Faith & Finance

Having an emergency fund is an important part of wise financial stewardship. But building one is only half the battle. You also need to know when to use it.

It can be tempting to dip into emergency savings whenever an unexpected expense—or even an especially appealing purchase—comes along. But if we use those funds too freely, the money may not be there when a genuine emergency arrives.

Proverbs 21:20 offers a helpful reminder: “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”

The principle is simple: wisdom prepares rather than consuming everything today. Financial emergencies are inevitable. A tire goes flat. An appliance fails. A major medical expense arrives. A job disappears unexpectedly.

We can’t predict every expense, but we can prepare for them.

An emergency fund is one of the most useful tools in a healthy financial plan. We often think about the “offense” of managing money—earning, saving, investing, and making progress toward our goals. But we also need a strong financial defense.

A good starting point is an introductory emergency fund of around $1,000 to $1,500. That can help cover many smaller surprises without immediately turning to a credit card.

Once you’ve paid off consumer debt and are taking advantage of any available employer retirement match, work toward building three to six months’ worth of living expenses.

That larger reserve protects against more serious disruptions, such as job loss or extended illness, and can keep an unexpected setback from becoming a debt crisis.

But once you’ve built that fund, how do you decide when to use it? Here are three questions to ask.

Does this expense need to be handled right now, or could you wait and save up to purchase it?

If something can reasonably wait, it probably isn’t an emergency.

When you’re uncertain, consider giving yourself some time before taking money from the fund. Waiting even 30 days may help you determine whether the expense is truly urgent.

Of course, some situations can’t wait. If your only vehicle breaks down and you need it to get to work, you may need repairs immediately. But if you have another vehicle available, you may have time to save toward the repair instead.

Urgency helps distinguish an actual emergency from an inconvenience.

The second question is whether the expense is truly necessary. This is where distinguishing between needs and wants becomes especially important.

Suppose your vehicle is no longer reliable. Transportation may be a legitimate need, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need a brand-new car. A less expensive used vehicle might meet the immediate need while allowing you to save toward something different later.

An emergency fund is designed to protect you when essential needs arise—not to finance upgrades or purchases you would simply prefer to make sooner.

Finally, ask whether the expense was actually unexpected. There’s a significant difference between losing your job unexpectedly and realizing in December that you haven’t saved anything for Christmas.

Christmas comes every year. So do birthdays, property taxes, insurance premiums, school expenses, and many home and vehicle maintenance costs.

Those expenses may be irregular, but they aren’t emergencies.

Instead, consider creating sinking funds for predictable expenses that don’t occur every month. Setting aside a little throughout the year lets you prepare without raiding your emergency savings.

If an expense is urgent, necessary, and unexpected, then using your emergency fund may be entirely appropriate.

Passing all three tests doesn’t mean you should automatically spend whatever it takes. You still want to respond wisely.

Suppose you’re involved in an accident and face major vehicle repairs that insurance won’t cover. If you’ve already been setting money aside for your next vehicle, you may be able to use some of those savings first and withdraw less from your emergency fund.

You can also review your monthly spending. Are there discretionary expenses you could temporarily reduce? Could you redirect some cash flow toward the immediate need?

The goal isn’t to avoid using the emergency fund at all costs. That’s what the money is there for. The goal is to use it prudently so you preserve as much financial margin as possible.

When you do use your emergency savings, rebuilding it should become a priority.

Temporarily redirect money you were putting toward other financial goals until you restore your reserve. If possible, work your way back toward three to six months of essential living expenses.

Financial margin gives you more than protection from unexpected bills. It creates flexibility.

When difficult seasons arrive, adequate savings can help you meet your obligations without panic, avoid unnecessary debt, and keep living generously rather than letting financial scarcity dictate every decision.

We can’t prevent every financial surprise. But with thoughtful preparation—and wisdom about when to use what we’ve saved—we can face those surprises with greater confidence and peace.

• I’m 63, still working, have over $1 million saved, and only my mortgage remaining. How should I decide when to retire and when to claim Social Security? And if I retire before the mortgage is paid off, should I keep making payments or use savings to eliminate it?
• I’ve paid off about $15,000 of credit card debt and have roughly $14,500 left, with only about $1,000 in emergency savings. Should I keep paying the debt down aggressively on my own, or consider credit counseling—and how much should I keep in savings while I do it?

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• Christian Credit Counselors
• Ramsey Solutions Mortgage Payoff Calculator
• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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Jonathan Edwards once said, “True legacy consists not of what we leave behind, but of what we instill in others.”

That’s an important reminder, especially when we think about money and inheritance. All of us have a natural desire to provide for the people we love. Whether it’s our children, grandchildren, or others God has entrusted to our care, we want to leave them in a better position than we were.

That’s a good desire. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”

But Scripture encourages us to think about inheritance as more than simply transferring money or assets. What we pass on also includes wisdom, character, faith, and an understanding of what it means to steward what God provides. Because wealth without wisdom can become more of a burden than a blessing.

Proverbs 20:21 warns, “An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” The goal, then, isn’t simply to transfer assets. It’s to prepare the next steward.

Our heirs aren’t merely future recipients. They will become managers of resources that ultimately belong to God. And that changes the way we think about legacy.

Throughout Scripture, inheritance is connected to both identity and responsibility.

In the Old Testament, land wasn’t simply property. It was connected to family, covenant, and the responsibility to faithfully steward what God had entrusted to His people. Families didn’t merely receive something. They were entrusted with something.

The same principle applies to us. If we pass on wealth without preparing the heart, we may leave the next generation with resources they aren’t prepared to steward wisely. But when we invest in their spiritual formation, teach them biblical principles of stewardship, and point them toward God as their ultimate Provider, wealth can remain what it was always meant to be: a tool.

So how can we prepare the next steward?

Long before the next generation receives anything from you, they are learning from you.

More is often caught than taught. The way you spend, save, give, and respond to financial uncertainty tells a story about what you believe.

Do your financial decisions reveal trust in God or anxiety about having enough? Do they reflect generosity or a constant desire to accumulate more? Do they demonstrate surrender to God or a need to maintain control?

