seems to be one way but is really the opposite. We think discipline limits our freedom, but actually it enhances it. For example, we have to discipline ourselves to live on a spending plan when we’d rather spend as we like. Discipline doesn’t really limit those options; it merely delays and focuses them. Over time, practicing discipline with spending adds to our financial freedom. Be encouraged with this truth the next time you’re struggling to stay on budget, because it's worth it in the long run! If you’d like to sign up and receive our weekly wisdom email and get weekly messages like this one in your inbox, go to moneywise.org and click the “Create a Free Account” button on the homepage.” Next, Rob answers these questions at 800-525-7000 or via email at Questions@MoneyWiseLive.org: <ul><li>Is debt consolidation or a home equity loan a good idea if you and your husband have about $40,000 in credit card debt and $40,000 in other loans and have reduced your spending considerably, but are still struggling with paying down what you owe?</li><li>What should you do with five income producing houses you are getting as part of a divorce settlement if your husband had always taken care of the finances?</li><li>How do you go about cashing in I Bonds you have been purchasing for your 19 year old grandson since he was born?</li><li>How do you get out of a trust you inherited from your mother about a decade ago, if you are a beneficiary but not the successor Trustee?</li><li>Should your daughter put a savings account she has for her six year old daughter into a different type of account if she wants it to grow faster, but it's not necessarily earmarked for college?</li><li>Should you use $50,000 you have in a retirement account with the United Methodist Church to pay off your mortgage if you are retired and have no other debt? </li></ul>Be sure to check out the rest of MoneyWise.org to connect with a MoneyWise Coach or access our books and our many free helpful resources. You can also find us on Facebook (MoneyWise Media) and join the conversation. Thanks for your prayerful and financial support that helps keep MoneyWise on the air. And if you'd like to help, just click the Donate tab at the top of the page.

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## If you’re a senior citizen who’s found that your golden years of retirement aren’t so golden, take heart. There are plenty of things you can do to make the money you have go further.

Here’s the list and while these will work for anyone, they may be especially valuable if you’re living on a fixed income:

- __Use the self-checkout aisle if one is available.__ Studies show that people actually spend less using those machines because they’re really paying attention to the prices rolling up on the screen. That cuts down on impulse buying. Knowing that you’re going to self-checkout is a psychological aid for sticking to your shopping list.
- __Get around the high price of beef by using ground chicken in your recipes like chile and tacos, instead of hamburger.__ If you simply must have a steak, buy a cheaper cut and marinate it a day or two in the fridge to tenderize it.
- __Set aside a space in the fridge for stuff nearing the end of its life, and then look for ways to add it to your recipes.__ You can also get really creative and make something entirely new out of your odd bits of cheese, leftover rice or pasta, and last week’s fruit and veggies.
- __When you’re cooking on top of the range, the burner you choose can either save, or cost, you money.__ Use the size burner that matches the bottom of whatever pot or pan you’re using, whether electric or gas. If the flames are curling up the side of the pan, or you can see a red coil outside the pot, you’re wasting energy.
- __Don’t use the oven just to cook or heat up a small dish with just a serving or two.__ That also wastes energy. Use your toaster oven if the dish will fit. It preheats faster and uses less than half the energy of the average oven. Or better yet, pop it in the microwave to save even more on energy costs.
- __You don’t have to give up fashion just because you’re living on a fixed income.__ You can now shop at online at upscale thrift shops for your clothing needs. Sites like ThredUp, Poshmark, The Real Real and Tradesy carry gently used clothing for a fraction of what it costs new. Will anyone really know if you’re wearing last year’s style?
- __Who doesn’t like giving gift cards to the kids and grandkids?__ You probably didn’t know that you can buy them on the cheap at sites like Raise, Gift Card Bin and Gift Card Granny. A card that someone else didn’t want could be a great birthday gift for a loved one.
- __Did you forget to pay a credit card bill and got a late fee?__ Maybe you were dinged for insufficient funds at your bank. If it’s just a one time thing, your bank or card issuer will probably waive the fee if you ask. It’s worth a call, anyway.
- __Do you have an unlimited data plan for your smartphone?__ That could be a money waster, especially if you’re at home a lot and using your wifi most of the time. Instead, call your provider to look over your usage and choose a lower price plan that still works for you, or better yet, get a prepaid plan. They tend to be cheaper and usually won’t require a contract.
- __You can also ditch your phone insurance. Have you read the fine print on that agreement?__ They tend to restrict the type of phone they’ll cover, plus they often come with a high deductible and lots of red tape to replace a lost, stolen or broken phone, not to mention the fee you’re paying every month. Instead, keep the cost of replacing your phone in your emergency fund. That’s what it’s there for.
- __If you stream TV content, you could be wasting money there, too.__ Take a close look at the terms of agreement for your streaming services. Many of them allow a certain number of household or family members to use their service. You might go “halvsies” with your kids on streaming apps that you share.
- __When driving, avoid quick stops and starts that use up gas and put unnecessary wear on your brakes.__ 

