AVOIDING BROKE-NESS: A Biblical Guide

Let’s be real—nobody wants to be broke. The good news? The Bible is packed with financial wisdom that can help us avoid empty wallets and stressful bank statements. 

From avoiding debt to saving wisely and giving generously, God’s Word offers timeless principles for handling money the right way. So before you make another impulse purchase (yes, even that “must-have” Amazon deal), let’s dive into some Biblical truths that can keep you financially faithful and financially stable!

💼 Work Diligently – “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)
Translation: Get-rich-quick schemes are usually get-broke-quicker schemes.

💳 Live Within Your Means – “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
If you’ve ever felt like your credit card owns you… well, the Bible warned us!

🐿️ Save for the Future – “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” (Proverbs 21:20)
Aka: Don’t spend your entire paycheck on DoorDash. Future-you will thank you!

💝 Give Generously – “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” (Proverbs 3:9)
Even if your "crops" are just your paycheck, giving blesses both the giver and receiver (and no, eating at Chick-fil-A doesn’t count as tithing, even if you say 'My pleasure').

💰 Trust God, Not Money – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…” (Hebrews 13:5)
Money can buy coffee, but it can’t buy peace… unless that peace comes from not checking your bank balance every five minutes.

At the end of the day, handling money God’s way isn’t about hoarding riches or stressing over every dollar—it’s about stewarding well, blessing others, and trusting Him to provide. So, whether you’re budgeting like Joseph in Egypt or trying not to be the prodigal spender, Biblical financial wisdom can keep you from the land of broke-ness. 

So, what’s one money habit you’re working on this year? Drop it in the comments—we’re all in this together! 💰🙌 

BABY STEPS

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Those small steps will add up, and you'll be at your goals before you know it. 

NEW DAY, NEW POSSIBILITIES

 

JESUS STYLE SUCCESS

For the first time in 44 years, the Purdue Boilermakers Men’s Basketball team will be playing in the Final 4 this weekend. Coach Matt Painter and 7’4” center Zach Edey have led the Boilers to a successful season. 

Success is unfortunately becoming viewed as a bad word by many in our culture. They reason if you are successful then you have hurt others or wronged them in order to get ahead in life. 

If we want to know what success in life truly is, we should look to Jesus’ example because Jesus redefines success. 

Jesus was both loved and hated. That tells us success does not necessarily mean popularity. As followers of Jesus, you will also be both loved and hated. 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ ministry is summarized by saying: 
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38 NIV) 

In word and action, Jesus brought the reality of God’s presence and Kingdom into the lives of those around Him. This is what Jesus style success look like and this is what you and I are called to imitate. To achieve success like Jesus, you need to model your life on Jesus and share His vision. 

Why? 

Because the need is urgent. 


Jesus saw that ‘they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’ (v.36). Today, we see so many people around us who don’t know Jesus and are spiritually lost. In addition to that, we see many who are in need of the basics of life. The need is urgent. We need to pursue Jesus style success. 

Why? 

Because of love. 


Jesus had compassion (v.36). His heart broke when He saw the condition of the people. Jesus loved them all. 

Jesus was not concerned with the people having worldly success or importance, but He knew true success is knowing God and being faithful to Him. This is why Jesus told His disciples to pray that God would raise up more people to follow Jesus’ example of success and bring in a huge harvest of people.  

Will you follow the success model of Jesus in your life?
Will you share in His mission and allow God to multiply yourself?
That’s true success. 

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

MARCH MADNESS begins this week! It's the most wonderful time of year for college basketball fans. Fans of all ages are looking forward to see if their team can win the NCAA championship. 

What are you looking forward to in your life? 

Luke chapter 2 tells us about a man named Simeon, who was also looking forward to something in the future. Of course, he wasn't looking forward to a basketball championship, he was looking forward to a Savior. And God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. So, when Joseph and Mary bring 8 day old Jesus to the temple, God's promise is kept to Simeon. What Simeon had been looking forward to actually happened. Simeon sees and holds the Savior of the world!

There are a lot of people looking for a Savior in this world. Some are hoping for a political savior in this 2024 election year. Others are looking for a spouse or someone significant in their life to bring them meaning and purpose. They long for their life to have peace and hope.  