None of us will model stewardship perfectly. But our everyday decisions give those who come after us opportunities to see that money is a gift to manage, not a source of identity or security.

Your financial life is already teaching a lesson. The question is what lesson it is teaching.

Another important step is simply talking about it.

Many families avoid conversations about money altogether. Parents may never explain why they give, how they make financial decisions, or what principles shape their approach to wealth. Then, when assets eventually change hands, the next generation receives the resources without understanding the convictions behind them.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 describes faith being passed from one generation to another through the ordinary rhythms of life:

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…”

That kind of discipleship includes the way we think about money. Tell your children why generosity matters to you. Explain how you make spending decisions. Share lessons you’ve learned from financial mistakes. Talk about why contentment matters and why money can never provide the security only God can give.

Most importantly, help them understand that money is not the goal. Faithfulness is.

Good stewardship is usually learned gradually. Psalm 78 describes one generation telling the next “the glorious deeds of the Lord” so that future generations would “set their hope in God.”

That kind of formation happens over time. Preparing the next steward means giving people opportunities to practice stewardship before significant wealth ever arrives.

For a young child, that might mean learning how to manage an allowance. For a teenager, it could mean participating in conversations about family generosity. For an adult child, it might mean talking openly about investing, giving, budgeting, or the responsibilities that could come with a future inheritance.

The goal isn’t simply to prepare someone to receive money. It’s to prepare them to manage it wisely.

This may be the hardest part. You can teach. You can model. You can communicate your values and provide opportunities to practice stewardship.

But you cannot control another person’s heart. Eventually, we have to release what we have taught and entrust the outcome to God. Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”

That includes your resources. It includes your estate. And ultimately, it includes the people you love. You are not the owner of what you possess. You are its temporary steward. One day, someone else may become the steward of those resources.

Our responsibility is to prepare them faithfully and then trust God with what comes next.

Perhaps the most important legacy question isn’t, “How much should I leave behind?” A better question may be, “How well am I preparing the person who will receive it?”

Because the greatest inheritance you can leave isn’t found in an investment account, a house, or an estate plan. 

It’s a heart that treasures God above wealth. It’s an understanding that everything we possess ultimately belongs to Him. And it’s a life shaped by the conviction: God owns it all. I am His steward, and everything He entrusts to me is meant to be used faithfully for His purposes.

That is a legacy worth passing to your children—and your children’s children.

If you’d like help thinking through how to do that intentionally, our newest FaithFi Field Guide, How Do I Prepare the Next Steward?, launches in just two weeks. 

You can pre-order your copy today at FaithFi.com/Shop. Bulk-order discounts are also available for churches and small groups.

• I’m a registered nurse nearing retirement and worry that a lawsuit could put my retirement accounts at risk. How can I protect those assets while still planning to provide for my wife and family?
• I already have a will and beneficiary designations. Do I still need a trust to avoid probate? Since my husband passed away, should I update my will and the deed to our home, and would I need an attorney to do that?
• My home is paid off, and I’d like to use some of the equity for debt consolidation and home improvements. Would a HELOC, home equity loan, or new mortgage make the most sense?
• I use fingerprint authentication to access my financial accounts. How secure is that? And how can I tell whether credit-report alerts claiming to be from companies like TransUnion are legitimate or phishing attempts?

• Become a FaithFi Partner
• Wise Women Managing Money: Expert Advice on Debt, Wealth, Budgeting, and More by Miriam Neff and Valerie Neff Hogan, JD. 
• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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What book of the Bible reminds us that life is short and wisdom means making the most of the time God has given us? Ecclesiastes.

This remarkable book refuses to let us avoid one of life’s most uncomfortable realities: our time here is brief. Life “under the sun” is fleeting, our accomplishments will not last forever, and eventually every one of us will leave behind everything we have accumulated.

But Ecclesiastes does not confront us with mortality simply to make us somber. It reminds us that life is short so we will learn to receive it as a gift. And that perspective changes how we think about everything—including our money.

Consider Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, rising more than 29,000 feet above sea level.

For generations, climbers dreamed of reaching its summit. But even today, with modern equipment and experienced guides, the journey remains extraordinarily dangerous. At roughly 26,000 feet, climbers enter what is commonly called the “death zone,” where the air contains too little oxygen for the human body to survive indefinitely.

A climber who reaches the summit cannot stay there. No matter how breathtaking the view, it's eventually time to descend.

Imagine two climbers standing at the top. One spends the moment focused entirely on everything that has gone wrong. His ankle hurts. The air is painfully thin. He is exhausted. The conditions are uncomfortable.

The other notices those same realities but also looks around. He sees the vastness of the mountains stretching beneath him. He thanks God for the beauty of creation and recognizes how extraordinary it is simply to be standing there.

Both climbers are in the same place. But only one is truly receiving the moment.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that life is something like standing on that summit. You just arrived, and you will not be here long. Many came before you. Many will come after you. But for this brief moment in history, you are here.

Sometimes your stay is filled with sunshine and calm. Sometimes it brings icy winds and cloud cover. Some seasons feel wonderfully full; others bring pain, disappointment, or loss.

Yet through it all, Ecclesiastes keeps reminding us: You are alive. Receive the life God has given you.

Near the conclusion of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher turns our attention directly toward the brevity of life:

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” - Ecclesiastes 12:1

A few verses later, the imagery becomes even more vivid:

“Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” - Ecclesiastes 12:6–7

Ecclesiastes asks us to think honestly about aging and death. That may sound discouraging, but the purpose is surprisingly life-giving.

If you knew you could remain on the summit only a little longer, you would pay closer attention to the view. In the same way, remembering that our earthly lives are limited can help us become more grateful for the life we have today.

Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us that we will age, decline, and eventually die. Death appears throughout the book because the reality of our mortality exposes the limits of everything we are tempted to treat as ultimate.

Money cannot stop death. Achievement cannot stop death. Possessions cannot stop death. Even wisdom, though better than folly, cannot make us immortal.

That realization could lead to despair. Instead, Ecclesiastes repeatedly points us toward gratitude. 