__Those are some ways seniors (or anybody) can save money. We hope you put them to good use.__

You can also __[listen](https://www.moneywise.org/search?q=Money%20Savers%20for%20Seniors&videos=true&articles=true&podcasts=true&posts=true&groups=true&events=true&support=true)__ to the related podcast on this topic.

If your golden years of retirement aren’t so golden, take heart. There are plenty of things you can do.

Money Savers for Seniors

Leo Sabo

# God-Approved Investing

What would we share with those we care about if we knew we would have just a few days to live? I'm reasonably sure most of us would not waste time saying anything other than what mattered most, and neither did Jesus. What he said in the last days before his death is essential.

The day after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus returns to the Temple. He is confronted by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Scribes, who question his authority and do their best to discredit him. Coming out of the Temple, one of his disciples points out the stones and buildings that make up the temple area, to which Jesus responds, *"…not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."* (Matthew 24:2 NKJV)

After returning to the Mount of Olives, Jesus warns his disciples of the coming destruction of the Temple, the signs of the end times, and the Great Tribulation and the coming of the Son of Man. In response to their question, "When will these things be?" he tells them that no one knows the day or the hour of his return except the Father but that it will be sudden and unexpected. Like in the days of Noah, before the flood, when people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, so will it be before He comes. *"Therefore,"* he warns them, *"you also must be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."* (Matthew 24:44 NKJV)

We know Jesus is lamenting over Jerusalem, the spiritual leaders, and the Jewish nation because they had chosen to reject him. We also know that he knew one of his disciples would betray him and that all of them would soon abandon him. We often forget that Jesus was fully human, able to feel pain, hurt, and disappointment. Rejection and betrayal are often more painful than any physical pain one has to endure. That's what Jesus is dealing with here, and because he would soon leave them, he wanted to ensure the disciples understood what they would soon be facing and how they must live.

It is no surprise that the Parable of the Talents is included in this passage of Scripture. In fact, all three parables, The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant (Matthew 24:45-51), The Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), and The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), are stories that Jesus uses to communicate two important themes that must be present in every disciple of Jesus.

1. A disciple of Jesus must be __prepared__ for His return.
2. A disciple of Jesus must continue to serve Him by faithfully __stewarding__ their responsibility while He is away.

## Preparedness

In each of the three parables, including the scene at the end of Matthew 25 where Jesus is judging the nations, there's a distinction and separation between two people. Those who are prepared for the return of their master and faithfully serving while he is away, and those who are not.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins focuses primarily on being prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom (Jesus). The difference between the wise and the foolish is that the foolish do not have the oil necessary to keep their lamps burning. Though not mentioned in the text, many commentators see the oil as representing the Holy Spirit and His work in salvation. Those who do not have oil represent the spiritually unprepared for Jesus' return.

The other two parables, The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant, and the Parable of the Talents, also emphasize the servants' preparedness for the master's return, but in a much more straightforward way, describe what they are doing during the waiting period and the significance of their actions.

In the Parable of the Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant, when the master returns, the faithful steward is blessed and made ruler over all the master's goods. The evil servant, thinking the master won't return for a while, behaves abusively toward his fellow servants and indulges in eating and drinking accessibly, acting in dishonorable ways. When he least expects it, the master arrives, and he is punished severely and cast out.

## Faithfulness

I'm so glad Jesus didn't stop there, that he shared the following parable, the Parable of the Talents, because __he touches on the importance of wealth and money and how a faithful steward must manage it__. Had he not done so, I have no doubt most of us would justify the poor management of money as unimportant to Jesus and irrelevant to our spiritual condition.

