What your attitude to money reveals about your heart

It’s been estimated that there are 2,350 verses in the Bible about money and generosity. We often don’t like to face the reality that Jesus had a lot to say about money in his teachings, and what he had to say was very challenging. One of the ways that we try to avoid this truth is by spiritualising it away.

The story about a man we call “The Rich Young Ruler” is a good case in point. The story goes like this:

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:17–25.)

It is very difficult for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

What just happened here? What is this story about?

If you ask different people, they will give you different answers. Some people will tell you that the story is about commitment. The young man wasn’t committed enough to follow Jesus. Or perhaps the story is about selfishness. The young man was too selfish to follow Jesus.

I think there’s some truth in both of these ideas. But they are both also ways of avoiding the uncomfortable truth that this story is basically about money and wealth, and our attitudes to it. Jesus says as much in the lesson that he draws from it for his disciples. It is very difficult for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.

Christianity has nothing at all to do with how much money you have.

That would have been a very confronting thing for the disciples to hear. That’s because they lived in a religious culture that taught that if you were wealthy, it was a blessing from God in recognition of the fact that you were his follower. The blessings of God, and especially things like wealth and health, were associated in the minds of the people with one’s standing with God. And, actually, if you think about it, there are strong streams of that kind of thinking in Christianity today as well.

By telling this rich young man to sell everything and to give it to the poor if he wanted to follow him, Jesus was effectively telling him and us that Christianity has nothing at all to do with how much money you have. You don’t need a single cent to follow Jesus. You can be a billionaire or a beggar and still be loved and accepted by God. There is absolutely no correlation between your wealth and your standing with God. Contrary to what many Christians today believe, that correlation is not a positive one: in other words, it is not true that the more faithful you are to God, the more he will financially bless you.

Our attitude to money reveals the truth of whom we worship.

But there definitely is a correlation between your attitude to money and your relationship with God. Throughout all the teachings of Jesus we see that this correlation is a negative one. In other words, the more you love money, the less you will love Jesus, and conversely the more you love Jesus, the less you will make money the centre of your life.

Why? It’s not because there is anything inherently magical or spiritual about money. It’s just metal and paper. But it represents power in our society, and every human being, whether we admit it or not, worships what we consider is most powerful and we want it for ourselves. As a result, money is the biggest idol. Our attitude to money reveals the truth of whom we worship, whether we sit in a church every Sunday or not.

So ask yourself: How generous are you? Or, another question: How do you justify your lack of generosity?

Article supplied with thanks to Dr Eliezer Gonzalez.

About the Author: Dr Eli Gonzalez is the Senior Pastor of Good News Unlimited and the presenter of the Unlimited radio spots, and The Big Question. Sign up to his free online course called Becoming a Follower of Jesus to learn about Jesus and His message.

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Wherever the pain is, that’s where Jesus goes

You might know Watoto through the smiling faces of the Children’s Choir. But what you might not know is that beyond the Choir, Watoto Church is living out a greater mission by rescuing abandoned babies, supporting vulnerable mothers and bringing the hope of Jesus into Africa’s most broken communities. They are not afraid to step into places where people are hurting.

For many of us this, is a confronting idea. But what if the places we avoid are the very places God is calling us to go?

That conviction has shaped Watoto Church in Kampala, Uganda for decades. Watoto Church leader Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo shared a philosophy that has shaped the ministry’s response to poverty, conflict and loss in their country.

“We aim at the pain and wherever the pain is, that’s where the love of Jesus brings the greatest healing,” Julius said.

A Church That Runs Towards Brokenness

For Watoto Church, that philosophy is not just a slogan. It has become a way of life. Today, the church reaches more than 35,000 people across 18 locations in Uganda and South Sudan. Alongside its growing congregations, the ministry continues to care for vulnerable children, families and communities. Just last year, Watoto rescued 90 abandoned babies and continues to support around 1,200 vulnerable mothers, impacting thousands of children.

The needs are significant. Julius explained that the country still has close to two million orphans, but instead of seeing it as a challenge, Watoto Church sees it as a place where God can move powerfully. “We are a very young nation and some of the big needs of the country affect our children,” Julius shared. “It’s an honour to see God reach the youth.”