Because life is temporary, ordinary gifts become precious. A meal shared with people you love matters. Meaningful work matters. Friendship matters. Enjoying what God has provided matters. Ecclesiastes 5:19 says:

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.”

There is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying God’s provision. The problem comes when we ask temporary things to provide what only God can give.

Wealth makes a wonderful gift. It makes a terrible god.

This is one reason Ecclesiastes offers such valuable wisdom for our financial lives.

We can spend decades accumulating more while rarely stopping to ask why. More income. A larger investment account. A nicer home. Another possession. Greater financial security.

Those things may all have a legitimate place in wise stewardship. Ecclesiastes is not telling us to abandon planning, saving, or responsible financial management.

It is asking us something deeper: What are you expecting your money to do for you?

Money can provide options, but it cannot provide ultimate security. It can purchase comforts, but it cannot guarantee contentment. It can help us prepare for the future, but it cannot control the future. And it certainly cannot make our lives last forever.

Ecclesiastes strips away the illusion that accumulating enough will finally allow us to master life. Instead, it invites us to fear God, receive His gifts with gratitude, love the people He has placed around us, and faithfully steward what passes through our hands.

The final verses of Ecclesiastes bring the entire book into focus:

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13–14

Life under the sun is temporary. But that does not mean it is meaningless. Quite the opposite.

Our lives matter precisely because we live them before God. The money entrusted to us matters. The work we do matters. The people we serve matter. The way we respond to God’s gifts matters.

One day, our five minutes on the summit will end. Until then, Ecclesiastes urges us not to waste the view. Receive today as a gift. Enjoy God’s provision without worshiping it. Hold your possessions with open hands. Love the people around you. Remember your Creator.

And live this brief life in light of the One who is eternal.

If you’d like to explore more of what Ecclesiastes teaches about money, contentment, work, generosity, and what truly lasts, check out our study, Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money. 

You can order a copy—or place a bulk order for your church or small group—at FaithFi.com/Shop.

• I want to develop a small housing community for people who are underhoused or homeless, with an estimated cost of about $5 million. Should I form a 501(c)(3), work through my church, or use another structure? And how should I approach donors who may be interested in the tax benefits of giving?
• My husband and I plan to sell our high-maintenance home and expect about $240,000 in proceeds, but our monthly income is limited. Should we consider an annuity, is a 1.25% fiduciary advisory fee reasonable, and where should we keep the money while we decide on our next home?

• Become a FaithFi Partner
• The Chalmers Center
• IRS Form 1023 (Establishing a Non-Profit Organization)
• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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Theologian Dorothy Sayers once wrote, “Work is not primarily a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do.”

That challenges the way many of us think about our jobs. We often see work primarily as a way to earn a paycheck, provide for our families, or make it to retirement. But Scripture gives us a much bigger vision.

From the first pages of the Bible to the last, Scripture does not present work as a necessary evil. It is woven into what it means to bear God's image. And whether our work is paid or unpaid, public or unnoticed, Scripture invites us to offer it to God as an act of worship.

Sometimes we speak about work as though it were a consequence of the fall. But work existed before sin ever entered the world. Genesis 2:15 says, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

Adam was given meaningful responsibility in a world God repeatedly called good. Work was part of humanity’s original purpose.

What changed after the fall was not the existence of work but our experience of it. Genesis 3 describes thorns and thistles, painful toil, and the frustration that would now accompany human labor. Work remained good, but it became difficult.

We still experience those thorns today: projects that fail, difficult coworkers, exhaustion, inefficiency, layoffs, broken systems, and days when our efforts seem to produce very little fruit.

Yet Scripture’s story does not end there. Redemption reaches every part of our lives, including how we understand and practice our work.

And the Bible’s final picture is not one of eternal inactivity. Revelation 22 says that God’s servants will serve Him and “reign forever and ever.” The world to come is marked by meaningful service under the rule of Christ.

Work was good in the beginning, and meaningful service remains part of the future God is preparing for His people.

One of Scripture’s most striking pictures of work appears in Exodus 31. When God commands Israel to build the tabernacle, He chooses a man named Bezalel for the task. God says: 

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.” - Exodus 31:3

That is remarkable. The first person Scripture explicitly describes as being “filled” with the Spirit of God is not being equipped to preach a sermon or lead an army. He is being equipped to create.

Bezalel would work with gold, silver, bronze, stone, wood, and fabric. His craftsmanship mattered because God Himself had entrusted that work to him. That should expand the way we think about serving God.

Faithfulness is not limited to what happens inside a church building. A teacher grading papers, an accountant reviewing numbers, a carpenter building a home, a parent caring for children, or a volunteer serving meals can all honor God through faithful work.

God cares not only that work gets done, but also how it gets done.

Paul makes this explicit in Colossians 3:23–24: 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Notice the breadth of those words: “Whatever you do.” That means no tasks are insignificant just because they seem ordinary. The spreadsheet matters. The dishes matter. The phone call matters. The diaper change matters. The meeting matters. The quiet act of caring for an aging parent matters.

Not because every task is glamorous, but because we can offer every task to Christ. That changes our motivation.

We no longer have to work primarily for applause, recognition, promotion, or comparison. Excellence can become an act of love rather than a strategy for proving our worth.

Our value does not rise and fall with our job title. Our identity is secure in Christ. That freedom allows us to work diligently without asking our work to tell us who we are.

Income is an important fruit of work. Scripture takes our responsibility to provide for ourselves and others seriously. But a paycheck is not the only purpose of work.

Through our labor, we create, cultivate, solve problems, serve neighbors, provide goods and services, care for people, and contribute to communities. Work can also form us.

It teaches patience when progress is slow. It can cultivate humility when we need help. It requires perseverance when the task becomes difficult. It gives us opportunities to practice honesty, generosity, excellence, and love for our neighbors.

In that sense, work is not merely something we produce. It is also one of the places where God shapes us. That remains true even when a paycheck is no longer involved.

Retirement may change the form of our work, but it does not end our stewardship. Work might look like mentoring younger believers, serving at church, volunteering in the community, caring for grandchildren, helping a neighbor, or supporting an aging family member.

Our jobs may change. Our responsibility to faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us does not.

