David sits down with Garrett to tell the full story: from broke to eight figures, and everything that happened in between that nobody warned him about.Key topics:The hamster wheel: income up 5x, wealth flatChildhood money influences — hard work + spendingDave Ramsey / Financial Peace University and the guardrails that changed everythingThe culture inside financial advising (and why most advisors are broke)California real estate as a first accumulation leverBuying the Chico firm and building a real enterpriseTrust and delegation as the ceiling on your companyGoing all in with God in businessWhy the next milestone is a mirageCorrie Ten Boom's "hold everything lightly"The loneliness of leadership at the tip of the spearDeuteronomy 8:17–18 and the lie of self-made wealthFaith as the source of business fearlessness

Chapters:00:00 — Intro00:17 — From broke to eight figures00:39 — Early money mindset and childhood influences01:56 — Hard work, nice things, and spending habits03:05 — Learning to work and spend in cycles06:14 — Being broke vs. being on the hamster wheel08:43 — Dave Ramsey influence and financial guardrails11:04 — When wealth started to accumulate13:19 — Integrity as a financial advisor14:38 — The culture of financial advisors17:38 — Building a team and business responsibility20:53 — Growing a business with people, not alone25:18 — Buying the company and building a real enterprise28:43 — Trust, delegation, and leadership31:13 — Going all in with God in business34:02 — Reconciling faith and hard work35:22 — Why the next milestone never satisfies38:13 — What if it all disappeared tomorrow?40:33 — What the kids should learn from the story41:37 — The honest truth about going from broke to eight figures43:03 — The loneliness of success and leadership45:20 — Faith as a source of boldness in business46:31 — OutroScripture referenced:Deuteronomy 8:17–18 — "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth."Proverbs 13:11 — "Whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow."Galatians 5 — the fruit of the flesh vs. the fruit of the Spirit2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."Philippians 1:29 — suffering for the sake of ChristMatthew 6:33 — seek first the kingdomResources & references mentioned:Dave Ramsey — Financial Peace University (the class David hosted that changed how he thought about personal finances)Convene — Christian peer-to-peer CEO group; the source of the leadership-development spreadsheet Aaron usedJohn D. Rockefeller — "I believe the power to make money is a gift of God to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind."Corrie Ten Boom — "Hold everything in your hands lightly. Otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open."Kerux — Greek for messenger / herald, anchored in 1 Timothy 6:17–19Connect & next steps — Kerux:Kerux (Greek for messenger) exists to help Christian entrepreneurs and leaders steward the time, talent, and treasure they've been given — and take hold of the "life that is truly life" that 1 Timothy 6 describes.The monthly Kerux newsletter is the best on-ramp. We cover markets, stewardship, and what whole-life generosity looks like in practice — no fluff, no hype, no upsell.→ Sign up: KERUXHQ.comIf this episode resonated, the most meaningful thing you can do is share it with one entrepreneur or leader you know who's chasing a milestone they secretly suspect won't satisfy. That single share is how the message travels.🎧 Subscribe to The David Laut Show wherever you listen.📍 Watch full episodes on YouTube — tap subscribe so you don't miss next week.

"There is a risk, and it will cost. But the outcome — the other side — is the freedom and enjoyment we've all been looking for."

Most Christian entrepreneurs are chasing the same thing: enjoyment. Freedom. Fulfillment. And the world tells us the path is simple — become elite, and the joy will follow. Grind hard enough, hit the numbers, get to the top of the mountain, and you'll finally feel free.

David Laut has been to that mountaintop. It didn't deliver.In this episode, David and Garrett break down the three founding principles of Kerux — Eternal, Elite, Enjoy — and how they finally clicked into an equation, not a checklist. Eternal + Elite = Enjoy. David wants every listener to walk away with at least one thing: bring the closed doors of your life into the light.

If you look successful on paper but something inside still feels off — this one's for you.