The story is of a master who entrusts each of the servants with a specific amount of money (silver). Two of them were faithful to invest and double the money they were given and were rewarded with additional responsibilities and sharing in the master's joy. The third hid the talent in the ground, reasoning that the master may not come back at all, and if he did, he would simply return the talent. If he didn't come back, he would keep it for himself. By this, he proved that he was wicked and lazy, causing him to lose what he had and be cast out.

Through this parable, Jesus clearly shows us that __investing__, taking the things we've been entrusted with, and __gaining__ more for the master is the very thing we're to do while waiting for his return. The next obvious question is, "__What does investing, and more specifically 'gain' that God approves and rewards, look like for us today__? Fortunately, Jesus is equally clear on this as he finishes his discourse to the disciples in Matthew 25:31-46.

Jesus describes a scene at the end of time when he's sitting on his throne judging the nations. He separates everyone, some on his left and some on his right. Those on the right are blessed and given the kingdom as an inheritance prepared for them from the foundation of the world. Those on his left He casts into the fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

__WHAT REASONS DOES JESUS GIVE BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE BLESSED AND REWARDED FROM THOSE CURSED AND REJECTED?__

He doesn't say it is because they believed in him. He doesn't say it is because they went to church regularly or tithed regularly. He doesn't say it is because they served in full-time ministry or led a small group. None of the religious things we Christians tend to believe are important to God are mentioned here.

__The division of those on the left and the right is based on whether they cared for people in need; the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the poor, the sick, and the incarcerated.__ Those who did will be rewarded. Those who ignored or oppressed these same people would be cast out and suffer for eternity.

When we invest the resources we have, our precious time, our unique abilities, and yes, the money God provides us, and use it to love and take care of people, we will experience the "gain" that pleases God. That's the kind of investment Jesus approves of and will reward.

## For Further Reading:

[Overcoming the Emotional Impulse to Spend](https://www.moneywise.org/christian-stewardship-network/overcoming-the-emotional-impulse-to-spend-3264)

[Giving Tuesday: An Opportunity to Experience the Blessing of Giving](https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/blog/2021/11/29/juqxw9lgwubcwa2efobk0mf3rfangl)

[Financial Success in the Kingdom of God](https://www.moneywise.org/christian-stewardship-network/financial-success-in-the-kingdom-of-god-3263)

[Seeking and Receiving Wise Counsel](https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/blog/2021/11/10/jnmk6pw4esobnymicbr9ihb08h87zr)

[Why the Church is the Best Place for Financial Education](https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com/blog/2021/11/3/why-the-church-is-the-best-place-for-financial-education)

Blog

How to invest the resources we have, our precious time, our unique abilities, and yes, the money God provides us.

God-Approved Investing

Soaring energy prices. Relentlessly rising inflation. Slowing economic growth. A stock market coming off a long period of impressive gains, led by a group of seemingly invincible growth giants. To veteran investors, it’s starting to feel like the 1970s again.

With so many emerging similarities, it’s become popular to speculate that the current market could be headed for a repeat of the 1966-1982 period. It’s not as much of a stretch as you might think.

Consider the graph below. It’s a bit different than most stock market charts because it’s a “logarithmic” chart. That means the vertical proportions of the chart stay the same each time the market doubles. In other words, the vertical distance between Dow 100 and 200 is the same as the distance between Dow 10,000 and 20,000. This gives us a clearer view of the true path of the market over the past 92 years. As an investor, the effect on your wealth is the same any time the market doubles, regardless of how many Dow points are involved. But that fact is easily lost in most charts where the huge number of points gained since 1982 tends to obscure all of the market’s movements prior to that point.

![](https://dcktxkaneetr8.cloudfront.net/2022/08/l2-dow-industrial-average-1.png)

(Click Chart to Enlarge)

The chart shows that over the last 90-plus years, the market moved through several distinct bull, bear, and sideways periods, and that each was quite prolonged at times. The most dramatic bull markets are easily spotted (1950-66, 1982-2000, and 2009-2021) as are the major bear markets which began in 1929, 1973, 2000, and 2007.