So perhaps the better question is not simply, “What do you do for a living?” Ask instead, “How can I serve God and my neighbor through the work in front of me today?”

Maybe that means doing excellent work even when nobody notices. Maybe it means treating coworkers with patience and dignity. Maybe it means refusing to cut ethical corners. Maybe it means remembering that your career does not define your worth. Or perhaps it means recognizing that some of the most important work you do will never appear on a résumé.

When we offer our abilities, responsibilities, and opportunities back to the God who gave them, ordinary work takes on deeper meaning.

The spreadsheets, dishes, carpentry, caregiving, counseling, teaching, parenting, and volunteering are not wasted when you offer them faithfully to the Lord.

So don’t merely go to work. Worship through your work. Ask the Spirit to help you labor with excellence, integrity, humility, and love—not simply for others' approval, but for the pleasure of the King.

Because ultimately, what matters most is not the job you have, but the God you serve through it.

This vision of whole-life stewardship is something we explore more deeply in Our Ultimate Treasure, a 21-day devotional about what it means to faithfully steward not only our money, but everything God entrusts to us.

You can order an individual copy or place a bulk order for your church or small group at FaithFi.com/Shop.

• I inherited money from my mother’s retirement plan. Should I take a lump sum and pay the taxes, or move it into an inherited IRA? And how can I confirm exactly what type of account I inherited?
• My husband is retired, we’re on a limited income, and I’ve had significant health issues. Where can I find affordable health insurance and help choosing the right plan?
• A solar company wants to build a solar farm on my 40 acres. What risks or contract issues should I watch for, and how can I learn from other landowners who have dealt with the same developer?
• I use QCDs from my IRA for charitable giving. If I don’t have access to my IRA checkbook, is there a way to make a qualified charitable gift online or by debit card?

• Become a FaithFi Partner
• Sound Mind Investing (Just the Basics)
• Charles Schwab | Fidelity 
• Healthcare.gov | HealthSherpa | eHealth Insurance | HealthMarkets
• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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Artificial intelligence can help you build a budget, explain an investment, or compare financial options in seconds. But how much should you trust it with your money?

AI is quickly becoming part of everyday life, including the way we manage our finances. And like any tool, it can be used wisely or unwisely.

For Christians, the better question isn’t simply, “Should I use AI?” but, “How can I use this tool wisely and faithfully?”

When new technology arrives, we can be tempted toward one of two extremes. We either embrace it without much thought, or we become suspicious of it and want nothing to do with it.

Biblical stewardship calls us to a more thoughtful approach.

AI can already be remarkably useful when it comes to financial information. You can ask it to explain the difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA, define an unfamiliar financial term, suggest categories for a spending plan, compare debt-payoff strategies, or help you prepare questions for a financial professional.

Used that way, AI can be a valuable research assistant. But there’s an important difference between having information and exercising wisdom. Proverbs 14:15 says, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”

That’s a helpful principle in an age of artificial intelligence. AI can gather, organize, summarize, and analyze information remarkably quickly. But having more information doesn’t remove our responsibility to consider carefully what is true and how we should respond.

Biblical wisdom is more than knowing facts. It’s applying truth faithfully before God—and that requires spiritual discernment.

AI might help you calculate whether you can afford a larger home. But it can’t determine whether buying that home reflects wise stewardship or simply a desire for more.

It can compare investment strategies, but it can’t decide what faithfulness should look like in your particular circumstances. It can calculate how much room you have in your budget to give, but it can’t worship God through generosity.

That doesn’t make AI bad. It simply means we need to keep the tool in its proper place.

Technology can assist the steward. It cannot replace the steward. A few practical guardrails can help us maintain that distinction.

First, verify information before making significant financial decisions.

AI can sound confident even when its answer is incomplete, outdated, or simply wrong. Tax rules change. Investment products differ. Government programs and financial regulations evolve.

The more significant the decision, the more important it is to confirm what you’re seeing with reliable sources or a qualified financial professional. 

AI can help you identify the questions you need to ask. It shouldn’t necessarily be the final authority answering them.

Second, be careful about the information you share.

Avoid entering Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords, or other sensitive financial information into an AI system unless you fully understand how it will handle and protect that information.

And remember: AI isn’t only available to consumers. Criminals can use it too.

Voice cloning, convincing fake images and videos, and highly personalized scams can make fraudulent requests increasingly difficult to recognize. If you receive an unexpected request involving money—even if it appears to come from someone you know—verify the request through another trusted channel before acting.

A phone call to a number you already know or a face-to-face conversation could prevent an expensive mistake.

Perhaps the most important guardrail is this: Don’t surrender your responsibility to think.

AI promises efficiency, and efficiency can be useful. But efficiency isn’t always the highest good. Some financial decisions require prayer, patience, conversation, wise counsel, and time. That’s especially true when money intersects with marriage, family, generosity, fear, competing priorities, or the difficult question of how much is enough.

AI may help you reach a goal more efficiently. But you still have to decide whether it’s the right goal. That’s one reason relationships still matter in financial decision-making.

A wise financial professional can understand family dynamics that don’t fit neatly into a spreadsheet. He or she can ask questions you may not have considered and walk with you through decisions over time. And a professional who understands biblical stewardship can help you think beyond simply maximizing wealth toward faithfully managing what God has entrusted to you.

If you’d like to connect with a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®) in your area, visit FindaCKA.com.

This is something we’re thinking carefully about at FaithFi as well.

In the future, the FaithFi App will include optional AI features designed to make certain aspects of money management easier. For example, AI could help streamline routine tasks or use past spending patterns to suggest a starting point for a budget.

Those features will be optional, allowing users to decide whether they want to use them. 

Either way, the principle remains the same: The technology should serve the steward—not the other way around.

Artificial intelligence may become increasingly capable. It may help us process information faster, automate routine tasks, and understand our finances more clearly.

But it cannot replace prayer. It cannot replace Scripture. It cannot replace wise counsel. And it cannot assume the responsibility God has given us to faithfully steward what He has placed in our hands.

