In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us how we should pray and how not to… “…do not' heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” Of course, Jesus then gives us the Lord’s Prayer as an example of how we should bring our needs to God. But are we skimming over part of it?
How does your faith in Jesus influence your daily financial decisions? As believers, our faith must be the foundation of our financial stewardship, which is why we're excited to announce that the MoneyWise radio show is now Faith & Finance. Join Rob West and special guests as they address today’s financial questions with biblical answers. To be a part of the broadcast, call 1 (800) 525-7000 or you can email your questions to: [email protected]
How does your faith in Jesus influence your daily financial decisions? As believers, our faith must be the foundation of our financial stewardship, which is why we're excited to announce that the MoneyWise radio show is now Faith & Finance. Join Rob West and special guests as they address today’s financial questions with biblical answers. To be a part of the broadcast, call 1 (800) 525-7000 or you can email your questions to: [email protected]
Have you started working on your New Year’s resolutions yet? Are you including your investing decisions in the mix? A New Year always gives you the chance to make improvements, especially with finances. Cole Pearson is here today to talk about starting 2025 strong with values-based investing. Cole Pearson is the President of Investment Solutions at OneAscent, a family of companies seeking to help people align their investments with their Christian values. OneAscent is also an underwriter of Faith & Finance. What Is Values-Based Investing? Values-based investing is the practice of deploying financial resources in a way that aligns with a set of values or convictions, with the expectation of generating a profit. At OneAscent, values not only inspire why we invest but also guide how we invest. For Christians, this perspective is rooted in Psalm 24: 1, which states, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. ”As stewards of God’s creation, Christians have a responsibility to consider the impact of their investments. Businesses have a powerful influence on the world, and as investors, we should discern whether the companies we support bring harm or blessing to the people and places they touch. Five Steps for Values-Based InvestingHere are five essential steps Christians should consider when making investment decisions. These steps provide a framework for aligning finances with faith and values. 1. Milestones: Understanding Your Financial LifeThe first step is identifying what’s happening in your financial life today. Life events—such as marriage, career changes, health issues, or asset purchases—impact your finances and should inform your planning. OneAscent offers a checklist covering key areas like: Marriage & FamilyCareerHealthAssets & LiabilitiesGenerosityClarifying your milestones ensures that your financial decisions are relevant and purposeful. 2. Perspectives: Understanding Your Relationship with MoneyEveryday interactions with money—spending, saving, investing, and giving—reveal our natural tendencies. Understanding how God has wired us to relate to money helps foster healthy communication, especially in relationships. For example, your natural tendencies may lean toward saving and investing, while your spouse may lean toward spending and giving. Recognizing these perspectives provides a common language for dialogue and collaboration, setting the stage for the next step. 3. Priorities: Identifying What Matters MostIt’s essential to define and prioritize your financial goals. OneAscent uses a fun assessment to help individuals and families identify their top priorities, such as: Leaving a legacyRemoving burdens from familyGiving generouslyDevoting time to loved onesFor families, both spouses complete the assessment individually before working together to identify shared priorities. This clarity creates a strong foundation for future financial decisions. 4. Values: Ensuring Your Portfolio Aligns with Your BeliefsStep four focuses on aligning investments with your values. This means identifying companies to avoid if their practices or products cause harm and seeking opportunities to invest in businesses that bless the communities they serve. We are going to be investing somewhere. What types of companies do we want to own? How can we leverage our capital to promote a positive impact? OneAscent’s tools can help you analyze and align your portfolio with your values. 5. Generosity: Reflecting God’s CharacterGenerosity is the natural outcome of faithful stewardship. It allows us to reflect God’s generosity by using our resources to address needs and solve problems that God has placed on our hearts. Here are some thought-provoking questions to ask yourself as you reflect on this: How do you approach stewardship intentionally? What does generosity look like for your family? What problems in the world has God called you to address? A Call to Align Your InvestmentsValues-based investing is more than a financial strategy; it’s a way to live out your faith. By following these five steps—Milestones, Perspectives, Priorities, Values, and Generosity—you can ensure your financial decisions honor God and bless others. For more information on values-based investing, visit OneAscent.comand click “Analyze My Investments. ”On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I just started a new job. I'm 55 years old, and my company is finally offering a 401(k) match with different investment tiers to choose from—conservative, moderate, and aggressive. As a 55-year-old woman, what investment tier should I choose for my 401(k)? When a married couple invests in a car, is it better to put the loan in one person's name or both people's names? And why would that be the better approach? Resources Mentioned: OneAscentLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App
Hey, open enrollment ends in just a few days—have you decided on a new health insurance plan yet? If not, you might not have to. What if there was another way—a biblical solution for meeting your healthcare costs? Let’s explore medical cost sharing, a faith-based alternative to traditional health insurance that could save you hundreds of dollars a month. What Is Medical Cost Sharing? Medical cost sharing is a cooperative approach to healthcare expenses rooted in biblical principles. It’s an alternative to traditional health insurance in which members share each other's medical costs. The concept is inspired by Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ”One of the pioneers in this space is Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM), the oldest organization in the medical cost-sharing space. Since 1981, CHM has enabled members to share nearly $11 billion in medical expenses. It’s a nonprofit organization that operates on biblical stewardship, focusing on members’ needs rather than profits. How Does Medical Cost Sharing Work? Instead of paying insurance premiums, members contribute a monthly share amount based on the plan they choose. This amount is typically much lower than traditional insurance premiums. Here’s why: Self-Pay Model: CHM members are considered “self-pay” by healthcare providers, which often reduces costs significantly. Reimbursement System: Members submit bills for covered medical services and are reimbursed from the shared pool of funds. For example, under CHM’s Bronze plan, the highest annual personal responsibility cost is $6,000 per person—a potentially lower-cost option compared to the high deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums of many insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
In Mark 10:7, Jesus tells us, “A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” But does “becoming one” extend to the checkbook? Should husbands and wives have joint or separate bank accounts? Let’s explore this question and see if the Bible says anything about it.
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48 When the housing market collapsed in 2008, more than 10 million Americans experienced crashing home values and foreclosures. But out of that financial chaos, a new company arose with a mission to do things differently. Harlan Accola joins us today to talk about it. Harlan Accola is the National Reverse Mortgage Director at Movement Mortgage, which is an underwriter of this program. He is also the author of Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages: The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement.
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.” - Proverbs 13:22 God’s Word is clear that faithful stewards should leave an inheritance for future generations. That inheritance doesn’t have to be money. Passing along biblical principles such as generosity to grandkids, well, that’s priceless. Ron Blue joins us to talk about it. Ron Blue is the Co-Founder of Kingdom Advisors and the author of many books on biblical finance, including Splitting Heirs: Giving Your Money and Things to Your Children Without Ruining Their Lives.