But between the prolonged market advances are uncomfortably long periods where the stock market just flattened out. That’s not to say there weren’t significant gains and losses within those “flat” periods. The 1966-1982 period, for example, contained four separate bull markets with each gaining 32%-75%, as well as five bear markets with losses of 24%-45% each. But at the end of all this activity, 16 years went by with the Dow ending at the same level it started. The same is true of the 2000-2010 period, with two major bear markets of -50%, yet a total return that was roughly flat.

These “secular bear markets,” as these lengthy flat periods are sometimes called, are a scary proposition for investors to consider. They call into question the validity of buy-and-hold investing, and really do a number on the idea of passively investing in index funds. But consider them you must. With the appearance of the 2000-2010 version, these long, flat periods aren’t ancient history. Many SMI members invested through that period. They’re as vivid a part of the historical record as the bull markets connecting them.

Thankfully, *accepting* the existence of these secular bear markets isn’t the same thing as *worrying* about them. Two key questions should dictate your attitude towards these market plateaus.

> __1. How long is your investing time frame?__
> 
> A 40-year-old investor should react differently than a 60-year-old investor to the prospect of a decade (or more) of flat market returns. The retiree or near-retiree would view this as a more threatening event due to their shorter investing time horizons. The younger worker, on the other hand, should ideally view a flat market as a tremendous opportunity to load up on shares at reasonable prices.
> 
> Upon closer examination, a flat market of several years may not be as dire a threat as it first appears even for investors about to retire. These days a realistic retirement time frame usually extends at least 20 years into the future, maybe more. That’s long enough to work through an extended flat market and still derive some benefit at the other end. Those already in retirement when such periods arrive are more at risk, though they’ve likely had the benefit of a long bull market during their peak earning years. Most importantly, as we’ll see next, there are still ways to prosper even if the market indexes flatline for a decade or more.
> 
> __2. Are you indexing or following SMI’s active strategies?__

> This is the key to the whole discussion. It’s clear that a strategy tied to the movement of the broad market will be unsuccessful if the broad market is stagnant for an extended period of time. The legion of investors who have piled into index funds over the past dozen years, and who are dutifully staying put at the advice of the financial services industry, could be sorely disappointed. Cruelly, the market offers just enough rallies to sustain one’s optimism. But an index fund can only mirror the performance of its underlying index, meaning all indexers — including, to a slightly lesser extent, those following SMI’s Just-the-Basics strategy — can only hope to tread water until such sideways periods end.
> 
> The scenario is brighter for those using SMI’s active strategies. While the market as a *whole* may be zigging, there are always *parts of the market* that are zagging. We’ve seen that during this year’s decline, as the [mid-year review](https://soundmindinvesting.com/articles/view/mid-year-review-smi-strong-through-first-six-months-of-the-bear) discusses. (SMI Premium-level members can also [watch a video discussion](http://bit.ly/SMI-mid-year-video) of the year’s first half and how the SMI strategies fared.)

The market is fickle and changes its affections for companies of different sizes and styles regularly. The 1970s, which many are worried we’re about to repeat, present a good illustration. The decade began with all attention focused on the “Nifty 50” — a strong advance by the market’s largest, mostly growth-oriented, stocks (similar to the FAANG leaders of the past decade: Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google). By the latter part of the decade, the situation had reversed, with these same darlings completely out of favor and a strong rally in small-company stocks underway. Yet the Dow started and ended the decade in basically the same place, completely masking these powerful undercurrents.

SMI’s Upgrading and Sector Rotation strategies exploit these shifts within the markets (in somewhat different ways), capitalizing on each new trend as it emerges. The Dynamic Asset Allocation strategy also rides the market’s ebbs and flows between varying asset classes, some of which (such as gold and real estate) outperformed stocks during the inflationary 1970s.

Although SMI wasn’t around during the 1970s, we saw many of these dynamics come into play during the last sideways period from 2000-2010. While the broad stock market was largely flat (the Wilshire 5000 index had a total return of -1.7% for the decade ended 12/31/2009), SMI’s Stock Upgrading strategy gained +85.0% during that decade. That happened *without* the defensive protocols that have since been added to the Upgrading process, and which have been so valuable so far this year. Clearly, Upgraders (and users of the other SMI actively managed strategies) have much less to fear from “secular bear markets” or market plateaus than those whose investment returns are tied to the market indexes. In fact, it’s pretty easy to argue Upgraders don’t have much to fear from these sustained plateaus at all.

