Faith & Finance

Money is never just about money, and work is never just about a paycheck. Scripture teaches that God owns everything, gives us the ability to earn, and calls us to work with integrity because ultimately, we serve Christ.

Howard Dayton, Founder of Compass Financial Ministry and author of Business God’s Way, says those truths should shape not only how Christians manage money, but how we earn it in the first place.

The foundation of biblical earning begins with recognizing that God owns everything and that He is ultimately the One we serve.

Colossians 3:23-24 says:

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

That applies whether you own a business, work for a large company, serve in ministry, or earn a paycheck somewhere in between. Your employer may sign the check, but your work is ultimately an act of service to Christ.

Even the ability to earn is a gift from God. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us:

“You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.”

That perspective guards against pride when things go well. Our abilities, opportunities, creativity, and strength are all resources God has entrusted to us.

If we represent Christ in the workplace, honesty should characterize everything we do.

For business owners, that means treating customers, employees, vendors, and even competitors with integrity. For employees, it means giving an honest day’s work, using company resources responsibly, and refusing to take what does not belong to us—even when no one would notice.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Our conduct at work can either reinforce or undermine the faith we profess. Biblical integrity means doing what is right because we belong to Christ, not simply because honesty is good for business.

Running a business or managing a career requires planning. Scripture affirms the value of order and thoughtful preparation.

1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “All things should be done decently and in order.” While the immediate context concerns worship in the church, the broader principle reminds us that order and intentionality have value.

At the same time, good planning should never become confidence that we control the future.

James 4:13-14 warns those who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit,” reminding them, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring.”

Christians should plan carefully while holding those plans with open hands. We prepare responsibly, but we remain dependent on God.

Many biblical principles such as honesty, diligence, and planning are also recognized as sound business practices. Generosity, however, can run against the world’s instinct to accumulate and protect as much as possible.

Proverbs 11:24-25 says:

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

This is not a promise that generous people will always become materially wealthy. Scripture does not teach us to give in order to get more. Instead, generosity reflects trust in God and loosens money’s grip on our hearts.

For a business owner, generosity might mean giving a portion of profits, caring intentionally for employees, supporting ministry, or finding creative ways to use the company’s resources to serve others.

Some Christian business leaders have gone even further. Entrepreneurs such as Alan Barnhart and Stanley Tam structured their businesses around extraordinary generosity, viewing their companies not simply as vehicles for personal wealth but as resources entrusted to them for God’s purposes.

The form generosity takes will look different for every person and every business. The important question is whether we are willing to ask God how the resources He has entrusted to us can bless others.

Earning money God’s way begins with a different definition of success.

The goal is not merely to maximize income or grow a business. It is to faithfully steward the abilities, opportunities, relationships, and resources God provides.

We work diligently because we serve Christ. We act honestly because we represent Him. We plan wisely while remembering that tomorrow belongs to God. And we hold what we earn with open hands so that generosity can become a natural expression of faithful stewardship.

When we understand that God is both the Owner and our ultimate Employer, work becomes more than a way to make a living. It becomes another opportunity to honor Him with what He has entrusted to us.

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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Sometimes one glimpse can change everything.

For a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy, fear and uncertainty can make it difficult to know what comes next. But seeing her baby through an ultrasound can bring a moment of clarity—and open the door to compassionate care, practical support, and hope.

Dan Steiner, Founder and President of PreBorn!, joined the show today to explain how the ministry partners with pregnancy clinics across the country to reach women facing unexpected pregnancies. PreBorn! provides ultrasound machines, training, financial support, and other resources to help local clinics serve women at a critical moment.

One of PreBorn!’s primary tools is remarkably simple: giving a mother the opportunity to see her baby.

A gift of $28 can fund one ultrasound, $56 can fund two, and $140 can fund five. For donors with greater capacity, a $15,000 gift can help provide an ultrasound machine for a pregnancy center. According to Steiner, those machines can remain in service for years and help thousands of women.

The ultrasound itself can be a powerful moment. A woman may arrive feeling pressure from a boyfriend, family member, or overwhelming circumstances. But seeing her baby’s arms and legs and hearing the heartbeat can make the pregnancy suddenly feel very personal.

PreBorn! says that seeing an ultrasound significantly increases the likelihood that an abortion-minded woman will choose life. The ministry then seeks to walk alongside her with compassion and practical support rather than judgment.

PreBorn! generally does not operate pregnancy centers directly. Instead, it works alongside local clinics, many of which have limited staff and resources.

The ministry helps provide ultrasound machines, funds individual scans, trains staff, assists with marketing and leadership, and works to increase clinic capacity. Steiner said PreBorn!’s network includes roughly 300 clinics across the United States, with an emphasis on reaching women in communities with high abortion rates.

That partnership allows local ministries to focus on serving women while receiving resources they might otherwise struggle to afford.

Steiner shared the story of one young mother who arrived at a pregnancy center intending to have an abortion. She already had two boys at home, her boyfriend was unsupportive, and she feared another child would make it harder to care for the children she already had.

During her first ultrasound, she saw her baby and began to cry—but she still planned to proceed with an abortion.

The following week, however, she returned for another ultrasound. At 11 weeks, she could see her baby moving. She also learned she was expecting a daughter.

Having always wanted a girl, she decided to continue the pregnancy. Steiner pointed out that a donor funded her ultrasound—illustrating how even a relatively small gift can become part of a much larger story.

For PreBorn!, the work does not end when a woman chooses life for her child.

The ministry also wants women and families to encounter the hope of the gospel. PreBorn! trains clinic staff to share Christ when appropriate while emphasizing that those conversations should never be forced.

Steiner said evangelism remains central to the ministry’s mission, alongside practical care for mothers and their babies.

That reflects a broader picture of Christian compassion: caring for both immediate physical needs and eternal spiritual needs while recognizing the dignity of every person made in the image of God.

FaithFi is partnering with PreBorn! to help fund 1,500 free ultrasounds. Every $28 funds one ultrasound, while larger gifts can provide multiple scans or even help place an ultrasound machine in a pregnancy center.

