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An emergency fund can be the difference between a financial setback and a financial crisis—but only if it’s built the right way.

Most people know they should have money set aside for emergencies. But many aren’t sure how much to save, what actually counts as an emergency, or where to keep that money. Those are important questions, because an emergency fund is not just another savings goal. It is a key part of wise financial stewardship.

An emergency fund is money set aside for unexpected, significant financial disruptions.

Those two words matter: unexpected and significant.

This is not money for routine expenses, planned purchases, or occasional wants. It is reserved for the kinds of situations that can suddenly shake your financial life—job loss, a major medical need, a significant car repair, an urgent home repair, or another event that interrupts your income or requires a large amount of cash.

In that sense, an emergency fund acts like a financial shock absorber. When something unexpected happens, it helps keep a difficult situation from turning into debt, panic, or financial chaos.

Without an emergency fund, many people are forced to rely on credit cards or loans during hard times. But with one in place, you create stability and breathing room when uncertainty comes.

A helpful rule of thumb is to keep three to six months of living expenses in your emergency fund.

That means enough to cover essential expenses such as housing, food, utilities, insurance, transportation, and other necessary costs.

For example, if your household needs $5,000 per month to cover basic expenses, a fully funded emergency fund would typically range from $15,000 to $30,000.

Where you land in that range depends on your situation. If your income is stable and predictable, three months may be enough. But if your income fluctuates, if you’re self-employed, or if you simply want additional peace of mind, six months—or even a little more—may be appropriate.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is preparedness.

Some Christians may wonder whether saving for emergencies reflects a lack of trust in God. But Scripture encourages wise preparation.

Proverbs 6:6–8 says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”

The ant is not anxiously trying to control the future. It is wisely preparing for what may come.

That is the posture we want to take with our finances. An emergency fund is not about pretending we can control tomorrow. It is about stewarding today’s resources wisely so that when tomorrow brings challenges, we are not forced into panic or unnecessary debt.

Planning and trusting God are not opposites. In many cases, wise planning is an expression of faithful stewardship.

Once you decide how much to save, the next question is where to keep it.

This is where many people get tripped up. While an emergency fund should grow over time, it is not meant to be invested like a retirement account.

Why? Because investments such as stocks and mutual funds fluctuate. If the market drops at the exact moment you need the money, your safety net may suddenly be smaller than you expected.

Likewise, locking emergency funds in a certificate of deposit can limit your access. If you need to withdraw early, you may face penalties or lose interest.

An emergency fund has two primary goals: safety and accessibility. You want the money protected and accessible quickly when a real need arises.

That’s why many financial advisors recommend keeping emergen

You love Jesus—but your reactions still hijack your day, your marriage, your parenting. Alicia Michelle, author of Emotional Confidence: Three Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture, gets why you feel stuck between what you know and what you feel. She'll help you name what’s really driving your emotions, and why willpower alone keeps failing.

Show Notes and Resources

• Emotional Confidence: Three Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture by Alicia Michelle→ aliciamichelle.com/emotional-downloads

• Listen to Alicia Michelle’s podcast The Christian Mindset Coach for continued learning and support @ aliciamichelle.com

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Remember Smokey the Bear? His correct name is Smokey Bear, a fictional spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service. He’d say, “Only you can prevent forest fires.” Yeah, fires can start by one careless person. But when it comes to the fire of revival, that fire can start with one person who does care. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us be that kind of person who let’s God use them to share the love of Christ in a world that needs that message.

The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. 

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

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How do you and your spouse handle conflict? Greg and Erin share insights from Dave and Ann Wilson today. They discuss common conflict styles (e.g., yielding, defending, resolving) and emphasize that conflict is often driven by deeper emotions and desires, requiring an open heart, slowing down, listening, and sometimes choosing to “solve or sleep” when exhausted. In the Q&A, they advise a listener to describe behaviors without labeling, using “I feel” statements. It's like a free counseling session when you listen to Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage!

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Today’s boys are growing up in a world where disrespect toward women is too often treated as normal. Dave and Ashley Willis—parents of four boys—share powerful stories and biblical truths to help parents raise sons who value honor, integrity, and true manhood. They warn against the toxic “locker room mentality” and offer practical lessons that shape boys into men of character. With real-life examples and conversation starters for every age, this is a guide to raising respectful, responsible, Christ-centered young men.

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BONUS CONTENT: Brant's Three Things

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"Partnering with God is an honor."

"Don't tell me broccoli bloats my face."

"You are who Jesus is expecting."

"The first dysfunctional family starts in Genesis."


For this episode of the Oddcast Rewind, we pulled together a mix of classic moments—some insightful, some funny, and others encouraging. We hope you enjoy, God bless!
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Pastor Jonathan Laurie breaks down the story of the prodigal son by spotlighting the older brother—the one who stayed, obeyed, and still missed the father’s heart.  

Notes

Luke 15:11–32 (NKJV)
  
Luke 15:11–24
 
The younger brother rejected the father, rebelled, and pursued pleasure.
 
The son’s request would be unheard of in the first century.
 
The father honors the son’s request.
 
Jesus is painting a picture of a father who maintains his love and endures the agony despite being rejected.
 
We can be like that, too. We want the gift but not the Giver of the gift.
 
The prodigal son hit rock bottom.
 
That’s when he came to himself.
The father ran to the son and kissed him.
 
The Robe
The Father tells his servants to bring out the best robe.
 
The father covered the son with his own honor.
 
We don’t clean our lives up and then come to God.
He cleans our lives up when we come to Him.
 
The Ring
The son had the righteousness of the father, and a full restoration of identity and authority to make decisions and give directives.
 
The Sandals
The father restored the son, saying you belong here, and you’re equipped for the road ahead.
 
The Feast
This was the father’s way of publicly and directly addressing any rumors or questions about his son.
 
Luke 15:23 (NKJV)
“And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
 
Luke 15:24 (NKJV)
“For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to be merry.
 
Read Luke 15:25–32
 
The father again demonstrates his love.
 
He pursues both sons because both sons are lost.
 
The Religious Brother
Luke 15:25–32
 
Jesus was holding up a mirror.
 
Read Luke 15:1–2 (NKJV)
 
The religious leaders that Jesus was speaking to looked down on the people Jesus came to redeem.
 
Luke 19:10 (NLT)
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
 
The two brothers are a picture of the two types of people in the audience, rebellious versus religious.
 
The Redemptive Brother
Romans 8:29 (NKJV)
 
Jesus is the third brother. He is the one who left heaven and came to earth to seek and to save the lost.
 
Jesus took our rebellion; He took our religion and everything that stood between the Father and us and absorbed it on the cross.
 
That’s the gospel.
That’s what Jesus did for you.
 
What’s it going to take?

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.