Financial anxiety is a feeling that many people experience.  Whether someone has a large amount of resources or a small amount, it is common to experience some level of anxiety in one’s lifetime regarding money.  So, how does one avoid experiencing this anxiety?

To begin, we have to look at the heart.  In Proverbs 4:23 Solomon writes, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”  (NKJV).  Some versions begin the verse with “Guard” instead of “Keep”.     If we are not constantly guarding our heart, we can quickly fall into the temptations and patterns of this world.  We need to transform our hearts to align with the Bible and God’s desires for our lives.

When we begin to worry, we are focusing the eyes of our heart on something other than God.  I once heard it said that worry is a form of worship whose object of worship is the future.  When we look to the future and begin to worry, we are often imagining the future without including God in the picture.  When this happens, our worry increases and we may become paralyzed with fear.

So, how do we overcome this anxiety?  One important step is to learn to give thanks in every situation.  Whether you are worried about how to make your next mortgage payment or worried about your investment accounts losing value, you can be thankful.  If you’re concerned about making your mortgage payment, give thanks that you have the opportunity to own a home.  If you’re concerned about your investment accounts losing value, give thanks for the abundance that you have and that you have money saved.

In Philippians 4, Paul writes that he has learned to be content in every circumstance.  Notice that Paul writes that he learned to be content.  This wasn’t something that came naturally to him.  He had to learn contentment.  I believe that each of us also needs to learn to be content and it’s not something that comes naturally.

In closing, my challenge to you is to invite God to search your heart and expose the sources of anxiety in your life.  As He brings these areas to light, find something to give thanks for and pray for His peace to fill your heart.

by Curtis Burkholder

What does the world say about money?  It seems to suggest that money itself can offer us success, security, and significance.  It seems to offer a promise that if we only have a little bit more, we’ll be happier.  Is this true though?  When we look around – or within – do we see money equating to these things?  Even those in the United States considered to be in poverty have 85% more wealth than the rest of the world.  And yet we are surrounded by fear, insecurity, and discontentment – far cries from success, security, and significance.

Why is this?  We believe it’s because the world doesn’t understand money, or at the least is offering false promises about it.

If you’re reading this, you most likely agree that the Bible has a lot to say about money, and provides some clear answers and solutions regarding money management.   A link to a video summarizing some of these principles is included below, and serves as a framework for how we advise clients in their own money management.  Take three minutes and watch the video produced by the Ron Blue Institute and shared to us with their permission.

Do you know of a friend or family member who may benefit from watching this video?  Feel free to pass this link to the video on to them as well.

We’re all on this stewardship journey together, no matter which step we’re at in our process.  And it’s our honor to walk this path with each of you.

Click here to view the video.

The Team at Bare Wealth Advisors

by Ron Bare

What Does Biblical Generosity Look Like for the Average Wealthy American?

The above title applies to most everyone reading this blog – I know this is true because anyone that earns $30,000 per year is in the top 1% of the world’s wealthiest people. Just the fact that we were born in the United States and had the opportunity to be educated and have been given access to a job automatically puts us in this category. Many of us even fall into the top .3% of the world’s wealthiest (if you earn more than $60,000 per year).

1 Timothy 6: 17-18 says “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”

In the Old Testament, the Jewish law commanded a 10% tithe on the first fruits of all income as well as other tithes and offerings on top of the 10 percent.  When added together these came to over 20% per year (Deut. 14:22-29). Many Christians today teach and believe in the 10% tithe as the primary objective when considering how much to give to the local church and Christian charities. While this may be a good principle to apply, when asking God to define generosity in your life, 10% should not be the end goal of our giving.

New Testament giving is similar to other parts of Jewish law in that Jesus raised the bar. Consider how Jesus taught on murder: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement” (Matt. 5:22). Or consider His words on adultery: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart” (Matt. 5:28). Still other teachings on divorce, oaths and revenge all in Matthew 5 raise the bar on the standards God has given us.

Giving in the New Testament always centers on generosity: giving with joy and abundance. The Jewish law has been fulfilled by Jesus and many of the principles still apply, only taken to a new, higher standard. After all, “For God so loved the world that he GAVE, his one and only son,” this is the ultimate price and gift that God gave us in the death of His Son. Therefore, Biblical generosity does not focus on a percent or an amount, but has a focus on generosity, being ready to share, and a willingness to give richly to those in need and fulfill the calling on our lives – which primarily is to fulfill the great commission.

Practically, what does this mean for us? It starts by answering the question, “Who owns the money I have?” Psalms 24:1 says “The earth is the Lords and everything in it.”  If God owns all we have, then we must follow with another question: “What does God want me to do with His money?” Giving generously is a theme in the Bible and defining generosity is answered only in a relationship with God.  Only He can lead you to the answer. This answer will lead you to a life of better contentment and understanding of the Biblical truth that “It is better to give than receive” – Jesus (Acts 20:35).

Finally, Paul also tells us in Corinthians that we should “excel in our grace of giving”. To excel in any area of life we must work at it, practice, or push ourselves to new areas – whether physically, emotionally or spiritually. To excel in giving these same principles apply: we must work at it and take steps of faith to stretch ourselves. Finally, the best part of all of this is that giving generously comes with great promises! Continuing from the above 1 Timothy passage, verse 19 says: “By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”