According to Steiner, PreBorn!’s network saw more than 84,000 babies saved from abortion in the previous year and provided more than 136,000 ultrasound scans across the country.

For Christians thinking about generosity, this is a reminder that stewardship is not simply about giving money away. It is about prayerfully using what God has entrusted to us to serve others, meet tangible needs, and point people toward the hope of Christ.

To learn more or support the campaign, visit FaithFi.com/PreBorn or dial #250 and say “BABY.”

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 if the greatest benefit of financial advice isn’t simply what happens to your portfolio, but knowing your financial decisions reflect what matters most?

New research from Kingdom Advisors and Pinkston Group suggests that when financial counsel aligns with a person’s faith and values, the benefits can extend well beyond investment performance. Clients report deeper trust, reduced financial anxiety, and a broader definition of financial success.

Sharon Epps, President of Kingdom Advisors, joined the show today to unpack what the findings reveal about values-aligned investing, long-term advisor relationships, generosity, and the future of Christian financial advice.

One of the study’s most striking findings involves values-based investing. While 81% of Certified Kingdom Advisors® offer values-based investment options, only 15% of their clients currently use them.

Why the gap?

Epps believes several factors may be involved. Some investors still assume that aligning their investments with their values necessarily means accepting lower returns. Others may simply be unaware that faith-aligned options are available because they've never brought it up with their advisor.

There may also be a natural progression in a person’s stewardship journey. Christians often begin by thinking about giving as the primary way their faith intersects with money. Only later do they begin considering whether their saving and investing decisions can also reflect their convictions.

That makes education essential. Advisors can help clients understand how values-based screening works, compare investment options, and evaluate them as part of a disciplined and diversified strategy. For hesitant investors, Epps suggests starting with a smaller portion of a portfolio rather than changing everything at once.

The larger principle is simple: stewardship begins by asking what matters to us before asking how our investments are performing.

The research also found that the benefits of working with a Certified Kingdom Advisor® appear to deepen over time.

Among CKA® clients who had worked with their advisor for more than five years, 66% reported a reduction in financial anxiety, compared with 49% among those in shorter advisor relationships.

That may be partly because trust is cumulative.

Over time, an advisor gets to know not only a client’s financial situation but also their family, priorities, goals, and convictions. The relationship becomes less transactional and more of a long-term partnership.

A sound financial plan can also provide perspective during difficult markets. Rather than reacting to every rise and fall, investors can return to a strategy built around long-term goals.

For Christians, there is an even deeper source of peace. Biblical financial counsel continually reminds us that God owns everything and that we are His stewards. That changes the central question from, “How do I protect everything I have?” to, “Lord, how would You have me manage what You have entrusted to me?”

That perspective cannot eliminate financial uncertainty, but it can keep uncertainty from becoming the foundation of our decisions.

Another revealing finding involved the way clients choose advisors.

Only 20% of CKA® clients said fees were the primary factor in selecting an advisor. Epps emphasized that fees still matter. Wise stewardship means understanding what you are paying and ensuring those costs are reasonable and transparent. 

But financial advice is about more than purchasing a commodity at the lowest possible price.

When an advisor understands a client’s values, the relationship can encompass far more than investment returns. It can include planning, accountability, generosity, family decisions, and a shared understanding of what money is ultimately for.

That changes the scorecard. The question becomes not simply, “Did my investments outperform?” but also, “Am I becoming more faithful with what God has entrusted to me?”

The study offered encouraging insight into the next generation as well. Among adults ages 18 to 41, 52% said shared values are extremely important when choosing financial advice.

Epps sees that as an important shift. Younger Christians often want greater consistency between what they believe and the decisions they make in every area of life—including their finances.

Rather than viewing money as a separate, purely financial category, many see it as another tool that should reflect their convictions.

That creates both an opportunity and a responsibility for financial advisors. The next generation is likely to expect conversations about purpose, values, generosity, and stewardship rather than treating those subjects as unrelated to financial planning.

For Christian advisors, that opens the door to something deeper than portfolio management: helping clients understand biblical wisdom and their role as stewards.

Perhaps one of the clearest differences the research reveals is how Certified Kingdom Advisors® think about success. Investment performance still matters. But the scorecard can be broader.

Epps pointed to outcomes such as greater peace, increased generosity, and helping clients faithfully pursue the purposes God has placed before them. The research found, for example, that CKA® clients were twice as likely to report that their giving had “significantly increased” since beginning work with their advisor.

That is particularly noteworthy because many financial advisors are compensated, in some way, based on the assets they manage. Encouraging clients to give generously may reduce those assets, yet a Kingdom-minded advisor can celebrate that generosity because the goal is not merely accumulation.

The goal is faithful stewardship.

If you are looking for financial counsel that incorporates your Christian faith, the first meeting can tell you a great deal.

Notice whether the advisor is asking questions only about your numbers or also about your values. Do they want to understand what matters to you? Are they comfortable discussing how faith influences financial decisions? Can they explain how biblical wisdom shapes the counsel they provide?

Epps also encourages believers to pray about the decision and seek the Lord’s wisdom as they choose whom to trust with such an important relationship.

Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”

Financial advice at its best should help us do more than grow wealth. It should help us grow in wisdom, make thoughtful decisions, and faithfully steward everything God has placed in our hands.

If you’d like to find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® in your area, visit FindACKA.com.

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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Reverse mortgages have carried a negative reputation for years, especially among Christians who are cautious about debt. But as with any financial tool, faithful stewardship calls us to understand how it works before deciding whether it belongs in a financial plan.

Harlan Accola leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage, a FaithFi underwriter. He joined the show today to explain why reverse mortgages remain controversial, how today’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) differs from older products, and when it might play a useful role in retirement planning.

For many believers, the hesitation begins with debt itself. Scripture repeatedly encourages wisdom, contentment, and caution in financial matters, so borrowing against a home's equity can feel contrary to good stewardship.

There is also the lingering reputation of earlier reverse mortgage products. Many people remember stories involving high costs, confusing terms, or homeowners facing difficult circumstances later in life.

Accola says those concerns are understandable. “I felt the same way in the past before I understood them,” he said.