Chapters:

00:00 The Role of Prayer and Intent in Business

01:28 Understanding the Equation: Eternal + Elite = Enjoy

03:42 The Disconnect Between Joy and Cultural Expectations

06:05 Bridging Work and Worship

08:25 The Challenge of Representing Christ in Business

11:03 Living Out Christian Values in Entrepreneurship

13:54 Surrendering Business to God

16:28 The Cost of Following God's Path

17:49 The Desire to Be Like God

20:11 Distinguishing Ambitions: Selfish vs. Godly

23:14 The Shift from Self to God

27:45 Pursuing Excellence with Eternal Perspective

32:08 Character vs. Competency: The Recovery Process

37:41 Finding Fulfillment in Eternal Joy

41:20 Closing Time :)

41:38 Outro & Links

Scripture Referenced:

Jeremiah 9:23–24 — Let not the wise boast in his wisdom

Galatians 5:19–21 — The works of the flesh

Psalm 16:11 — You will fill me with joy in Your presence

Psalm 24:1 — The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it

Philippians 3:12–14 — Not that I have already arrived, but I press on

1 Corinthians 9:24–25 — Run in such a way as to get the prize

Matthew 7:22–23 — "Lord, Lord… I never knew you"

2 Chronicles 21 / 2 Samuel 24 — David and the threshing floor: "I will not offer a sacrifice that costs me nothing"

Colossians 1:27 — Christ in you, the hope of glory

Romans 5:8 — While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Colossians 3:23 — Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord

Ephesians 6:2 — Honor your father and mother (the first commandment with a promise)

Ecclesiastes — Everything under the sun is meaningless

Resources & Books Mentioned:

- The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey — the character + competency framework David draws on

- Kerux Financial — David's firm; the three E's (Eternal, Elite, Enjoy) are the founding principles

- The Great Commission — the call to proclaim, not just live out, the gospel

- Reference to the (likely misattributed) St. Francis of Assisi line: "Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words"

- Elevation Worship (referenced) — a challenge to actually mean the lyrics you sing on Sunday

Connect Your Faith & Your Finances — Kerux Financial:

Kerux helps faith-focused entrepreneurs and families align their money with their mission — so you can pursue real freedom, not just a bigger number.

👉 Learn more: https://KeruxHQ.com

👉 Subscribe to the monthly newsletter — markets, stewardship, and all things finance: [https://keruxhq.com/newsletter/]

👉 Book a conversation with our team: [https://keruxhq.com/explore-a-partnership/]

Enjoying The David Laut Show?

If this episode encouraged you:

✅ SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss a Tuesday episode

👍 LIKE this video — it helps more faith-focused entrepreneurs find it

💬 COMMENT below: Which "E" is easiest for you — Eternal, Elite, or Enjoy? Which is hardest?

↗️ SHARE this with an entrepreneur who looks successful on paper but is quietly wrestling with something more

Summary:For the first time on the show, David sits down with his wife Ariane to tell the full story — meeting in a dive bar, the miscarriages, the beanbag-chair surrender, fasting and praying through their first business acquisition, the COVID office-floor prayer ("my plans for you are good"), signing the second acquisition in a hospital delivery room, becoming Kerux, the homeschool surrender, the cost of going public with their faith, and the one word Ariane keeps returning to: surrender.

Keywords:testimony, marriage, family, stewardship, surrender, miscarriage, postpartum, homeschool, business acquisition, faith, Christian entrepreneur, Christian family, private equity, Kerux, faith and finances, prayer, COVID, delivery room, reputation, Convene, parenting, large family

Chapters:00:00 - Overcoming mistakes: David’s life out of control crisis (2016)

00:33 - Prayer and gratitude: Setting the spiritual tone for change

01:05 - From wild youth to sold-out faith: How they met and their early life (2016)

02:23 - Life before faith: Partying, work, and struggles (2016)

04:04 - Recognizing lukewarm faith and the journey to surrender (2016-2018)

08:13 - The pivotal 2016 San Diego incident and life turning point (2016)

11:15 - Building a faith-based business and navigating opposition (2016-2020)

13:19 - Navigating COVID, market crashes, and trusting God's provision (2020)

15:12 - Experiencing God's rescue during crisis moments (2016-2022)

17:54 - Leadership, faith at work, and standing boldly in opposition (2020-2022)

20:52 - Deciding to have more children and trusting God's plan (2017-2022)

24:00 - Managing corporate challenges and trusting God's sovereignty (2022)

28:21 - The journey through church, community, and bold faith (2020-2022)

33:35 - The decision to homeschool and trusting God's provision (2019-2022)

39:06 - Embracing God's growth, including seventh child and new opportunities (2022)

45:50 - Overcoming societal opinions and trusting God's purpose (2019-2022)

53:24 - Motherhood's sanctification and leading through faith (2023)

55:34 - The importance of surrender and trusting God's timing and plans (2023)

Scripture referenced:Romans 8:28 — "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him"Romans 12:1 — "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice"Philippians 4:11–13 — "I have learned the secret of being content"Matthew 6:33 — "Seek first the kingdom"Jeremiah 29:11 — "My plans for you are good"1 Timothy 6:17–19 — The Kerux anchor text