So use AI where it’s helpful. Verify what matters. Protect your information. Seek wisdom from trusted people. And remember that when it comes to managing money faithfully, the goal isn’t simply to make faster decisions. It’s to make wise ones.

To learn more about the FaithFi App, visit FaithFi.com/App.

• I have an irrevocable trust, and my daughter is the beneficiary of a $50,000 life insurance policy. Will she owe taxes on the proceeds, and will the trust help her avoid probate?
• I owe about $27,000 in taxes after taking lump-sum retirement withdrawals. A tax-resolution company wants $5,000 with no guarantee of results. What’s the best way to handle the debt?
• I’ve owned my home for 18 years and may sell it. What exactly is home equity, and how does it factor into the sale?
• I have VA health care, so why am I also paying for Medicare Part B through my Social Security? What does Part B cover that VA care may not?
• How can I enjoy things like vacations or home improvements while still being a wise steward? Is there a good guideline for how much to spend on non-essentials?

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What if one of the clearest signs of generosity isn’t simply how much we give, but how deeply we desire to participate?

In 2 Corinthians 8, the apostle Paul describes a group of believers whose generosity was remarkable—not because they had abundant resources, but because they were eager to give even amid significant hardship.

Their example shows us what happens when grace transforms the heart.

Paul is writing to encourage the church in Corinth to participate in a collection for believers in Jerusalem who were experiencing severe need. To encourage them, he points to the churches of Macedonia.

But the Macedonians weren’t wealthy benefactors with plenty to spare. Paul writes:

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” - 2 Corinthians 8:1–4

Paul describes their circumstances in striking terms: severe affliction and extreme poverty. Yet alongside those circumstances was an “abundance of joy,” and somehow the combination overflowed into generosity.

Perhaps the most surprising detail is that they begged to give.

Paul wasn’t begging them for money. They were asking Paul for the privilege of participating.

That posture can feel unfamiliar. Even within the church, giving can easily begin to feel like another financial obligation—a bill to pay, a percentage to calculate, or a requirement to satisfy. The question becomes, “How much am I supposed to give?”

The Macedonians appear to be asking a very different question: How can we be part of this?

They knew their brothers and sisters were suffering, and they didn’t want their own difficult circumstances to prevent them from participating in their care.

Paul tells us where that desire came from. He begins the passage not by praising the impressive generosity of the Macedonians, but by saying, “We want you to know…about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.”

Their generosity was evidence of God’s grace at work in them. Verse 5 takes us even deeper: “They gave themselves first to the Lord.”

That came before the money. Before offering their resources, they had entrusted themselves to God.

When we understand that we belong to Christ and that everything we have ultimately comes from His hand, generosity looks different. It becomes less about losing something and more about participating in what God is doing.

That doesn’t mean Scripture calls Christians to give recklessly or neglect legitimate responsibilities. Paul provides important balance later in the same chapter:

“For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” - 2 Corinthians 8:12

Paul continues by explaining that his goal is not for some believers to be relieved while others are left burdened. Rather, he describes a kind of mutual care in which one person’s abundance can meet another person’s need.

So the point of the Macedonians’ example is not that everyone should give beyond what they can responsibly afford. The deeper lesson is about the posture of the heart.

Do I primarily see generosity as something being taken from me, or as an opportunity God may be placing before me?

When I encounter someone in need, is my first instinct to protect what is mine, or am I willing to ask whether God has entrusted me with something I can share?

The Macedonians’ circumstances were difficult, but grace had reshaped what they valued.

Ultimately, Paul doesn’t leave our attention on Macedonia. He points us to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

That is the foundation of Christian generosity. We don’t give in order to earn God’s favor. We give because, in Christ, we have already received grace beyond measure.

And when that grace captures our hearts, generosity begins to change.

It becomes more than something we have to do. It becomes something we’re grateful to get to do.

• I have about $36,000 in student loan debt at 9%, and after decades of repayment I feel like I’m barely making progress. Would paying every two weeks help, and should I consider using home equity to pay it off?
• I have a whole life policy with a term rider I didn’t realize was included. Should I remove the rider, keep it until it expires, or redirect that money into the whole life policy instead?
• I’m selling my home for less than I originally paid, but the buyer wants the contract price listed higher to cover closing costs. How would that affect my taxes, and could any gain impact my Social Security?
• My husband and I own our home, and I want my daughter to inherit it without unnecessary difficulty. What’s the best way to structure that?

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What will you leave to the next generation—and will they be prepared to steward it well?

A faithful wealth transfer involves more than deciding who gets what. It means thinking carefully about the people who will receive those resources and whether they have the wisdom, maturity, and spiritual foundation to handle them faithfully.

Dr. Kelly Rush, Professor of Finance, Financial Planning Program Coordinator, and Chair of Business and Technology at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, points to David and Solomon as a compelling biblical example. Rush, who also serves on the board of Kingdom Advisors, says David did more than accumulate resources for his son. He prepared Solomon for both great wealth and great responsibility.

David knew Solomon would eventually build the temple in Jerusalem. So before transferring tremendous resources, David helped prepare his son for the work ahead.

His example offers families four important principles for thinking about wealth transfer today.

The first principle is unity: husbands and wives should agree on their plans for transferring wealth.

We see this in 1 Kings 1. As David neared the end of his life, his son Adonijah attempted to establish himself as king. Bathsheba approached David and reminded him of the commitment concerning Solomon. David acted, and Solomon was publicly established as his successor.

For families today, the circumstances are obviously very different, but the underlying principle remains valuable. Parents should work toward a shared vision for what they hope their wealth will accomplish and how it will eventually be distributed.

That unity can clarify the plan for the entire family. Children and other heirs are less likely to receive conflicting messages when parents have already worked through difficult questions together.

Before asking, “How much should we leave?” couples may need to begin with a more fundamental question: “Are we united about what we hope this wealth will accomplish?”

Assets will eventually change hands. The larger question is whether wisdom will accompany them.

David understood that Solomon needed more than resources. He needed spiritual and practical preparation.

David prayed that God would give Solomon wisdom and understanding, and he personally instructed his son to know the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. He also gave Solomon detailed plans for the temple and prepared him for the responsibilities he would inherit.