Circling back to the original question of whether the current market will repeat the 1966-1982 experience, nobody knows. But even if it does, maintain perspective. Look again at the graph above. Imagine you’re an investor in 1967 (or 2001), *but* you have the ability to see the rest of the chart. So you know that after several years of relatively flat action the market will begin a long bull market advance. Would you be frightened, or elated? Retirees would have mixed feelings, but younger investors would be excited! In fact, they likely would want to accumulate as many shares as possible during those “flat” years — when prices would remain relatively steady — in anticipation of the huge bull market to come.

That doesn’t necessarily translate into going out and buying shares *today*. We still think that by remaining patient today we’re likely to have an opportunity to buy at even better prices later. But extending our gaze to these longer market cycles helps us realize that our efforts to preserve capital during bear markets (such as we’re in today) and carefully grow it during the long plateau seasons (should we be starting one), put us in position to profit greatly when the next secular bull market begins.

*[Image](https://dcktxkaneetr8.cloudfront.net/2022/08/l2-70s-redux-HD-3.jpg) used with permission.*

*[Image](https://dcktxkaneetr8.cloudfront.net/2022/08/l2-dow-industrial-average-1.png) used with permission.*

Investing

Soaring energy prices. Relentlessly rising inflation. Slowing economic growth.  It’s feels like the 1970s again.

1970s Redux?

Produced by John Rinehart
Directed by John-Mark Warkentin
Cinematography by Brian Petersen
Edit by Brian Petersen
Music by Chad Lawson
Consultant Jason Suhr
Sign Language Interpreter William Ross
— Film Transcription Below —

Kim Stamper: God's word is life and I couldn't have gone through this without it.

He hired me and it was a three-interview process. So I interviewed with several people and not just him.

Rich Stamper: So of course she was very cute and she turned out to be very engaging and seemed very intelligent, and was very willing to come join us. That’s how we met.

A couple of years ago it was presented to us some of the needs of Bible Translation for the deaf.

I've never known any deaf people. Kim had never known any deaf people, but to be told that's a need…

Mandy Tucker: The season of life after we moved out of the country, to the farm was busy. It was, it was fun. It is fun, but busy.

Brad Tucker: We wanted our children to grow up in an environment that would teach them the value of hard work.

Mandy: I have always wanted twins. I just thought, “Oh, that’s cool.” I, I would love to have twins. I would just like to have twins. And so I got pregnant.

Brad: The nurse and the doctor said, you know, “You're, you're pregnant with twins.”

Mandy: Everything looked good until one night… it didn't.

Brad: I remember when we went in to hear the heartbeat, getting the news at that time there was no heartbeat.

Kim: We were just sitting out on one of the main streets just kind of people watching and I go, “You don't feel good do you?” And he was like, “No.” And I go, “We're going to the hospital, right now.”

Rich: The hallway was dark that we walked down. And it was a strange eerie feeling of darkness.

Kim: Richard said my head hurts. My head's been hurting for a while and it doesn't go away when I take Advil. And so he immediately said, “Well let's start with the C.T. scan.”

Gets Richard, takes him back for the C.T. scan. Richard comes back and we wait.

And he looks back at Richard and is like, “It's bad. You have a brain tumor.”

Rich: Virtual emergency brain surgery was the only option.

Kim: What do we do now? What about our kids?

Brad: A week goes by and we go back in.

Mandy: And I just believed in my heart we’re going to see these heartbeats, two little hearts beating. But God chose to say no.

It felt like everybody else's life had moved forward, but I was kind of at a standstill. A lot of the time felt like God had forgotten.

Brad: What you've wanted, what your wife has always wanted, is not what God has wanted for you at this time.

Rich: C.T. scans, PET scans, MRIs, brain surgery, Gamma knife radiation, a trial. Blood tests every third day.

Having money when you're faced with that is meaningless. It's meaningless.

Brad: Guess how many people are deaf?

Lil' Tess: A hundred and ninety.

Brad: That's a pretty good guess. But did you know that there are 70 million people in the world that are deaf?

Lil' Tess: No.