Resources & references mentioned:Convene — Christian peer-to-peer CEO group; pivotal in David's leadership formationFamily Camp — annual touchpoint that has influenced multiple major family decisionsKerux — Greek for "messenger / herald," the rebrand of David's wealth management firm rooted in 1 Timothy 6:17–19

Connect & next steps — Kerux:Kerux (Greek for messenger / herald) exists to help Christian entrepreneurs and leaders steward the time, talent, and treasure they've been given — and live the "life that is truly life" that 1 Timothy 6 describes.The monthly Kerux newsletter is the best on-ramp. We cover markets, stewardship, and what whole-life generosity looks like in practice.→ Sign up: https://keruxhq.com/newsletter/If this episode resonated, the most meaningful thing you can do is share it with one couple, one family, or one entrepreneur who needs to hear that surrender is not the end of the story — it's almost always the beginning of the best part.

🎧 Subscribe to The David Laut Show wherever you listen.

📍 Watch full episodes on YouTube — tap subscribe so you don't miss next week.

When most Christians hear "treasure," they think money. But treasure is bigger than the offering plate.

In this episode, David opens up about the private equity buyout he had on the table in August 2024 — "commas in it I'd never imagined" — and why he said no. He shares the "is this it?" moment that hit him on a Tuesday afternoon golf course, the 60–70% of organic growth his firm has lost since openly becoming a Christian wealth company, and why he'd still make the same decision today.

The conversation widens into patterns David sees as a CFP: why entrepreneurs are calculated in their businesses but reckless with personal finances, the "house money" trap that lands when income grows, the Billy Graham line that keeps getting more accurate, and the sobering data behind the Kerux mission — Christians control roughly 30% of global wealth and give half as much as the generation before us.

The episode takes a turn most listeners won't expect when David names the other treasure he didn't realize he'd been worshipping: reputation. He shares the personal cost of openly rebranding as a Christian firm — going from well-regarded to being seen as a clown by some he respected — and the fearlessness that has shown up on the other side of that surrender.

We close with King David, a man of significant wealth who gave significantly to build a temple he never got to see, and the closing challenge: what's off-limits to God in your life — and is that the very thing keeping Him from taking you to the next chapter?

Chapters:

00:00 — Treasure Is Bigger Than Money
02:30 — Directions, Not Rules: How God Talks About Money
05:00 — Philippians 4:19 — Needs vs. Wants
08:00 — The Exit I Didn't Take
13:00 — Calculated in Business, Reckless Personally
18:30 — The House Money Trap
23:00 — The Billy Graham Test
26:00 — The 30% Problem (Kerux Origin)
29:00 — Can Christians Be Wealthy?
33:00 — Reputation: The Idol I Didn't See
38:00 — A Man After God's Own Heart
42:00 — What's Off-Limits to God?

Soundbites:

"The prize was never money. The prize was Jesus, present with you."
"It's not house money. It's His money."
"Reputation might be your biggest idol — and you don't even know it."

Bible Verses Referenced:

Philippians 4:19 • 1 Timothy 6:17–19 • Matthew 6:21 • Colossians 1:27 • Philippians 4:11–13 • Romans 8:28

KERUX:

Kerux (Greek for "messenger / herald") exists to help Christian entrepreneurs and leaders steward the time, talent, and treasure they've been given — and take hold of the "life that is truly life" 1 Timothy 6 describes.

The monthly Kerux newsletter is the best on-ramp. We cover markets, stewardship, and what whole-life generosity looks like in practice.

→ Sign up at KERUXHQ.com

If this episode resonated, share it with one entrepreneur or leader wrestling with the gap between their faith and their finances. That single share is how the message travels.

🎧 Subscribe to The David Laut Show wherever you listen.
📍 Full episodes on YouTube — tap subscribe so you don't miss next week.

Most entrepreneurs start out thinking they're "the talent." Then the business grows, the team gets harder, and the gap between confidence and competence shows up.

In this episode, David walks through the framework that rewired his approach to leadership — the four-quadrant exercise that helps you see what work is actually yours — and the moment he realized his first hire shouldn't be a clone, but a complement.

He shares the aspirational org chart practice he uses to identify the hats his team (and he) shouldn't be wearing, why every time a business doubles half the team becomes obsolete if they're not being developed, and the two barriers that keep most leaders from ever building a real team: fear and pride.

If you've felt the pull between wanting to grow your team and not knowing how, this one's for you.