But he argues that many people are evaluating today’s federally insured reverse mortgages based on older versions of the product—or confusing them with other home-equity arrangements that work very differently.

That makes it important to understand exactly which product is being considered and how its protections, costs, and obligations work.

The most common type of reverse mortgage is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM, which is insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

Unlike a traditional mortgage, a HECM generally does not require the borrower to make monthly principal and interest payments. Instead, the loan balance typically grows over time and becomes due when the borrower no longer occupies the home as a principal residence, sells the property, or dies.

The homeowner still retains ownership of the home and remains responsible for obligations such as property taxes, homeowners insurance, and property maintenance.

HECMs also include protections designed specifically for older homeowners. Borrowers must complete independent counseling before obtaining the loan, and the loans are non-recourse, meaning the borrower or heirs generally will not owe more than the home's value when the loan is repaid.

Certain eligible non-borrowing spouses may also be able to remain in the home after the borrowing spouse dies, provided they meet program requirements.

Those features make today’s HECM significantly different from some of the products that contributed to reverse mortgages’ poor reputation in earlier decades.

For many retirees, a home represents one of their largest assets. Yet that wealth is often difficult to use without selling the property or taking on more debt.

A reverse mortgage can potentially convert a portion of that equity into accessible funds.

One possible benefit is improved monthly cash flow. Eliminating a required mortgage payment could help a retiree living on reduced income balance a budget without turning to credit cards or other higher-cost borrowing.

Reverse mortgage proceeds may also provide additional resources for expenses such as home repairs, healthcare, or long-term care.

A HECM line of credit can offer another form of flexibility. For example, retirees may be able to draw from home equity during a market downturn rather than selling investments after they have declined in value. Used carefully, that could give an investment portfolio more time to recover.

Home equity might also help preserve other retirement assets for later years, a surviving spouse, or heirs.

The goal isn’t simply to access more money. It’s to consider all the resources God has entrusted to us and ask how they can work together wisely.

As Luke 16:10 reminds us, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.”

Faithfulness includes not only how we accumulate resources but also how thoughtfully we use what God has already provided.

Accola has also seen situations where accessing home equity allowed retirees to give more generously during their lifetime rather than waiting for assets to transfer after death.

That won’t be the right choice for everyone. Giving should never come at the expense of maintaining appropriate provision for yourself or a spouse.

But the example highlights an important stewardship principle: a home is not necessarily separate from the rest of a financial plan simply because its value is tied up in real estate.

For some families, home equity may be another resource to consider prayerfully alongside savings, investments, retirement income, and other assets.

A reverse mortgage is not appropriate for every homeowner. Before pursuing one, Accola recommends beginning with the bigger financial picture. Ask questions such as:

That last question may be the most important.

A reverse mortgage should not be viewed simply as a financial product to purchase. It should be evaluated within the context of a thoughtful retirement plan.

Working with professionals who understand both the technical details of the loan and the homeowner’s broader financial goals can help families consider the tradeoffs carefully.

A reverse mortgage isn’t for every household, and using home equity should never be an excuse for careless spending. But you shouldn't reject the product simply because of its reputation.

For the right homeowner, a modern HECM may turn otherwise inaccessible home equity into a flexible resource for cash flow, retirement planning, long-term care, or even greater generosity.

Faithful stewardship means looking carefully at every resource God has entrusted to us, understanding our options, and making decisions that serve the larger financial plan.

To learn more about reverse mortgages through Movement Mortgage, visit FaithFi.com/Movement.

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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Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a familiar picture: two men building two houses. One builds on rock. The other builds on sand. When the storms come, only one house remains standing.

The difference isn’t the weather. Both houses face the storm. The difference is the foundation.

That picture from Matthew 7 offers a helpful way to think about our financial lives. Job losses, medical expenses, market declines, and unexpected bills eventually test every household. The question is whether our financial lives are built on something strong enough to withstand them.

John Cortines, a Family Office Advisor with Blue Trust and co-author of God and Money and True Riches, offers a helpful framework: Think of your financial life as a house. Christ is the foundation. Gratitude, contentment, trust, and love form the walls. Our identity as stewards serves as the roof. And wise financial practices furnish the rooms.

Every house begins with a foundation, and the Christian financial life begins with Christ.

Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money. So before we ask how much to save, spend, invest, or give, we have to settle a more fundamental question: What—or whom—are we trusting?

1 Timothy 6 warns against placing our hope in wealth. Money is useful, but it was never designed to carry the weight of our security or identity.

Instead, biblical stewardship begins by recognizing that everything ultimately belongs to God. Haggai 2:8 reminds us that the silver and gold are His. What we possess has been entrusted to us temporarily.

That changes the way we approach money. Rather than asking, “What do I want to do with my money?” a steward begins asking, “What is the next faithful decision with what God has entrusted to me?”

Money moves from being our master to becoming a tool we manage for God’s purposes.

Once the foundation is in place, the first wall is gratitude. Gratitude protects us from one of wealth’s most subtle dangers: pride. 

Pride says, I earned this. I deserve this. Look at what I’ve accomplished. Gratitude answers, God provided this.

Deuteronomy 8:18 warns God’s people not to forget that He is the One who gives them the ability to produce wealth. Our abilities, opportunities, relationships, education, health, and circumstances are all gifts we did not create for ourselves.

That doesn’t diminish the value of hard work. It simply puts our work in its proper place.

A grateful steward can work diligently without believing everything depends on personal achievement. Gratitude opens our hands because it reminds us that every good thing ultimately comes from God.

The second wall is contentment, which guards us from coveting and comparison.

Our culture constantly invites us to look sideways. Someone always seems to have a nicer home, a newer vehicle, a larger portfolio, or a more comfortable lifestyle.

The result can be a restless appetite for more. But biblical contentment allows us to experience peace in seasons of abundance and in seasons when resources are limited.

In Philippians 4:12-13, Paul explains that he learned the secret of being content whether he had plenty or was in need. His famous statement, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” comes in the context of learning contentment through Christ.

Contentment does not mean we stop planning, working, or pursuing worthwhile goals. It means our peace is no longer waiting on the next financial milestone.

