
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Former NFL chaplain Carey Casey shares a message about racial unity and Christian love. He describes the legacy passed on from his father and grandfather, who inspired and challenged him through the lessons they learned while overcoming true hardships.
We all love rooting for our favorite sports teams, but the stadium is only part of a larger arena in life: God’s kingdom. What does faith look like both on and off the playing field? In this special collection, you’ll hear powerful testimonies from athletes with memorable track records in sports and an even greater legacy in faith. Featuring guests like John Smoltz, Darrell Waltrip, Scott Hamilton, Benjamin Watson and more!
Get More Episode Resources
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.
We live in a culture that stretches us to the very limits of our time, energy, and finances. Every hour gets booked, every dollar gets assigned, and before we know it, we’re operating without room to breathe. Scripture calls that lack of space folly—and the presence of space wisdom. Today, we’re talking about margin and why it’s essential to biblical stewardship.
Margin is the space between our limits and our load—the distance between what we could do and what we actually do. Proverbs 21:20 tells us, “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” Wise people don’t consume everything they have. They create space. They build reserves. They plan ahead. The foolish run to the edges, spending and consuming as fast as resources arrive.
One of Scripture’s most beautiful pictures of margin appears in the story of Ruth. In Leviticus 23:22, God instructs His people not to harvest their fields all the way to the edges. They were to leave grain for the poor, the widow, and the foreigner. Boaz obeyed that command. He refused to maximize every inch of profit, and because of that simple act of obedience, Ruth and Naomi survived. Margin became the soil for redemption—leading to the lineage of King David, and ultimately, to Jesus Christ. Margin makes room for God to work.
Think of a beautifully designed page. The words never run from edge to edge. The white space allows the page to breathe. Without it, the text would feel overwhelming. Our lives are the same. When we fill every minute of our schedules and every dollar of our budgets, life becomes chaotic. We lose clarity, rest, and the ability to respond to God’s promptings.
Financially, the absence of margin makes even small disruptions feel like emergencies. A car repair or medical bill can suddenly derail us. But margin absorbs shocks. It quiets anxiety. And it lays the groundwork for stewardship.
Margin produces at least three spiritual benefits:
Ultimately, margin is a spiritual discipline. It isn’t just about saving money—it’s about creating space for God’s pace, God’s provision, and God’s purposes. The first step is simple to name and difficult to practice: spend less than you earn. Say no to good things so you can say yes to better things. Margin doesn’t appear on its own—it’s created through intentional choices.
Boaz never imagined that leaving grain behind would shape the family line of the Messiah. But God often uses margin to accomplish eternal things.
————————————————————————————————
If you want to go deeper in learning how our stewardship makes room for God’s work in our lives, our own Rob West wrote about this theme in his new 21-day devotional, Our Ultimate Treasure. It will be released next month.
You can preorder or place bulk orders at FaithFi.com/Shop, and a digital version will be available soon in the FaithFi App for FaithFi Partners. I’d love for you to experience it.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:We would love to pray for you! Please send us your requests here.
--------
Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org.
Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
Authors Howard and Danielle Taylor didn’t start out thinking they’d run a marriage ministry. They just longed for an intentional, intimate relationship that would go the distance. Hear how their own challenges galvanized a purposeful, more weatherproof marriage.
Show Notes and Resources
Head to weekendtoremember.com to save 50% on all getaways through January 26, 2026.
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Prayer is the most powerful force on earth. Today on BOLD STEPS, Mark Jobe launches a compelling three-part series from James chapter 5. Prayer works in every season—trouble, joy, and sickness. Don’t miss this message on spiritual awakening, listen to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe.
Bold Step Gift: Growing In Christ – 52 Devotionals For A Year Of Faith
Become a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldsteps
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We would do good to stand on these giant's shoulders.
__________
For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.
From the publisher's feed