In other words, David did not simply leave Solomon a fortune and expect him to figure things out.

Parents today have a similar opportunity. Children and grandchildren can be taught biblical principles of stewardship alongside practical financial skills such as budgeting, saving, giving, investing, and making wise decisions.

The goal is not merely to prepare assets for heirs. It is to prepare heirs for assets.

That preparation may begin long before an inheritance is in view. Younger children can learn to manage small amounts of money and decide how to give. Teenagers can take on greater financial responsibilities. Adult children can increasingly participate in conversations about family resources, generosity, and long-term plans.

Wealth without wisdom can create significant challenges. But when wisdom comes first, financial resources can become another tool the next generation is prepared to steward faithfully.

David recognized something important about Solomon: he was “young and inexperienced” (1 Chronicles 22:5).

So David prepared him gradually. He imparted wisdom. He supplied practical plans and instructions. Eventually, Solomon received the resources he needed.

Families today can also think carefully about both the timing and amount of wealth they transfer.

No universal age marks when someone suddenly becomes ready for significant financial responsibility. Parents should consider an heir’s spiritual, emotional, and financial maturity rather than relying on age alone.

Where gaps exist, they can become opportunities for further preparation.

That may mean gradually increasing responsibility over time. In some situations, families may use joint accounts while younger heirs learn to manage money. For larger inheritances, trusts or trustee oversight may provide both protection and an opportunity for continued growth in stewardship.

Communication is also essential. Heirs should not necessarily be surprised by a family’s wealth-transfer plan after a parent dies. Appropriate conversations ahead of time can allow children to understand their parents’ intentions, ask questions, seek wisdom, and prepare for future responsibility.

And those plans do not have to remain static. As children mature and circumstances change, parents can revisit their plans accordingly.

David accumulated extraordinary resources for the temple, drawing from both Israel’s treasury and his personal wealth.

Yet David would never build it himself. God had given that responsibility to Solomon.

David could have looked at that limitation and decided the project was no longer his concern. Instead, he prepared extensively for something another generation would complete.

That offers an important perspective on stewardship. We cannot take our possessions with us when we die, but we can thoughtfully use them while we are here in ways that bless others and support work that continues beyond our lifetime.

For families, that may include making generosity part of family life now rather than waiting until an estate is distributed.

Parents might invite children into giving decisions, support ministries together, or develop a family mission statement that expresses the values they hope will continue into future generations. Some families may also incorporate charitable gifts or trusts into their estate plans.

The specific tools will vary. The deeper goal is to cultivate a family culture in which wealth is understood as something God entrusted, not merely something to consume or accumulate.

Rush has seen this principle at work in her own family. She and her husband have used financial resources to take their children on family mission trips, giving them opportunities to serve together and learn to share the gospel.

Those experiences illustrate an important possibility: financial capital can sometimes develop something far more important—spiritual maturity, relationships, wisdom, and a vision for serving others.

For parents, that raises a worthwhile question: How might the resources God has entrusted to us today help prepare the people who may steward them tomorrow?

The answer will look different for every family. But the biblical pattern reminds us that wealth transfer is not simply an estate-planning event at the end of life. It is an ongoing process of teaching, communicating, preparing, and modeling faithful stewardship.

David prepared resources for Solomon, but he also prepared Solomon for the resources. That may be one of the greatest gifts we can give the next generation.

• My bank is being acquired, and the new bank has limited in-network ATM access when I travel. I’m considering switching to an online bank with a larger nationwide ATM network. What should I look for?
• I’m 40 and have three old 401(k)s from previous employers. Some advisors suggest consolidating them into one account with expected returns around 8% to 10%, while another is proposing a hedge fund targeting 15% to 17%. How should I evaluate these options?
• My daughter is in her 50s and currently incarcerated. When she comes home, she’ll have no income, no car, and significant credit card debt, though she owns her home outright. Should she consider bankruptcy, and what's the best way to address her debts?

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Christians often think about stewardship in terms of giving, saving, and spending. But if God owns everything He has entrusted to us, stewardship also raises another question: What about the companies we own through our investments?

Harry Pearson, Founder and CEO of OneAscent, says that question became increasingly important in his own journey of faith and finance. OneAscent is a family of companies that equips advisors and investors with faith-aligned solutions for planning, investing, and giving.

For Pearson, connecting biblical convictions with investing began with a broader realization: Faith should shape every part of our financial lives.

Pearson grew up in a home where generosity was modeled well. His parents taught him to tithe from an early age. For every dollar he earned, he put a dime in the offering plate.

What he had not learned, however, was how to connect his faith with the rest of his financial life.

That began to change about 18 years ago when he attended his first Kingdom Advisors Conference. Pearson remembers arriving somewhat resistant, but the experience challenged him to consider what it would look like to align his work with the faith God had already planted in his heart.

Colossians 3:23 became an important lens: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

That principle extends beyond our occupations. If everything belongs to God, then our time, abilities, and financial resources are all things we manage on His behalf.

The question becomes not simply, “What do I want to do with what I have?” but, “How can I faithfully steward what God has entrusted to me?”

That perspective also changes the way we think about leaving a legacy.

Families often devote significant attention to the valuables they hope to leave the next generation—homes, savings, investments, and other assets. Pearson believes Christians should give just as much attention to the values they are passing along.

Rather than focusing only on leaving a legacy, he encourages families to think about living one.

Children often learn stewardship less from formal lessons than from what they regularly observe. They see how their parents talk about money, respond to financial pressure, practice generosity, and decide what matters most.

That gives parents an opportunity to invite their children into the stewardship process.

Let them see generosity practiced. Allow them to participate in serving others. Talk with them about why your family chooses to support particular ministries or causes. Those conversations can help the next generation understand not merely what the family owns, but why it uses money the way it does.

After all, preparing the next steward is about more than transferring assets. It is about cultivating wisdom and faithfulness in the person who may one day receive them.

The same stewardship framework applies to investing.

Many investors purchase mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or other investments without knowing much about the individual companies they indirectly own. Pearson believes that is worth examining.