Watoto’s ministry has expanded into neighbouring South Sudan, a nation scarred by decades of conflict, poverty and instability. “God spoke to us as a church in 2011 to go and plant a church and be a part of the healing of South Sudan,” Julius shared. When many saw brokenness, Watoto saw an opportunity for the Gospel.

How Watoto Church Is Raising Leaders Through Compassion

One of the most inspiring aspects of Watoto’s ministry is that their vision isn’t just about meeting the needs of people, but growing and discipling them into their God-given potential.

“That’s what we do. We raise leaders,” Julius said. “We don’t just rescue and reach out to the broken, we reach out with a vision that they will be leaders that will rebuild community and rebuild our continent again.” For Watoto Church, discipleship doesn’t end with rescue. Their goal is to see people restored, equipped and released into God’s purposes.

Maybe you don’t live in Uganda. But all of us still have a mission to “go out and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). This might look like starting a Bible study with that friend or inviting your coworker to church. God gives us so many opportunities to bring the Gospel into our everyday lives, we just have to be willing to get uncomfortable.

The Challenge for Australian Christians

While the challenges facing Uganda and South Sudan may seem far removed from life in Australia, there is an important lesson for Western churches. Julius acknowledges that Australia has social systems and government support that many African communities do not. Yet he also points out that pain comes in many forms.

“It’s not just physical,” Julius explained. “There are relational issues, people struggling with their faith, and even real poverty that exists.”

Some Western churches have become inward-focused, concentrating primarily on what happens inside their own walls. “I feel that’s a missed opportunity where the church could have real impact,” he shared.

Pain may look different in Australia, but it still exists. It can be found in lonely neighbours, struggling families, young people searching for purpose, and people wrestling with questions of faith.

The question is whether we are willing to see it.

Following Jesus Towards the Pain

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently moved towards people who were hurting. He touched lepers, welcomed outcasts, comforted the grieving and restored the broken.

Watoto Church’s philosophy echoes that same pattern.

They don’t have some secret master plan to heal the world. Rather, they are simply being obedient to the call of God, choosing to bring Christ directly into difficult situations.

For Australian Christians, that may be the greatest lesson of all. The Church was never called to stay comfortable. It was called to carry the love of Jesus into places where hope feels absent.

As Julius reminds us, healing often begins where pain is greatest. Perhaps the question for each of us is simple: where is the pain God is asking us to notice today?

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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For someone in navigating infertility, grief and longing, being in church can feel almost unbearable at times.

“I might have suspected that I lost a pregnancy that week and somebody walks past with a newborn,” Susannah said.

“And you just think, I could probably get through this service without crying – if someone would give me a general anaesthetic.”

For five years, Susannah and her husband were unable to become pregnant.

“Five years of infertility is a very painful experience.”

An Auslan interpreter living in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains, Susannah still believes God was there with them.

Even if it didn’t feel like it.

“I think he was there but at the time, it felt pretty dark and dreary,” Susannah said.

“I’m just saying [to anyone else] it’s kind of OK to find it hard and to lament that before God.

“He values our honesty and doesn’t want us to lie to him about our experiences.”

God’s pattern

Susannah read articles and books which provided Christian reflection upon infertility, usually written after the author became pregnant.

This frustrated Susannah who was looking for “dispatches from the trenches [to] help me get out of bed today”.

Wanting to think clearly, and biblically, about infertility while she was going through it, Susannah began to write The Fruitful Soul: Infertility and the Christian Life to be published mid 2026.

Without knowing what the end of the story of pregnancy might be for her family, Susannah explored the question “What does God think about all of this suffering, self-blame, the fallenness of the world?”

One key pattern she discovered in Scripture actually offered grounding hope to someone experiencing infertility.

“Jesus suffered first, and then he was resurrected – and that is the shape of our lives as well,” Susannah said.

“Suffering first and then glory, that is the shape of the Christian life.”

As a clear reference point, Susannah pointed to the New Testament book of 2 Timothy: “If we’ve died with him, we will also live with him… If we suffer with him, we will also reign with him.” (2 Timothy 2:11 NIV)

For Susannah, the encouragement is not instant answers, but a trustworthy pattern: “That’s what we’re looking for in our lives.”

