How God’s Generosity Transforms Ours

Managing money doesn't have to feel overwhelming or disconnected from your faith. The Faithfi app helps you budget with purpose, combining easy-to-use tools like digital envelopes with biblical wisdom in a Christ-centered community. Whether you're new to stewardship or looking to grow in generosity, the Faithfi app equips you to honor God in every financial decision.

Join over 70,000 others and start today by downloading the app from your app store or by visiting faithfi.com and clicking app. You've probably heard the saying, you can't out-give God. It sounds simple, but it's deeply true.

Hi, I'm Rob West. While you won't find that exact phrase in Scripture, it captures something profound about God's heart. His generosity is beyond measure. Today we'll explore how God's generosity shapes our own. And then we'll tackle your calls at 800-525-7000.

That's 800-525-7000. This is faith and finance, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. You can't out-give God. It may sound like bumper sticker theology, but the truth behind it is far richer than a slogan. God's giving isn't about formulas or rewards.

It's about his nature. He gives because he loves and invites us to do the same. We see that from the very beginning of Scripture to the end, but nowhere is God's generosity more clearly displayed than in John 3 16.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. This is the ultimate act of giving offered not because we deserved it but purely out of love. Romans 5-8 reminds us God demonstrates his own love for us in this.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This is the foundation of our faith and it's also the foundation for how we give. God's generosity toward us is meant to shape our generosity toward others.

Now let's be honest, sometimes giving feels risky. You may worry that if you give too much you won't have enough left for your family or your future, but Scripture assures us that when we give in faith, God provides. 2 Corinthians 9-8 says God is able to bless you abundantly so that in all things at all times having all that you need you will abound in every good work.

Now that's not a promise of riches but it is a promise of sufficiency. God gives us enough so that we can continue participating in his kingdom work. We're not called to give in order to earn favor from God.

We already have his favor through Jesus. That's grace undeserved, unearned, and freely given. And grace when received leads to gratitude.

It turns our hearts outward. We don't give to impress God. We give because we're impressed by God. Maybe you've also heard the idea that if you give generously, God will bless you with even more in return. Now there are times when God does bless materially, often so we can keep giving, but that's not the goal. Author Steve Johnson puts it well, we are not to give to get earthly reward, expecting God to always give us back in this life what we invest in the kingdom. Instead we seek the heavenly reward of God himself. That's the real treasure, not stuff, but the giver himself. Generosity isn't about multiplying wealth. It's about deepening trust.

It's about growing closer to God and reflecting his heart to the world. King David understood this. When he led the Israelites in giving toward the construction of the temple, he didn't take credit. Instead he prayed, but who am I and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you and we have given you only what comes from your hand. First Chronicles 29 14.

David knew the truth. Everything we have is from God. Our giving isn't really ours at all. It's simply returning what he already gave us. That perspective changes how we view money, giving, and even success. So when we say you can't outgive God, we're not making a challenge.

We're expressing a truth. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Our generosity is never about competition.

It's about imitation. Ephesians 5 1 calls us to be imitators of God as beloved children, and that includes generosity. As we grow in our faith, we become more like Jesus who gave everything. Galatians 2 20 reminds us I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. That means our priorities shift, our trust deepens, and our giving becomes an act of worship, not obligation.

You may not feel like a generous person today, but don't be discouraged. God is patient and the Holy Spirit is at work in you. As 2 Peter 3 18 says, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That growth includes learning to trust him more fully and to give more freely.

And here's the best part. When we give in Jesus name, we don't just meet needs. We reflect the love of Christ. We get to participate in what God is doing in the world, and we experience the joy of knowing him more deeply. Of course, we'll never outgive God, but we don't have to.

We simply follow his lead, walk in his love, and let his generosity flow through us. All right, your calls are next. 800-525-7000.

We'll be right back. Are you looking for a financial professional who aligns with your biblical values? Certified Kingdom Advisors are trusted financial, legal, or accounting professionals who have completed a rigorous certification program to ensure they provide biblically wise financial advice as part of their practice.

You can find a local CKA professional in your area by going to faithbuy.com and clicking Find a CKA. Great to have you with us today on Faith and Finance, helping you see God as your ultimate treasure. We want to come alongside you and help you be a wise and faithful steward of God's money. That's what we do each day on this program.

We're so thankful you're along with us today. Call right now. 800-525-7000.

Let's begin in Chicago. Hazel, you'll be our first caller. Go ahead.