Key topics

The impact of fear on decision-making

Biblical perspective on fear and courage

Staying connected to Jesus (the vine)

The importance of a sound mind in leadership

Using faith to operate out of love and power

Building and developing a team as a steward, not an owner

Takeaways

Fear is a major obstacle to effective decision-making — both in hiring and in delegating.

Biblical teachings encourage staying connected to Jesus for strength and clarity.

A sound mind and love are essential ingredients for healthy leadership and growth.

Faith helps leaders operate out of power and love instead of fear and self-protection.

Stewardship of talent starts with knowing how God wired you — then finding the complementary people

Keywords

fear, faith, Bible, decision-making, spiritual growth, Jesus, power, love, sound mind, stewardship, leadership, team building, entrepreneurship, four quadrants, org chart, delegation, pride, Sacred Pace, body of Christ

Sound bites

"God hasn't given us a spirit of fear."

"Stay connected to the vine, Jesus."

"Operate out of power, love, and a sound mind."

"You are not the whole body. You're one part of it. Your job is to find the rest."

"Every time a business doubles, half the team becomes obsolete — unless you've been developing them."

"Gather the facts. Consult wise counsel. Talk to your friend Jesus. Get neutral."

Chapters

00:00 — The Journey of Entrepreneurship

06:47 — Building a Strong Team

12:32 — Maintaining Team Development and Culture

18:37 — Overcoming Fear in Leadership

23:10 — Navigating Challenges with Talent

28:12 — The Role of Faith in Stewarding Talent

31:57 — Trusting God with Your Financial Future

32:15 — OutroResources & references mentioned

The Four Quadrants framework — like + good at, like + not good at, don't like + good at, don't like + not good at

VOPS Leadership Style Assessment (Visionary / Operator / Processor / Synergist) — introduced via Convene - https://predictablesuccess.com/vops-styles-quiz/

Sacred Pace by Terry Looper — the four-step decision-making model

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif BabinThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Scripture referenced

2 Timothy 1:7 — "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind"

John 15 — "Abide in me… I am the vine"

Ecclesiastes 5:19 — the blessing of enjoying your toil

Philippians 1:6 — "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it"

Romans 12:3 — "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought"

Proverbs 16:18 — "Pride goes before destruction"

1 Corinthians 12 — the body of Christ and its many parts

Connect & next steps

Faith and finances are deeply connected. To go deeper on stewardship, the markets, and what whole-life generosity looks like, visit KERUXHQ.com, where you can also sign up for our monthly newsletter.

If this episode resonated, the most helpful thing you can do is share it with one other entrepreneur or leader who's wrestling with how to build a team God's way.

Faith-focused entrepreneurs face a tension nobody talks about: the world says time is running out. Scripture says we're eternal.

Which one is actually driving your calendar?

In this episode, David Laut shares the seven-year grinding season that nearly cost him his relationship with his oldest son, the agreement he made with God about how much time he'd give to work, and why his business grew 5X after he started doing less.

We cover:

→ Why "time is money" is the smallest version of stewardship

→ The lie of "I'm the provider" — and what's really driving our work obsession

→ The unspoken trade-off: getting validation at work that you don't get at home

→ Why owning the outcome is the fastest path to burnout

→ The 80/20 principle through a Kingdom lens

→ Using prayer to solve real-world problems (including a wild valet-step story)

→ The Ephesians 5 framework for making the best use of your time

→ What faith, hope, and love actually look like in a calendarIf you've ever felt the tension between ambition and discipleship — between building wealth and stewarding your life — this conversation is for you.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Intro

01:30 — The time tension every Christian entrepreneur feels

05:00 — "Time is money" and the world's definition of winning

09:30 — Pride at work vs. presence at home1

3:00 — The 2013–2020 grind and what it cost

17:00 — 2016: surrender and the business opportunity that followed

21:00 — The 5X growth from doing less and trusting more

26:00 — Turning off the work brain: starting in the Word

30:00 — Long-term plans vs. surrendered seasons

34:00 — Two extremes: hustle culture vs. time-freedom idolatry

39:00 — The 80/20 rule, redeemed

43:00 — Prayer as problem-solving (the valet story)

48:00 — The 40-year rearview question

52:00 — A challenge to anyone who feels they don't have enough time

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

💵 CONNECT YOUR FAITH & YOUR FINANCES — KERUX FINANCIAL

Want to go deeper on stewarding your time, talent, and treasure? Kerux Financial helps faith-focused entrepreneurs and families align their money with their mission — so you can pursue real freedom, not just a bigger number.