Brad: That's a lot.

Lil' Tess: I can only count to 100. That’s all.

Brad: Yeah, did you know that there are over 400 different sign languages in the world?

Lil' Tess: Um, no.

Rich: The oncologist told us, “9 out of 10 people die within a year with what you have right now.”

Kim:We got the news no one ever wants to get. No one ever wants to hear. No one ever thinks it's gonna be them.

Rich: I felt most alone when she would continue to tell me, “You're gonna be okay.” I felt like she doesn't understand. It's not her fault. She's not in my shoes.

It made me have to look death right in the face.

And that's when I, by myself, talked to God. I said, “God I surrender. I've never really actually said those words to you. But please spare me. Spare my life. I surrender to you.”

Kim: We made the commitment to give and it was the largest amount we'd ever given in our lifetime. And it felt good and we felt like we were following what God wanted us to do.

Rich: I could be gone tomorrow or Kim could be gone tomorrow. And the last thing we want to do is be gone and not be giving it away now.

Brad: It took time to mourn what we had experienced.

Mandy: Although I questioned it, really deep down, I knew he’s faithful. And maybe it's just not yet.

It was then that we realized, “Wait people don't have the Bible in their own heart language?” You’re kidding me.

Why would we not put our money there?

Brad: About a year after we had miscarried, Mandy was pregnant again and we were blessed with a little baby boy named Milo. 18 months later we were blessed with a little baby girl named Tess.

We knew that we wanted to grow our family. We decided that we wanted to adopt.

Mandy: Let's go for twins. We're going to pray for it. We're going to ask the Lord, we're going to believe. We've always wanted twins. Let's do this.

Brad: Filled out all of our paperwork, got everything created, ready, submitted. And the adoption agency that we were working with said, “You know twins isn't very common. You know, would you be willing to, I mean give it a year?”

Because we were rooted in the word of God we chose to hope.

Mandy: So the one year came around and they contacted us and said, “Okay, we need you to sign the papers that you’d be open to a single baby.” And we said, “Okay we'll do that.”

Brad: Mandy signed it. I signed it and sent it back. That same day we get a call:

“There's a birth mother in St. Louis, (three and a half hours from us). She selected your family. She's pregnant with twins.”

So just when you think you know, “God’s let us down again.” He is faithful. Eight days later here comes the baby girls.

Mandy: It was immeasurably more, above and beyond, anything I could ask or imagine.

Rich: Three months after I started my therapy, I got a call from my oncologist, “Richard, it's working.”

I felt really good.

Kim: He was determined cancer free. No cancer. Thank you Lord.

Rich: God is in control of my life. And he really does have other things for us to go do.

Brad: So how do you think those 70 million people would hear about Jesus?

Lil' Tess: Ummm, if they had a Bible?

Brad: If they had a Bible, yep.

Lil' Tess: Umm, we can pray.

Brad: Yeah, we can pray for ‘em. Mommy and Daddy care a lot about people that are deaf.

Lil' Tess: I do!

Brad: I know. You do too.

Brad: We want to help give those people that are deaf the Bible.

Lil' Tess: Um, do you give them money to buy a Bible?

Brad: The way that they are going to get the Bible is through sign languages.

Lil Tess: So, like (signing).

Brad: Yep, so all of those different sign languages they need the Bible to be translated into their own sign language.

Lil Tess: Yeah, but how do we do that?

Brad: Well, so we do that by giving money. Do you think it's important that we should give?

Lil' Tess: Yes! Yes! Yes!

Mandy: I can't imagine not having the Bible. I mean, I have so many Bibles. And I have so many things in my life that that's where I go to.

I want my kids to first of all love the word, um that it becomes very important to them and that they love it. And then I want them to love people. And when you love both then you have to give and love Bible translation. You you want the Bible to go forth to others and especially those that don't have it.

Kim: The goal is to translate God's Word into every language for every nation for every people group in our lifetime. And we wanted to jump in and jump in the deep end.

Rich: As long as there is a need and as long as we have the resources, we'll be giving to deaf Bible translation.

Brad: We feel like such ordinary people getting invited in to do extraordinary things.

Mandy: I can't think of anything more important to put my money on: People and God's word.

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There's nothing more important to put our money on than people and God's Word

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