We don’t have to keep telling ourselves, I’ll finally be satisfied when I get there or when I have that. In Christ, we can receive today’s provision with gratitude while faithfully preparing for tomorrow.

The third wall is trust.

Financial anxiety often grows from the assumption that our future rests entirely on us.

Am I saving enough? What if something happens? Will there be enough for retirement? What if the economy changes?

Wise stewardship certainly includes preparation. But preparation can quietly turn into self-reliance if we begin believing our savings account is ultimately responsible for keeping us safe.

In Luke 12, Jesus reminds His followers that the Father knows what they need. That frees us to seek His Kingdom first rather than allowing fear about tomorrow to dominate today.

Our deepest security goes even further. For the Christian, our ultimate hope is not that we will avoid every financial problem. Our hope is in Christ, His victory over death, and the eternal future He has secured for His people.

That perspective doesn’t eliminate wise financial planning. It puts planning in its proper place. We prepare faithfully while trusting God completely.

The fourth wall may be the one we least often associate with money: love.

It is easy for financial planning to become entirely inward-facing. We think about our budget, our goals, our retirement, and our future without considering how God may want to use what He has entrusted to us for the good of others.

But Christian stewardship is shaped by Christ’s love. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 point us to Jesus, who gave Himself generously for us. Our generosity toward others becomes a response to the generosity we have first received from Him.

As we grow spiritually, we begin asking not merely, How much can I keep? but, How can what God has entrusted to me become an expression of love?

That may mean financial generosity, hospitality, using our abilities to serve someone, supporting the local church, or simply noticing a need we might otherwise have ignored.

Money becomes one more way to love God and love our neighbor.

Resting on those four walls is the roof: our financial identity.

There are two unhealthy extremes. The first is ownership: It’s mine. I earned it. I’ll do whatever I want with it. The second is helplessness: Nothing I do matters. I’ll never get ahead. Life just happens to me.

Stewardship offers another way. A steward says, “Everything belongs to God, and I am responsible for faithfully managing what He has entrusted to me.”

That perspective brings both responsibility and freedom.

We take our decisions seriously because stewardship matters. But we also recognize that we are not the ultimate owners or providers. God is. Our task is faithfulness.

Only after the foundation, walls, and roof are secure do we begin furnishing the house.

These furnishings represent the everyday financial habits Scripture commends: working diligently, spending purposefully, handling debt carefully, saving steadily for future needs, investing patiently and wisely, practicing generosity, and showing hospitality.

These practical decisions matter. But they work best when they flow from the right heart.

Otherwise, we can follow every financial rule and still be driven by pride, comparison, fear, or selfishness.

That’s why biblical financial wisdom goes deeper than behavior. God is interested not only in what we do with money but in what is happening in our hearts while we do it.

This financial-house framework can become a practical tool whenever you face an important money decision. Before making a major purchase, investment, career move, or other financial choice, prayerfully ask:

Those questions can expose motivations that a spreadsheet never will.

Sometimes they may lead us away from something we originally wanted. Other times, they may give us greater freedom to move forward.

Either way, they help us consider not merely whether we can make a financial decision, but whether that decision fits the kind of steward God is shaping us to become.

It’s tempting to begin our financial lives with tactics: budgets, investments, debt repayment plans, and retirement accounts.

Those things are important. But Scripture invites us to start deeper.

Build your foundation on Christ. Strengthen your life with gratitude, contentment, trust, and love. Remember that your identity is not owner but steward. Then let wise financial practices flow from those convictions.

Storms will come. Jesus never suggested otherwise. But a financial life built on the Rock has something stronger than money holding it together.

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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ESG investing promises to align your portfolio with your values. But an important question remains: Whose values are shaping the standards?

Environmental, social, and governance ratings are often presented as measures of corporate responsibility. Yet the assumptions behind those ratings may not always align with biblical convictions.

Nick Schmitz, Professor of Finance at The Catholic University of America and a Board Member of the Christian Investing Council (CIC), joined the show today to explain the differences between ESG and faith-based investing—and why Christians should pay attention not only to what they own, but also to how their shares are voted.

ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. ESG ratings attempt to evaluate companies based on their performance in each of those areas.

But Schmitz points out that ESG standards are developed by secular ratings agencies and can shift with cultural and political trends. Faith-based investing starts somewhere different: with convictions rooted in biblical truth.

That distinction matters because a company may receive strong ESG ratings while supporting practices that conflict with a Christian investor’s beliefs about issues such as the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, family, or human dignity.

There may certainly be areas of overlap. Christians care about justice, responsible stewardship, fair treatment of employees, and care for creation. But agreement on certain issues does not mean the underlying moral frameworks are the same.

Faith-based investing asks a deeper question: Does the way this company operates—and the way my ownership stake is used—reflect the convictions I am seeking to live by?

One area investors may overlook is proxy voting.

Owning shares in a publicly traded company generally gives investors the opportunity to vote on certain corporate matters. But individual investors rarely cast those votes themselves. Instead, asset managers often rely on large proxy advisory firms to provide recommendations or process votes on their behalf.

That means Christians may unknowingly own investments whose shares are being voted in ways that conflict with their beliefs.

Schmitz offered an example involving shareholder proposals related to Google and crisis pregnancy centers. Some proposals sought changes in how those organizations appeared in search results and were characterized positively within ESG-oriented frameworks. Faith-based investors, however, could reach a very different conclusion because of their convictions regarding the unborn and the work of pro-life ministries.

For Christian investors, then, screening a portfolio may be only part of the stewardship equation. How shares are voted can matter too.

Schmitz has been involved in developing proxy-voting policies designed to better reflect Catholic investment principles. The effort grew from concern that existing guidelines did not always reflect the convictions they claimed to represent.

The broader lesson applies to Christian investors of many traditions: we do not necessarily have to outsource our influence without asking questions.

Faith-based investing can involve both screening and engagement.

Screening considers whether a company’s products, services, or practices conflict with an investor’s convictions. Engagement asks whether shareholders can encourage companies toward practices that better promote human flourishing.

That makes faith-based investing more than a list of companies or industries to avoid. Shareholders can also use their ownership to advocate for positive change.