Hi, thank you for taking my call. My husband and I, we are over the age of 65, and we have a mortgage with a balance of $29,000, and I was wondering if it is okay to pay that off. Yeah, so tell me a little bit more about it. What is the interest rate on it? 4.25%. Okay, all right, and you said you owe a little more than $29,000, so you're still making a payment on it because it's a conventional mortgage, correct? Yes. Okay, and where would the funds come from for you to pay that off, Hazel?

We have an account that is set up just for the home, just for the payment of the home, yes. Okay, very good. And so if you paid it off, you'd have plenty of other liquid assets to cover your reserves? Yes, and we are still working.

Okay, all right, very good. And I was going to ask, so what is the plan when you decide to transition to whatever God has next? Either you can no longer work or you transition to something that is not paid. What would be your income sources at that point? We have some savings. We have some money set aside for retirement, and the home would just go to our daughter. We didn't want to leave it to her with any balance, any outstanding balance, so that's what we're aiming to do. Okay, yeah, then I know if that's the case, and especially if you've got funds earmarked for this, I mean, right now you might be able to break even, you know, you're paying 4.125% interest on the loan, you may be able to offset that with the same type rate, you know, in savings, high yield savings or a CD, but after tax, you're probably going to be slightly less than that. So I would say if your goal is to own it free and clear, pass it on to her free and clear, then assuming that's what you and your husband have decided, and she wants it, then I would say, yeah, go ahead and pay it off, be done with it.

That alleviates that mortgage payment, which gives, which frees up more money to give or to put back into additional savings. But it sounds like you've got a great plan here, Hazel, and I'm on board with it for sure. Thanks for calling today. All right, let's head to Texas. Joelle, thank you for your call today.

Joelle, how can we help you? My question was about an insurance deposit. I have an IRA with Fidelity and they're suggesting, you know, they're questioning me about taking an insurance deposit.

Yeah, so give me the context. So you're not talking about an insured deposit. An insurance deposit is not a standard term, so I'm just trying to understand what you're doing. Yeah, well, it's a deposit for, is it a deposit of insurance?

Okay, what is the context? I can take up to 250 grand and put into it for three years. Ah, okay. So is it a savings account or a CD?

What is it? No, it's not a CD. It's a savings account.

Okay, yes. So you're talking about an insured deposit and this is money you put into a bank or a credit union that's protected by government backed insurance, typically through with a bank, the FDIC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. So this is going to cover deposits in banks per, you know, titled accounts. If you have multiple titled accounts, you could get more than one of these, but it's going to cover deposits up to 250,000 per depositor, per account category, per institution.

Okay, so here's what that protects. If the bank fails, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation with a backstop of Congress, meaning backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government, is going to make sure that you're made whole, even if that bank failed. And again, that's per depositor, per institution, and per account category. So if you had an individual account with a bank, you could get 250,000 on that. If you separately had a joint account, that's another account category, you get another 250,000. If you opened an account at a different bank or a different institution, you get another 250,000 on that.

But the FDIC is the, you know, backing of the full faith and credit against the failure of that bank to make sure that you can get your money. Does that make sense? Yes, sir. He said that I could make about like 4.5 to 4.6 in interest, but it's got to be there for three years. Okay, yeah. Yeah, you know, you shouldn't have to have that three-year requirement.

That's a little unusual, a little out of the ordinary. So right now, with high-yield savings that includes FDIC insurance, there are some online banks, you know, that are paying close to 4% right now, but you have complete liquidity. You can get the money at any time. And so that's a little confusing that they're requiring you. It's not a CD, but they're still requiring you to leave it there for 36 months in order to get that.

That would not be typical. Normally, a high-yield savings with FDIC insurance at an online bank would have an APY of, you know, today, you know, I think the best I'm seeing is around 4.3%, but that's completely liquid at any point. Okay, well, the reason that he was asking me that said because maybe the market is unbalanced, it's not stable, and if I wanted to protect some of my money, I could do it this way, yeah. Yeah, and did he describe what type of account it is? I mean, is he just calling it a savings account? He's just calling it a deposit of insurance, or insurance deposit. An insured deposit is probably what he's referring to.

What type of institution is it? Is it a bank? It's a New York Life.