I want to encourage you to be like Simeon and look forward to Jesus.  

Look to Jesus for PEACE. 

Simeon takes baby Jesus in his arms and says to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace." (Luke 2:29 NIV) 

Seeing Jesus gives Simeon peace. 

Look to Jesus to SEE WHAT GOD IS LIKE. 

In Luke 2:30-32 we read Simeon announce that Jesus is "a light for revelation" which means He is revealing to the world what God is like. 

I pray that you and I will have eyes like Simeon to look to Jesus and see God's salvation in the world today. May we see His grace and truth and wisdom for all of the decisions and encounters with people we will have today. Jesus is the way we can truly have something to look forward to in this life. 

TROPHY LIFE

Growing up I had a trophy shelf in my bedroom. It was full of little league and basketball awards, and even my 3rd grade spelling bee champion trophy. I was very proud of these trophies. So proud that I would take time to dust them in order for them to shine brighter.

As I grew up and moved away, I left those trophies behind at my mom and dad’s house. But the idea of trophies never left me. 

My life and my Christian service became about the collection of trophies on my shelf. 

I was very proud of them. 

But God did not create me to be a trophy collector. God did not call me to shine so I would be noticed. God created me to shine His glory, so that people would notice Him. 

If I make being a consistent Christian my goal in order to accumulate more trophies, then I’m missing the point. My trophies do not make me more appealing to God. Anything that shines brighter than God in my life will actually cause me to be separate from God! 

I have to let go of past trophies (and failures) and focus on the true prize that Jesus has called me to win. 

I cannot follow Jesus into the future if I’m holding on to the past. 

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

God did not create me to be a trophy on His shelf. He created me to be close to Him and reflect His glory so others would notice Him, not me. 

INVEST LIKE THE BEST

What do the best investors do that the rest of us don’t? Investment manager Gary Mishuris answered that question in a Substack post. According to Mishuris, when it comes to the best investors, they... 

1. The best investors have a calm temperament that keeps them from allowing their emotions to control them when the stock market goes on a roller coaster ride. 

2. They have the ability to “do nothing most of the time.” They make investments and then wait for those investments to grow.

3. They “focus on process over outcome.” Outcomes are important, but we can’t control them. We can control the process by making a plan (like Dollar Cost Averaging) to regularly and consistently invest over the course of our life. 

4. The best investors are humble. They know they’re not perfect, and that keeps them from making bigger mistakes caused by being over confident. 

As a follower of Jesus, my trust doesn’t get shaken based on how the stock market is doing because I trust that everything I need will come from the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (NIV) 

Whether we endure a bear market (bad times) or enjoy life in a bull market (good times), we can have peace knowing our God is with us and will provide everything we need to serve Him. 

If you are looking for a reliable investment strategy, try taking a dollar cost averaging approach where you systematically invest your money each month. Contact me to learn more!  

Email Wade: wadeallen.coach@gmail.com

JESUS WANTS YOU TO BE A LOSER...

That may sound harsh… but it’s true.

Jesus wants you to be a loser.

Jesus wants you to lose…

Your agenda.

Your mind.

Your life.

To follow Jesus means you are willing to be a loser.

Before you get depressed, I must tell you that there is something really great about following Jesus. It’s not all bad. If you become a loser for Jesus, you will ultimately find out that you are…

(At this point you might expect me to say something like, “You are actually a real winner” or something similar to that.)

But what I’m going to say is this: If you become a loser for Jesus, you will ultimately find out that you are in some very good company.

That’s right.

Good company.

You will never be viewed as a winner from the world’s perspective. However, you will find yourself in the presence of some amazing people. Most of the men and women we read about in the Bible were viewed as “losers” by the world.

For example, Moses grew up in a palace surrounded by the “winners” of this world. Yet, Hebrews 11:24 - 26 tells us, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

Moses faced disgrace. The world thought he was a loser.

Isn’t it interesting that we are still talking about that “loser” Moses?

Ask yourself these questions….

Who would be with me if I keep everything for myself?
Who would be with me if I lose everything for Jesus?

The choice is yours.

Just remember… Jesus wants you to be a loser.