👉 Learn more: https://KeruxHQ.com

👉 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter — markets, stewardship, and all things finance

👉 Book a conversation with our team: https://keruxhq.com/explore-a-partner...

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🔔 ENJOYING THE DAVID LAUT SHOW?

If this episode encouraged you:

✅ SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode

👍 LIKE this video to help more faith-focused entrepreneurs find it

💬 COMMENT below: which is hardest for you to steward — time, talent, or treasure?

↗️ SHARE this with an entrepreneur who needs to hear it

The David Laut Show is for faith-focused entrepreneurs who are successful but want to create eternal value, too.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

#Stewardship #FaithAndFinance #ChristianEntrepreneur #TheDavidLautShow #Tithing #FaithFocused #KeruxFinancial #FinancialFreedom #FaithAndBusiness #TimeTalentTreasure #ChristianBusiness #KingdomEntrepreneur #BiblicalStewardship #Generosity #Freedom

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

⚠️ This content is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

What are you really chasing — and would you recognize freedom if you had it?

🎯 WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY

In this episode of The David Laut Show, David Laut and Garrett Case unpack one of the most misunderstood ideas in the faith-and-business world: stewardship. Most Christians shrink it down to money. David makes the case that stewardship is actually about the entirety of who you are — your time, your talent, AND your treasure — and that learning to steward all three (instead of owning them) is the real path to the freedom every entrepreneur says they want.

This is an honest, practical conversation for faith-focused entrepreneurs who are already successful but want to build eternal value, not just earthly value. David shares hard-won lessons from building a company, raising seven kids, fighting his own pride and resentment, and learning — slowly — that "if it's to be, it's up to God," not "up to me."

If you've ever felt the weight of owning every outcome, struggled to cap your work hours, wrestled with tithing, or carried resentment that quietly stole your peace, this one's for you.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Chasing Real Freedom

00:25 Stewardship Beyond Money

01:38 Time Under God

04:38 Work Hours and Faith

06:54 Redefining Talent

08:05 God or Self Motives

10:31 Owning vs Stewarding

12:27 Resentment and Forgiveness

16:42 Defining True Freedom

17:58 Benefits of Freedom

19:39 Boundaries Create Freedom

20:21 Freedom as Inner Peace

21:29 Stop Owning the Outcome

24:05 Money Stress and Surrender

25:09 Treasure and Tithing

27:09 First Fruits and Trust

30:13 Giving as Imago Dei

31:15 Tithing as Leadership

34:59 Integrating Work Faith Family

38:09 One Person All the Time

39:10 Closing and Connecting

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

📖 SCRIPTURE & IDEAS REFERENCED

Galatians 2:20 — "Crucified with Christ… Christ lives in me"

Colossians 3:23 — Work heartily, as unto the Lord

John 6:29 — What God requires: trust in the One He sent

Matthew 11:30 — "My yoke is easy and my burden is light"

2 Corinthians 5:20 — Ambassadors for Christ

Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trust in the Lord… He will direct your paths

1 Samuel 16:7 — God looks at the heart

Matthew 6:14–15 — Forgiving others

Romans 5:8 — "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

Genesis 1:27 — Imago Dei (made in the image of God)

Exodus 20:3 — "Have no other gods before Me"

Luke 12:48 — "To whom much is given, much will be required"

Genesis 4 — First fruits (Cain & Abel)

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

💵 CONNECT YOUR FAITH & YOUR FINANCES — KERUX FINANCIAL

Want to go deeper on stewarding your time, talent, and treasure? Kerux Financial helps faith-focused entrepreneurs and families align their money with their mission — so you can pursue real freedom, not just a bigger number.

👉 Learn more: https://KeruxHQ.com

👉 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter — markets, stewardship, and all things finance

👉 Book a conversation with our team: https://keruxhq.com/explore-a-partnership/

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🔔 ENJOYING THE DAVID LAUT SHOW?

If this episode encouraged you:

✅ SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode

👍 LIKE this video to help more faith-focused entrepreneurs find it

💬 COMMENT below: which is hardest for you to steward — time, talent, or treasure?

↗️ SHARE this with an entrepreneur who needs to hear it

The David Laut Show is for faith-focused entrepreneurs who are successful but want to create eternal value, too.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

#Stewardship #FaithAndFinance #ChristianEntrepreneur #TheDavidLottShow #Tithing #FaithFocused #KeruxFinancial #FinancialFreedom #FaithAndBusiness #TimeTalentTreasure #ChristianBusiness #KingdomEntrepreneur #BiblicalStewardship #Generosity #Freedom

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

⚠️ This content is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.