If God is the ultimate owner of our resources, Christians can thoughtfully consider whether the businesses in their portfolios align with their biblical convictions.

That begins with a simple question: Do you know what you own?

For some investors, looking beneath the surface of a portfolio may reveal companies or business activities they would not knowingly choose to support. That realization has helped drive the growth of faith-based and values-aligned investing.

At OneAscent, Pearson says the investment process includes three broad steps: eliminating companies whose activities conflict with certain biblical convictions, carefully evaluating the remaining investment opportunities, and seeking businesses that are making a positive contribution through the products and services they provide.

The goal is not merely to avoid certain companies. It is to think more intentionally about what ownership means and how investment capital is being used.

One concern surrounding faith-based investing has historically been whether applying values to a portfolio necessarily requires sacrificing investment performance.

Pearson says the field has developed considerably over the past decade. There are now longer track records, more investment options, and increasingly sophisticated approaches to portfolio construction.

But he has also come to appreciate that values-aligned investing is not only about selecting investments. It can also influence investor behavior.

When investors consider their principles before markets become volatile, they may be better prepared to stay disciplined when uncertainty arrives. Rather than making emotional decisions in the moment, they can return to an investment philosophy they have already thoughtfully established.

For Christians, that provides another opportunity to move from simply knowing what they believe to putting those beliefs into practice.

Faithful stewardship touches far more than the offering plate. It shapes how we earn, spend, save, give, plan, and prepare the next generation. And for Christians who own investments, it can also shape the way they think about the businesses represented in their portfolios.

That does not mean every Christian will make identical investment decisions. But it does mean we can approach investing prayerfully and thoughtfully, remembering that the resources under our care ultimately belong to God.

OneAscent helps advisors and investors explore how their financial lives and investments align with their biblical values, including through a portfolio analysis.

To learn more, visit OneAscent.com/FaithFi.

• I’ll turn 65 in January and am considering disability because my school job is becoming harder to manage. Should I use my employer’s short-term disability benefit, apply for Social Security Disability, or both? And when should I start the process?
• My credit scores are consistently above 800, but a bank recently showed a score of 780 when evaluating me for a HELOC. Why can the scores lenders use differ so much from the scores consumers see?
• My husband recently passed away, and I received about $50,000 in life insurance proceeds. I’d like to keep roughly half as an emergency fund and invest the other $25,000. I’m 59, working full-time, have only a car payment and a 3.87% mortgage, and may also receive VA survivor benefits. How should I think about using and investing this money?

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Christians often say that God owns everything and that what we possess has simply been entrusted to our care. We apply that principle to our income, savings, investments, and giving. But we may treat another significant asset differently: the equity in our homes.

Harlan Accola, who leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage, joined the show today to discuss why homeowners—particularly those approaching or already in retirement—should consider home equity as part of their overall stewardship plan.

For generations, many families have followed a familiar pattern: buy a home, pay off the mortgage, and eventually leave the house to their children.

That goal is certainly not wrong. But Harlan says tradition can sometimes cause us to mentally separate home equity from the rest of our financial resources.

“The home equity is wealth,” he explained.

That does not mean every homeowner should borrow against a home's value. Rather, it means home equity deserves to be considered alongside retirement accounts, savings, investments, and other assets when evaluating the resources God has entrusted to us.

That consideration has become increasingly important as home values have risen.

Harlan pointed to research from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies showing that many older Americans have accumulated substantial equity in their homes. In some cases, homeowners may have more wealth tied up in their houses than they have available in retirement accounts and other liquid assets.

That can create an unusual situation: someone may appear financially secure on paper while struggling to generate enough monthly cash flow for ordinary expenses.

Another common assumption is that parents should leave the family home to their children free and clear.

Again, that can be a worthy goal. But Harlan encourages families to consider it within the broader purpose of stewardship.

Scripture places tremendous emphasis on the spiritual legacy we leave behind—our faithfulness, wisdom, example, teaching, and love for God and others. Financial resources may certainly be part of an inheritance, but they are not the only inheritance that matters.

That raises several important questions:

• Could some of the wealth stored in a home help meet legitimate retirement needs? 
• Could it help provide for a surviving spouse? 
• Could it reduce unnecessary financial pressure? 
• Could it create opportunities for generosity while someone is still alive?

Those questions do not automatically lead to the same answer for every family. The point is to prayerfully evaluate the home as part of the entire financial picture rather than assuming it must remain untouched simply because that has traditionally been the plan.

In many families, adult children may also care far more about their parents having financial stability and appropriate care later in life than about preserving every dollar of home equity for an eventual inheritance.

Owning substantial home equity does not necessarily mean retirement expenses are easy to manage. Harlan says he regularly encounters older homeowners with significant equity who nevertheless struggle to cover monthly expenses or unexpected repairs.

He also noted that many older homeowners still carry mortgages well into retirement. When housing costs consume a large portion of a household’s income, even someone with considerable home equity can experience financial strain.

That distinction matters. A home may represent considerable net worth, but equity alone does not pay the electric bill, replace an air-conditioning system, cover healthcare expenses, or buy groceries.

That is why you shouldn't evaluate home equity in isolation from the rest of a retirement plan.

Considering home equity does not mean immediately pursuing a reverse mortgage or any other particular strategy.

In fact, Harlan recommends beginning somewhere else entirely. “Start with the big picture,” he said.

Consider everything God has entrusted to you—your income, retirement savings, investments, home, other assets, obligations, needs, family circumstances, and goals.

Then ask what those resources are meant to accomplish. A wise stewardship plan starts with the goals, not the financial product.

For some homeowners, the best decision may be to leave their home equity untouched. For others, accessing some portion of it may become one tool among many to support retirement needs, care for a spouse, reduce financial pressure, or accomplish other important goals.

Whatever the decision, the larger principle remains the same: our homes are not outside the boundaries of stewardship.

They, too, are resources entrusted to us by God. The question is not simply, “How much equity do I have?” A better question may be, “How can I faithfully steward everything God has placed in my hands?”

To learn more about the home-financing options available through Movement Mortgage, including reverse mortgages, visit FaithFi.com/Movement.