The “E” in ESG stands for environmental, which sometimes creates the impression that faith-based investors give little attention to environmental stewardship.

Schmitz argues that this does not have to be the case.

Christians may disagree about exactly how environmental concerns should be addressed, but waste, pollution, and responsible care for creation are legitimate stewardship concerns. Investors can support companies working to reduce genuine environmental harm while also considering the economic consequences of particular policies, especially for workers and lower-income communities.

The difference is that Christians can recognize room for prudential disagreement.

Biblical stewardship gives us principles to guide our thinking, but believers may reach different conclusions about the best policies or business practices to address a particular environmental concern. That calls for humility, wisdom, and careful discernment rather than assuming every issue has a one-size-fits-all solution.

Schmitz also encouraged investors to consider whether the people managing their money have what author Nassim Nicholas Taleb famously called “skin in the game.”

When Schmitz worked as a fund manager, for example, he invested his own capital alongside the investors whose money he managed.

That kind of alignment can matter. A manager who shares both the potential rewards and the downside risk has an added incentive to exercise discipline and think long-term.

For Christian investors, alignment can go even deeper. Do the people managing your investments understand your convictions? Do their investment policies reflect them? Are they transparent about how companies are screened, how proxies are voted, and how shareholder engagement is conducted?

Christian investors should not assume that an investment is biblically aligned simply because it carries a faith-related label. Transparency matters.

Schmitz highlighted several misconceptions investors should reconsider.

First, ESG is not morally neutral. Like every investment framework, it rests on assumptions about what is good, responsible, and worth promoting.

Second, faith-based investing is not merely negative screening. Christian investors can encourage good corporate behavior through shareholder engagement, proxy voting, and collaboration with other investors.

Third, bringing Christian convictions into investing is not an inappropriate intrusion of faith into an otherwise neutral marketplace. Every investor brings values into financial decisions in some form. Christians should not feel compelled to leave deeply held beliefs outside the investment process.

Finally, individual investors are not necessarily powerless. Shareholders can work together, support resolutions, engage company leadership, and influence how large asset managers vote.

The question is whether Christians will use that influence intentionally.

If you want to know whether your investments reflect your convictions, start by asking questions.

If you work with a financial advisor or investment manager, ask how your investments are screened and how proxy votes are handled. If most of your retirement savings are held through an employer-sponsored plan, ask your plan provider what proxy-voting policies apply to the funds you own.

You can also examine Christian mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that publicly disclose their screening standards, voting policies, and shareholder-engagement practices.

The goal is not perfection. Investing in a complex economy will always require wisdom and discernment. But greater transparency can help investors make more informed stewardship decisions.

Schmitz closed with advice he regularly shares with young people entering finance:

Character matters more than credentials. Work ethic, courage, and integrity can open doors over the course of a career, but ambition must remain submitted to something greater than personal achievement.

For the Christian, that means keeping Christ at the center.

Financial markets reward investors who are willing to think beyond the next quarter or the next headline. Christians have an even longer horizon. We make financial decisions knowing that earthly returns are temporary and faithfulness to Christ has eternal significance.

That perspective changes the way we think about investing. We are not merely asking, “What return can this investment produce?”

We are also asking, “What am I supporting with the resources God has entrusted to me?”

Faith-based investing is ultimately another opportunity to practice faithful stewardship—seeking to align our financial decisions with our convictions while remembering that our ultimate treasure is not found in any portfolio, but in Christ.

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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Risk is unavoidable in investing—and in life. But not all risks deserve equal attention.

It is easy to focus primarily on the probability that something will happen. If an investment, career move, or financial strategy has a high likelihood of succeeding, we may assume it is a good decision. But Mark Biller, Executive Editor at Sound Mind Investing, suggests another question may be even more important: If things go wrong, how wrong could they go?

That shift—from focusing on probabilities to considering consequences—can help us make wiser financial decisions and protect ourselves from risks that could permanently derail our plans.

Suppose someone told you there was a 99% chance an opportunity would succeed. Those odds sound compelling.

But what if the remaining 1% chance of failure meant complete financial ruin? Suddenly, the decision looks very different.

A simple illustration is crossing a busy street. The probability of being hit by a vehicle may be relatively small, but we still look both ways because the potential consequence is catastrophic. A low probability does not make a severe consequence irrelevant.

The same principle applies to investing. An outcome may be statistically unlikely, but if it could wipe out your savings, destroy your retirement plan, or leave you unable to meet your obligations, it deserves serious consideration.

Financial thinker Peter Bernstein summarized the principle well: the consequences of being wrong can matter more than the probabilities of being right. That leads to two important questions:

Financial history offers plenty of reminders that even highly intelligent investors cannot anticipate every outcome.

One famous example is the collapse of Long-Term Capital Management in 1998. The hedge fund was run by some of the brightest minds in finance and relied on sophisticated mathematical models. Those models worked under most circumstances—but a combination of leverage and extraordinary market conditions caused enormous losses.

The lesson is not that investors should avoid risk altogether. Risk is part of investing.

Rather, wise investors recognize the limits of their knowledge. We cannot predict every market decline, economic shock, or unexpected life event. That reality should lead us toward humility and encourage us to build financial plans with room for error.

One practical way to prepare for uncertainty is to maintain a margin of safety.

That begins before investing. A strong financial foundation includes reducing burdensome debt and establishing adequate emergency savings. Then, as you invest, diversification can help reduce the danger of concentrated bets, while avoiding excessive leverage can protect against losses that permanently impair your financial position.

The goal is not to eliminate every possible risk. That would be impossible.

Instead, margin allows your plan to survive when circumstances do not unfold as expected. Biblical wisdom encourages this kind of prudence. Proverbs 22:3 says:

“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”

Wise stewardship does not require us to live fearfully. But it does call us to recognize potential danger and prepare appropriately.

An emergency fund may seem separate from an investment portfolio, but the two are closely connected.

Think of investing like climbing a ladder. Before climbing higher, you want to make sure the ladder is resting on firm ground.

Emergency savings provide that foundation.

Unexpected expenses are inevitable. A furnace fails. A vehicle needs replacing sooner than expected. A major repair suddenly becomes necessary.