Oh, New York Life. Okay, yeah. So this is an insurance product, you know, and they're going to back it themselves, and they have reinsurance and so forth, but I see. So it's not just a bank savings account. This is an insurance offering, and they're saying, listen, if you stick to it, it's basically an annuity, a guaranteed fixed annuity. If you're willing to stick with it for three years, you know, they'll give you a four and a half percent. If you want to do an annuity, there are better options. So for instance, you know, Gainbridge, which would be an online insurance company, Gainbridge, you know, that'd just be an example of one of them, is offering 5.8% right now, and you can go anywhere, I think, between one and three years with their guaranteed product. So, you know, that would be another option, or if you wanted more liquidity than that, you'd have to give up a little bit, but like I say, you can find between four and 4.3%, you know, right now, and you'd have 100% liquidity. You could take the money out at any point. You wouldn't have to leave it there for three years if that's attractive to you. Yeah, well, you know, I'm 70 years old. He was just looking to protect some of my finances, you know.

Yeah, yeah. Okay, well, I'd probably get a couple of other, you know, folks to look at it before you picked something. Like I said here, you know, one option would be to look at Gainbridge, and you know, they're offering, like I say, 5.8%.

Doesn't matter that you go with that one. I think the key is that there are other options out there if you want, if you're looking for, you know, safety with protection, and you're looking to maximize the return, you know, I think you can do a little better than that right now with an insured product. So I'd probably look around, perhaps even connecting with a certified kingdom advisor on our website to help you think through this would be good as well, and that'd be at faithfi.com.

Just click find a professional. We appreciate you being on the program today, Joelle. Before we head to the break, let me remind you, if you listen to this program regularly, you're a part of the faith and finance family, and you want to help others learn God's way of handling money so they can be a faithful steward, well, we'd like to invite you to become a FaithFi partner. These folks are committed to living out biblical stewardship principles in their lives and share a desire to see others be good and faithful stewards as well. A gift of $35 a month or more allows you to become a FaithFi partner where you'll receive exclusive quarterly ministry updates and early release copy of each of our studies and much more. Just go to faithfi.com and click give. That's faithfi.com and click give.

Back with more calls just around the corner. Stick around. Are you searching for a way to become a better, faithful steward of the resources that God has given you? Well, download the FaithFi app and join the 37,000 others who are already using our app. The FaithFi app will provide you with wisdom, community, and simply help you stay on track with your finances. We have three money management options to choose from, so find an option that fits your unique needs.

It's available on desktop or mobile. Simply go to faithfi.com and click app to get started. Faith and Finance is grateful for support from Sound Mind Investing. For more than 30 years, they've offered financial wisdom for living well.

SMI provides step-by-step guidance for do-it-yourself investors, from those just getting started to those getting ready for retirement. More information, including a short video webinar on profit and peace of mind, no matter what's happening in the market, is available at soundmindinvesting.org. I'm so glad you're with us today on Faith and Finance. Here's our hope that you would see and that I would see God as our ultimate treasure, that nothing would rival Him, that He is the object of our devotion and affection, and certainly that money would never compete for that.

It so often can, and that's why on this program each day we take you into God's Word and just encourage you in your role as a wise and faithful steward of God's resources, recognizing money is a good gift from God, but it can compete with our hearts for devotion to the Lord. We don't want to let that happen, and hopefully this is kind of that encouragement you need every day and that I need to stay the course and really seek God's heart, keep an eternal perspective, and see God as our ultimate treasure. Let's go back to the phones.

Indianapolis is where we're headed next. Teresa, I understand you listen online. How can I help you?

Okay, so I have a question. So in regards, I have some credit cards that I'm trying to pay off so I can become debt-free. I have a credit card with amount of $1,372 with the interest rate of 22.5%. I have a credit card that I have that has $3,632 at a zero percent interest rate till July. I have $1,500, and I'm trying to figure out should I pay off the credit card, the $1,300 credit card, or should I take this $1,500 and apply it towards that higher payment credit card that I don't have an interest rate on until July so I get that paid off. Yeah, makes sense. So you've got not $1,500 a month, but you have basically one time $1,500 that you could apply to one of them, is that right? Yes. Okay, and what happens to that interest rate in July on the $3,000?

You know, I was trying to look it up as I was waiting for you. I'm thinking they will, whatever the balance is, they'll charge me the interest rate for the balance, and I want to say I can't remember what the interest rate is, but I did call them and that's what they told me that whatever balance it is come July the 14th, they would add that interest rate to the balance of what I owe on the card. Yeah, okay. Well, given that it's probably not much higher than 22, I mean, it could be, but given that it's probably not, that's about the average, I would say let's just go ahead and wipe out the $1,300. The benefit is that now you free up the minimum payment from that $1,300, and, you know, by the way, you'll still have $200 left over.