• My sister passed away four years ago and left most of her assets to her daughter through transfer-on-death designations, but one bank account was left out. The balance is under $10,000, and the bank says it must go through probate. Is that correct, and how can we stop the account from losing money to inactivity fees?
• I’m 55, married, and we earn about $120,000 a year. After expenses, we have about $500 left each month, around $20,000 in a 401(k), and we’re building a three-month emergency fund. What should we do with the extra $500?
• I’m working two jobs and earning about $20,000 to $25,000 a year while saving for a home. What mortgage rate should I be looking for, and how do I know whether a loan offer is affordable?
• I have a 5.25% mortgage, two higher-interest car loans, and a medical bill that will soon start charging high interest. I’ve been offered a consolidation refinance at about 6.25% that would combine everything into one payment. Would that be wise, or should I keep the debts separate?

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Women are gaining more financial influence than ever before. But for Christian women, the bigger question isn’t simply how much wealth they will control. It’s what they will do with what God has placed in their hands.

Pam Pugh, Co-Founder of Women Doing Well and President of VirtuAssets Foundation, has spent years helping individuals and families think about how to use their assets virtuously. She believes women are entering a significant season of financial stewardship—one shaped by greater earning power, longer life expectancies, entrepreneurship, and an enormous transfer of wealth.

Those changes create opportunities, but they also call for preparation. For Christian women especially, growing economic influence offers an opportunity to prayerfully consider how their resources can serve God’s purposes and the good of others.

Pugh points to four significant shifts taking place in the financial landscape.

The first is education and earning power. Women now represent 62% of college graduates and earn more than half of all doctorate degrees. Four in 10 physicians and attorneys are women, and among women ages 25 to 54, 78% work outside the home. Women also make the vast majority of consumer purchasing decisions, giving them significant influence not only through what they earn but also through how they spend.

The second shift is longevity. Because women generally live longer than men, many will eventually become the primary decision-maker for their household wealth. Pugh notes that women live an average of 5.8 years longer than men and that an estimated 90% of women will manage their wealth independently at some point. She also points to estimates that women will inherit $124 trillion through 2048, including $54 trillion transferred to spouses, many of them widowed baby boomers.

A third change is the growth of women-owned businesses. Pugh says one in 11 working-age women is an entrepreneur, while women own 39% of closely held businesses in the United States. Those businesses employ 12.9 million people and generate $3.3 trillion in revenue. For many women, entrepreneurship is not simply about earning more. It can also provide flexibility and greater control over how work fits into the rest of life.

Finally, Pugh sees a shift in how women think about wealth itself.

Financial wealth matters, but Pugh says many women view wealth more holistically. They think not only about money but also about physical, spiritual, social, and intellectual well-being.

That perspective changes money's purpose. Financial resources become a tool rather than an end in themselves—something that can provide freedom and help accomplish meaningful purposes. Pugh also points to research suggesting women tend to be patient, studious, holistic, and methodical investors, with many prioritizing aligning their investments with their values.

For Christians, that raises a deeper question: If God has entrusted us with greater resources and influence, how do we prepare to steward them faithfully?

Pugh offers a simple framework.

Imagine you were preparing for a month-long trip overseas. You wouldn’t simply show up at the airport and hope everything worked out. You would think about where you were going, what you would need, what you already had, and who could help you prepare.

Financial stewardship deserves similar intentionality. Pugh encourages women to begin by prayerfully envisioning where they may be headed. One helpful exercise is to imagine your life five years from now and ask:

If I were confident that God was with me, what would I explore?

Then write it down. Consider not only what your financial life looks like, but the kind of life you hope to be living. What values are evident? What relationships matter most? What kind of work are you doing? What does generosity look like?

The point isn’t to predict the future. It’s to become intentional about where you are headed and why.

Once you’ve thought about where you may be headed, ask another question: What’s already in your hand?

Pugh draws that language from Exodus 4:2. Moses was reluctant when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. After Moses repeatedly expressed his fears and inadequacies, God asked him, “What is that in your hand?”

It was a shepherd’s staff—something ordinary that Moses may never have imagined could play a role in what God was calling him to do.

The same question can help us recognize what God has already entrusted to us.

Your “inventory” includes more than the balance in your bank or retirement account. It may include relationships, financial resources, knowledge, experience, skills, opportunities, and even lessons learned through hardship.

Rather than beginning with what you lack, begin by identifying what you already have.

A dream becomes far more actionable when you share it and support it with a plan.

Pugh encourages women to talk about their goals with trusted friends, peers, family members, and, when appropriate, a financial professional who understands their values.

A like-minded advisor can help turn broad hopes into concrete financial strategies. That might involve evaluating whether current resources will support future needs, clarifying investment objectives, or determining how saving, spending, and giving decisions can work together to support long-term goals.

That guidance can be particularly valuable when uncertainty becomes paralyzing. Questions such as Will I have enough? or Can I accomplish what I believe God is putting before me? can be difficult to answer alone.

A thoughtful financial plan cannot eliminate uncertainty, but it can help you understand where you stand and make informed decisions about the road ahead.

Women’s economic influence is changing dramatically through education, employment, entrepreneurship, longevity, and generational wealth transfers. But influence itself is not the destination.

Stewardship asks a different question: What will you do with what God has entrusted to you?

Pugh encourages women to recognize the opportunity before them, prayerfully consider what God has already placed in their hands, and prepare intentionally to use those resources for His glory and the good of others.

You may not know every step that lies ahead. But you can begin by dreaming prayerfully, taking inventory, seeking wise counsel, and moving forward faithfully with what you already have in your hands.

• I owe about $78,000 on a Discover card, and they’ve offered to settle the debt for roughly $58,000. How would accepting the settlement affect my credit?
• I’m 58, own my home and car outright, and need to set up a will and possibly a trust. Where should I start if I want an estate plan that reflects my Christian values?
• I’m 24, living at home, and almost finished paying off my student loans. How should I start budgeting, investing, and preparing for rent or a future home purchase? And at my age, how should I think about renting versus buying?

• Become a FaithFi Partner
• Women Doing Well
• VirtuAssets Foundation
• Open Hands Finance
• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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