Without adequate savings, those expenses may force you to sell investments at exactly the wrong time—perhaps when the market is down significantly. What began as an ordinary household expense can then cause lasting damage to a long-term investment plan.

An emergency fund creates financial breathing room so temporary problems do not become permanent setbacks.

Consequences become especially important as retirement approaches.

One risk retirees face is known as sequence-of-returns risk. This occurs when significant investment losses happen early in retirement while a retiree is simultaneously withdrawing money from the portfolio.

Two retirees could experience similar average investment returns over several decades but have very different outcomes depending on when the losses occur.

A steep market decline early in retirement can be particularly damaging because withdrawals compound those losses. Even strong returns later may not fully repair the damage.

Diversification can help manage this risk. Some retirees also choose to keep several years of anticipated spending in cash or relatively low-risk investments so they are less likely to sell stocks during a severe market downturn.

The appropriate strategy will vary by household, but the principle remains the same: consider not only what is likely to happen, but what would happen to your plan if difficult circumstances arrived at an inconvenient time.

Risk tolerance is often discussed in terms of emotion: How comfortable are you when markets fall?

That matters, but consequence-based thinking adds another dimension.

Ask what would happen if an investment or strategy failed.

Would the loss merely be disappointing? Or would it prevent you from retiring, eliminate your emergency reserves, jeopardize your home, or keep you awake at night?

If a negative outcome would derail your financial goals, you may be taking more risk than you can afford—even if the probability of success appears high.

On the other hand, if you can absorb the downside without seriously damaging your financial plan, then probability can play a larger role in the decision.

This framework also guards against becoming too conservative.

Avoiding stocks entirely in retirement may reduce short-term market volatility, for example, but it introduces another potential consequence: a portfolio may fail to keep pace with inflation over a retirement that lasts several decades.

Wise risk management considers both sides.

We cannot know exactly what markets, inflation, interest rates, or the economy will do next. And Scripture never promises that careful planning will remove uncertainty from our lives.

Our confidence ultimately rests somewhere deeper.

As Christians, we believe God is sovereign and that our ultimate security is found in Christ—not in the performance of our portfolios. That frees us to approach financial decisions with both wisdom and humility.

We can plan carefully without pretending we know the future. We can prepare for risk without being ruled by fear. And we can leave margin in our finances because we recognize our own limitations.

The goal is not to predict every possible outcome. It is to build a financial life capable of enduring when some of our predictions inevitably prove wrong.

Before taking a significant financial risk, don't simply ask, “What are the odds that this will work?”

Ask one more question: “If it doesn't, can my financial plan withstand the consequences?”

That question may be one of the most valuable safeguards a wise steward can use.

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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Long-term care isn’t just a health issue. It can become a major financial and family decision.

Most of us hope we’ll never need extended care, but wise stewardship means preparing for possibilities before they become a crisis. And while long-term care insurance may be part of that preparation, the first step isn’t necessarily buying a policy. It’s having a plan.

Nathan Sanow, President of LTC Consumer and MasterCare LLC, has spent more than two decades helping individuals and families navigate long-term care planning. He says the most important place to begin is understanding what would happen if you or someone you love needed care for an extended period.

People often hear “long-term care” and immediately think about insurance premiums. But insurance is simply one potential way to fund a larger plan.

A good long-term care plan begins by asking several practical questions:

These conversations can be difficult, but they are much easier to have before a crisis occurs. Planning ahead also gives family members an opportunity to understand your wishes rather than making major decisions under pressure.

One of the most common misconceptions about long-term care is that Medicare or regular health insurance will cover the cost. In most cases, they will not.

Medicare may pay for certain short-term rehabilitation services after a qualifying hospital stay. For example, someone recovering from a stroke or surgery may receive temporary rehabilitative care.

But Medicare generally does not pay for ongoing custodial care—the type of help someone may need with everyday activities over an extended period. Traditional health insurance generally does not cover that kind of care either.

Medicaid can pay for long-term care, but eligibility requires meeting strict financial requirements. That often means spending down assets significantly before qualifying for assistance.

Another common source of confusion is long-term disability insurance. Long-term disability insurance replaces a portion of your income when you are unable to work. Long-term care coverage, by contrast, helps pay for the care you need when you can no longer adequately care for yourself.

Long-term care insurance is essentially a risk-transfer tool.

Instead of assuming the full financial risk of an unpredictable long-term care event, you pay a predictable premium and transfer some of that risk to an insurance company.

Many policies allow considerable flexibility in how benefits are used. Depending on the policy, coverage may help pay for professional care at home, assisted living, or a long-term care facility.

That flexibility matters because many people would prefer to remain at home as long as possible.

Some policies also provide caregiver support services. When a long-term care event occurs, families are suddenly forced to navigate providers, facilities, benefits, and major financial decisions. Having professional guidance available during that process can be valuable in itself.

The cost of coverage varies significantly depending on the type of policy, age, health, benefits selected, and length of coverage.

Sanow says consumers can think of long-term care insurance much like buying a vehicle: there are inexpensive options, premium options, and many choices in between.

Based on his company’s experience with thousands of consumers, hybrid life and long-term care policies may cost considerably more than traditional coverage, while shorter-term policies can cost less.

The important point is that coverage can often be customized. Rather than asking, “How much does long-term care insurance cost?” a better question may be, “How much of this risk do I need to insure?”

A household might choose insurance that covers only part of the potential cost while planning to pay the remainder from savings or other assets.

The potential cost of extended care is what makes planning so important.

According to figures discussed by Sano, roughly half of Americans may eventually need professional long-term care services lasting 90 days or more. Women face an especially significant risk of needing care for an extended period. And the costs can add up quickly.

In some areas of the country, facility-based care can cost well over $10,000 per month. Even one year of care could consume more than $100,000.

For someone with substantial savings, that may simply represent an expense they have chosen to self-insure. But for many households, an extended care event could significantly alter a retirement plan, affect a surviving spouse, or reduce assets intended for other purposes.

That is why every household should at least identify how those expenses would be paid.

Not everyone needs long-term care insurance.