Now, let me back up for a second. I'm assuming that this is $1,500 dedicated just to credit card reduction, and this won't leave you with nothing in your savings, but is that true? Well, no, you're right. Yes, I'm waiting for my income tax check, and it's, yeah, so basically that would be something that I would be getting some extra money for. It doesn't bother my savings.

It doesn't bother my tithing and my giving. It's just that extra money, like, just giving back, and I can pay that off. Okay, yeah, and so you'll still have what I call an emergency fund even after the $1,500 is gone? Yes, sir.

Okay, good. Yeah, so I would pay off the $1,300. You can even take $200 of it and put it toward the $3,000, and then moving forward, let's not let that get eaten up in additional lifestyle spending. Let's take 100% of that minimum payment you were sending to that card and roll it over, and then let's just start attacking that $3,000. That'll give you the encouragement that you're not dealing with two cards anymore.

You're down to one. Hopefully that gives you a little bit of a, you know, a psychological boost to keep going and charging ahead, and then I think whatever you can do to pare back your lifestyle so you can take what you were paying to the $1,300, add it to what you've already been paying to the $3,000, and then if you can find some other savings to boost that up, maybe all of a sudden now we're sending three or four or five hundred dollars a month. That's great, you know, because if we can do that, you know, we'll have this paid off in no time, but I think that is the right order just so you can, you know, go ahead and knock out the one that's charging the 22% now. I wouldn't do another balance transfer when that comes due because there's going to be a charge on that.

You just want to get out of that game, but that would be where I would go first. Awesome. Thank you. I appreciate it. All right. Thanks for calling today, Teresa. Anytime Sarasota. Hi, Bonnie.

How can I help? Well, I have an insurance policy that was a term policy that will mature in August, and I keep seeing advertisements where you can sell your insurance policies, and I don't know if it will create a taxable situation or if it's even ethical, so I was curious. Yeah, you know, I think, you know, in terms of it being ethical, that would not be a concern. I mean, they would essentially evaluate it and determine the value of the policy based on your health, and it would, you know, generally only be available if it could be converted to whole life, which it sounds like it can. And so basically, you know, when you convert your term policy to a whole life policy that doesn't expire, it builds up cash value over time.

You keep the original death benefit or you adjust it during the policy. But, you know, in terms of you looking at selling this, you know, that's going to depend on your health. And, you know, if your health has worsened significantly since you took this out, the settlement offer may be higher, but the conversion still uses your health rating as well. So I think, you know, at the end of the day, you would look at this in terms of, do I just drop it all together because it doesn't make financial sense to keep it, it served its purpose. Second would be, you know, if there is a purpose to have some permanent insurance, you could run the, you know, kind of the cost benefit analysis on it just to determine, you know, does it make sense for you to go ahead and convert it yourself? Or would it be better, you know, to try to sell it? If you needed cash, you don't need the coverage for others, and you can't afford the conversion premiums, you could look at a settlement offer. But if you're in good health, you know, it may not make financial sense for you to do that.

So, you know, you could check into it, but ultimately, it may or may not be an option. Okay, very good. Yeah, Bonnie, thank you. Thanks for calling today. God bless you. Well, folks, as we round out the broadcast today, first of all, thank you for your time for tuning in and listening to the broadcast each day. I'm grateful for your questions and your testimonies because, you know, my experience in doing this for a long time is that our financial journey is one of the key ways that God shapes our spiritual journey.

And you might say, how is that, Rob? Well, you know, the way we handle God's money is one of the most tangible expressions of what we value and where we've placed our trust. And it's that daily demonstration of how we're going to allocate God's resources.

And ultimately, these are hard issues. And so we want to be thinking about the story we're telling with regard to what's most important to us. And if our spending doesn't align with that, we'll take a step back and say, you know what, maybe I need to take another look at my budget. Maybe I want to be doing more, giving more, saving more, blessing the people on my path, using money as a tool to accomplish God's purposes, not spending so much on interest on the debt I've accumulated. Well, each day, we want to help you make steps in that direction. By the way, lots of great resources at our website, faithfi.com. Not only can you find a Certified Kingdom Advisor, but you can click on the button there at the top of the page that says App and learn about the Faithfi App and how we can actually help you put in place a spending plan to manage your money using the envelope system and a modern digital expression. It's all there in the Faithfi App.

You can download it today at faithfi.com. Big thanks to my team today, Devin Patrick, Jim Henry, Sandy Dickinson, and everybody here at Faithfi. Hope you have a great rest of your day and come back and join us tomorrow. We'll see you then. Bye-bye. Faith and Finance is provided by Faithfi and listeners like you.