Some households with significant assets may be comfortable paying for care themselves. Others with limited resources may ultimately depend on Medicaid.

But many families fall somewhere in between. For those households, the question is whether they could comfortably absorb a long-term care expense without jeopardizing other financial priorities.

If you decide to self-insure, the plan still needs to be specific.

Simply saying, “We’ll use our savings,” is not the same as having a plan.

For many people, the early 50s through mid-60s can be an important window for considering long-term care insurance.

Waiting too long can create challenges because premiums generally increase with age, and health problems may make coverage more difficult—or impossible—to obtain.

At the same time, newer insurance products have created additional options for some older consumers who might not have qualified for traditional coverage in the past.

That makes it important to evaluate your options while you are still healthy rather than assuming you can purchase coverage later.

Long-term care insurance has faced criticism over the years because some traditional policies experienced significant premium increases. 

Today, however, consumers may have additional choices. Some hybrid life and long-term care policies offer premiums that are contractually guaranteed not to increase.

Sanow also notes that insurers now have decades of additional claims and interest-rate data that were not available when many older policies were originally priced. That information can help companies make more informed assumptions when designing newer products.

Still, consumers should understand whether premiums are guaranteed or whether they could increase over time before purchasing any policy.

Long-term care products have also become more flexible.

One growing option is a cash-benefit policy. Once the policyholder qualifies for benefits, the insurance company provides a set cash amount that can potentially be used more freely—including paying certain family members or other caregivers, depending on the policy.

Another development is the movement from daily benefit limits toward monthly benefits.

That distinction can be especially helpful for people receiving home care only a few days each week. Instead of being limited to a specific amount per day, a monthly benefit provides more flexibility in how the available benefit is used throughout the month.

As always, policy details vary, so understanding exactly how benefits are calculated and paid is essential.

Long-term care planning ultimately begins with people, not policies.

Before researching insurance, sit down with your spouse, children, or other family members and talk honestly about what you would want if you needed extended care. Ask:

Once you understand the answers, you can begin evaluating whether savings, investments, insurance, or some combination of those resources should fund the plan.

If insurance may be appropriate, consider working with an independent professional who understands the underwriting requirements of multiple carriers. Health standards can vary significantly between insurers, and the right guidance may help you evaluate the options available to you.

Long-term care insurance isn’t right for every household. But long-term care planning is something every family should consider.

Preparing ahead can protect more than your finances. It can give your family clarity, preserve choices, and reduce the burden of making difficult decisions during an already stressful season.  That, too, is part of wise stewardship. 

To learn more about long-term care planning and explore your options, visit LTCConsumer.com.

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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Stewardship isn’t a one-time decision. It’s an ongoing way of life—a cycle that begins with gratitude, moves through faithful growth, and leads to generosity.

Tim Tassopoulos, Former President and Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A, has seen that cycle at work throughout his life and career. During his decades with the company, he helped shape a culture known not only for operational excellence but also for servant leadership, hospitality, and investing in people.

For Tassopoulos, faithful stewardship starts with a foundational truth: God owns it all.

That includes our finances, but it extends much further. Our abilities, relationships, opportunities, time, experiences, and even the challenges we encounter are all things God has entrusted to us. Stewardship is the process of receiving those gifts gratefully, developing them faithfully, and ultimately using them for the good of others and the glory of God.

The first step in the cycle is gratitude.

Before we can faithfully manage what God has given us, we must recognize that it came from Him in the first place. Gratitude shifts our perspective from ownership to stewardship.

That contrast is clear in Jesus’ parable of the rich fool in Luke 12. The man repeatedly speaks of “my crops,” “my barns,” and “my grain.” His mistake wasn’t simply having an abundant harvest. He had forgotten the One from whom his abundance came.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 offers another picture. The first two servants received different amounts, yet both faithfully put what they had been entrusted with to work. Their focus wasn’t on comparing what they received but on faithfully managing it.

Gratitude allows us to do the same. And it requires intentionality. Tassopoulos encourages making gratitude part of the daily rhythm of life through prayer, Scripture, and consciously recognizing God’s provision.

That gratitude doesn’t have to be limited to the things we naturally consider blessings. We can thank God for relationships, resources, and good health, but also recognize that challenges and opportunities can become gifts He uses to shape us.

When we begin with gratitude, we are better prepared to steward whatever God places in our hands.

Gratitude naturally leads to the next stage of stewardship: growth.

If God has entrusted us with abilities, relationships, opportunities, knowledge, or financial resources, faithful stewardship asks how we can develop those gifts—not merely for our own benefit, but so they can increasingly serve others.

That requires becoming a lifelong learner. Tassopoulos puts it simply: without humility, there is no growth.

Learning begins by acknowledging that we don’t know everything. We need the wisdom, experience, correction, and perspective of others. That may come through books, mentors, colleagues, Scripture, or simply reflecting carefully on our own experiences.

The more we learn, the more we may be able to contribute. For Tassopoulos, one practical expression of that commitment was something he called a library day.

Throughout his career at Chick-fil-A, he intentionally reserved one day each month to leave the office and work from a public library. Away from the distractions of the corporate support center—and with less opportunity to constantly check his phone—he could study, evaluate his schedule, reflect on recent experiences, and look ahead to the next 90 days.

Those days became opportunities for restoration, reflection, and refocusing.

When Tassopoulos became president of Chick-fil-A and knew the demands on his time would increase considerably, he made what might seem like a counterintuitive decision: he added a second library day each month.

Greater responsibility meant he needed more time to think, not less.

There is a lesson there for all of us. Growth rarely happens accidentally. Whether we are developing our finances, our professional abilities, our relationships, or our spiritual lives, we need margin to learn, reflect, and make wise decisions.

Growth, however, isn’t the destination. The purpose of developing what God has entrusted to us is not simply to accumulate more. Growth creates greater opportunities to serve.

That leads to generosity. 

Financial giving is certainly part of generosity, but biblical generosity is much larger. We can be generous with our time, our attention, our knowledge, our relationships, our encouragement, and our willingness to invest in other people.

Tassopoulos saw that modeled repeatedly by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy and the Cathy family. Their generosity has included financial giving, but also mentoring future leaders, investing in employees and communities, and creating organizations designed to serve others.

That reflects Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose, developed during a difficult period for the company in the early 1980s:

“To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”

Notably, that purpose says nothing about restaurant growth, revenue, or the number of chicken sandwiches sold. It centers on glorifying God, practicing faithful stewardship, and influencing people for good.

Business success became something to steward rather than the ultimate goal.

Truett Cathy also communicated stewardship through a simple financial principle Tassopoulos remembers well: Give 10%, save 10%, and work 10% harder.

The order mattered. Giving came first, reinforcing that generosity should be intentional rather than something we practice only when there happens to be money left over. Saving acknowledged the importance of preparing wisely for both present needs and the future. And working harder reflected Cathy’s continual challenge to give your best effort.

That philosophy was connected to another biblical principle that shaped Cathy’s life. Proverbs 22:1 says:

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.”

Reputation, integrity, and faithfulness mattered more than financial success.

That same mindset can also be seen in Chick-fil-A’s emphasis on “second-mile service,” drawn from Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:41: “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

Going beyond what is required is another expression of generosity.

This is why stewardship is best understood as a cycle rather than a checklist.

We receive what God provides with gratitude. We faithfully grow and develop what He has entrusted to us. Then we generously share the fruit of that growth with others.

And when we experience the privilege of giving, serving, mentoring, encouraging, or investing in someone else, we have another reason to be grateful.

Then, the cycle begins again.

That perspective changes the way we think about money and everything else God places in our hands. The question is no longer simply, “How much can I accumulate?” Instead, we begin asking, “How faithfully can I manage what God has entrusted to me?”

Stewardship begins with gratitude, grows through faithful action, and comes full circle in generosity. And as we continue that cycle throughout our lives, the resources God provides become opportunities to glorify Him and bless the people around us.

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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Credit card fees rarely wreck a budget all at once. Instead, they tend to chip away at it little by little.

Interest charges, late fees, annual fees, cash advances, and other costs can quietly consume resources that could have been used for saving, giving, or meeting other financial priorities. That’s why wise stewardship includes understanding what your credit cards cost and making sure they’re serving your financial plan rather than working against it.

Proverbs 21:20 says, “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”

This isn’t a call to hoard what God provides. It’s a reminder that wisdom pays attention. Good stewardship means knowing where our money is going and refusing to let avoidable expenses unnecessarily consume what God has entrusted to us.

Technically, interest isn’t a fee, but for anyone carrying a credit card balance, it’s usually far more expensive than the other charges associated with a card.

When interest rates are high, reward points and cash-back offers quickly lose their appeal. A few dollars in rewards can’t compensate for months of interest on an unpaid balance.

The best practice is straightforward: Don’t charge more than you can afford to pay off when the bill comes due.

If you’re already carrying a balance, consider putting the card away while you develop a plan to eliminate the debt. Continuing to add new purchases while trying to pay down old ones can make progress much more difficult.

Late fees vary by card issuer, so review your cardholder agreement and know exactly when your payment is due.

Payment alerts and automatic payments can be helpful safeguards. At minimum, consider automating the required payment so an overlooked due date doesn’t create another unnecessary expense. Ideally, pay the full statement balance each month so you avoid interest altogether.

If you use automatic payments, however, make sure there’s enough money in your checking account when the payment is scheduled. A returned payment may result in a fee from the card issuer and possibly another fee from your bank.

Keeping a small cushion in checking can help protect against those surprises.

Some credit cards have no annual fee, while others charge hundreds of dollars in exchange for travel benefits, rewards, or other perks.

In many cases, avoiding an annual fee altogether is the simpler choice. The benefits may not justify the cost, especially if rewards encourage you to spend more than you otherwise would.

The goal isn’t to maximize points. It’s to make wise decisions with the resources God has provided.

For responsible credit users who want their financial tools to reflect their values, FaithFi appreciates AdelFi Christian Banking. Formed through the merger of Christian Community Credit Union and AdelFi Credit Union, AdelFi provides purpose-driven banking solutions designed to help Christians align their finances with their faith.

Since 1995, AdelFi members’ card activity has generated more than $6.9 million for Christian causes. You can learn more at FaithFi.com/Banking.

Cash advances are one of the most expensive ways to borrow.

They may include an upfront fee, and unlike ordinary purchases, interest often begins accruing immediately. That makes a cash advance a costly solution to a short-term cash-flow problem.

A better long-term approach is to build financial margin. Start with a small emergency fund, then work toward a larger reserve over time. Having cash available for unexpected expenses can help keep a financial setback from turning into high-interest credit card debt.

If you travel internationally or make purchases from foreign merchants, check whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee.

Some cards charge a percentage of each transaction, while others waive these fees entirely. Knowing your card’s policy before traveling can help prevent unnecessary surprises.

One of the simplest financial habits is also one of the most valuable: review every credit card statement.

Look for unexpected fees, forgotten subscriptions, duplicate charges, or transactions you don’t recognize. Regularly reviewing your statements helps you catch problems early and stay engaged with your financial life.

It also gives you an opportunity to ask a larger question: Is this card still helping me accomplish what I intended it to?

Credit cards aren’t inherently good or bad. What matters is whether they help or hinder faithful stewardship.

If using a credit card consistently leads to interest charges, fees, or overspending, the wisest decision may be to stop using it. There’s no spiritual virtue in having a credit card, and there’s no shame in choosing cash or debit if those tools help you manage money more faithfully.

Faithfulness often shows up in small financial decisions: paying bills on time, avoiding unnecessary costs, living within God’s provision, and directing more of what He has entrusted to us toward His purposes.

Take a few minutes this week to review the credit cards you use. Know what they cost. Know why you have them. And make sure they’re serving your financial plan rather than quietly shaping it.

If you’re looking for a financial institution that shares your Christian values, consider AdelFi Christian Banking. FaithFi listeners can earn up to a $400 bonus when opening a qualifying high-yield checking or savings account or a Cash Rewards Visa credit account. Visit FaithFi.com/Banking and use the code FAITHFI to learn more.

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.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.