A call for churches: sensitive, present, and real

As much as Susannah found church gatherings to be unintentionally painful, she is grateful for the support she received.

“I don’t remember any time when anyone has ever made my suffering worse and they have made it an awful lot better just by being there,” Susannah said.

Still, she encouraged churches to think carefully about how they discuss or celebrate motherhood.

“Try and avoid any rituals that divide women up into mothers and not mothers, because motherhood’s not always visible,” Susannah said, reflecting on unseen grief such as miscarriage.

Her message to anyone walking through infertility is compassionate and practical.

“You’re not alone. One in six couples will go through some kind of infertility,” Susannah said.

“Don’t rest until you’ve found somebody to walk that journey with you. You need care; don’t do it alone.”

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Ben hosts Mornings on Hope 103.2 and the ‘Money: Faith & Finance’ podcast.

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Many people quietly carry the same heavy question: Am I actually good for anything?

In a world driven by comparison, performance, and curated success stories, it’s easy to lose sight of who we really are and our God-given gifts.

Many people spend years convinced they have little to offer, simply because they measure themselves against others. Scripture offers a radically different perspective, one grounded not in competition, but in calling. Berni Dymet believes that many believers today struggle to recognise and value what God has uniquely placed within each of us.

When Comparison Steals Your Joy

Comparison culture tells us that value comes from keeping up. But that mindset never satisfies. No matter how far we climb, there will always be someone who appears more gifted or more accomplished.

‘The more I talk to people, the more I discover how many people aren’t happy with who they are,’ says Berni.

God never intended us to copy someone else’s life. Comparison blinds us to our own strengths and magnifies our weaknesses. It leaves us striving instead of serving, insecure instead of grateful.

Freedom begins when we stop measuring ourselves against others and start understanding our unique God‑given gifts.

God’s Design Is Purposeful

The Bible is clear: God works intentionally. Nothing about your life is accidental. Your abilities, personality, and passions are not mistakes waiting to be corrected; they are clues to your God-given purpose.

Paul’s words in Romans 12 remind us that the body of Christ is made up of many different parts, each with a distinct role. Not everyone teaches. Not everyone leads. Not everyone serves in the same way. And that’s not a problem to solve; it’s God’s design to celebrate.

‘All those differences together create a body that creates a community,’ Berni explains.

When we try to be someone we’re not, we end up frustrated and exhausted. But when we lean into our Christian identity, serving becomes life‑giving rather than draining.

Discovering your God-given gifts requires honesty and humility. It means acknowledging both strengths and limits, and learning to be at peace with both.

The Pressure to Be Everything

Modern culture places enormous pressure on people to be everything at once. Good at work. Perfect at home. Physically fit. Spiritually strong. Emotionally balanced.

Even in Christian circles, the temptation exists to imitate visible gifts while undervaluing quieter ones. We can begin to equate significance with having a platform, rather than faithfulness.

But Scripture never defines success by visibility. Faithfulness is measured in obedience, not applause.

There’s something deeply freeing about embracing what you were meant to do and releasing what you’re not. The moment we stop striving to impress, we gain space to grow where God has actually placed us.

‘Do what you were made to do,’ says Berni. ‘Discover your gift, your unique talent and ability.’

Discovering Your God‑Given Gifts Takes Time

Most gifts don’t reveal themselves instantly. Skills develop through practice. Faith grows through obedience. Calling becomes clearer as we walk forward, not as we wait for perfect certainty.

Sometimes we dismiss a gift too early because the beginning feels awkward or unimpressive. Other times we chase aspirations that simply don’t align with how we are wired.

Berni says that even great abilities often start out rough before they become refined. Discernment takes patience, community, and prayer.

Listening to trusted people who know us well can be invaluable. They often see strengths we overlook or take for granted.

Living Out Your God‑Given Purpose in Everyday Life

Not every calling is dramatic. Many expressions of faithfulness are quiet, steady, and unseen. Parenting, administration, encouragement, generosity, hospitality—these are not secondary callings. They are essential ones.

Whilst some responsibilities may not be our passion, they still matter. The key isn’t doing only what we like, but faithfully stewarding what God has entrusted to us.

When we stop chasing someone else’s path and start walking in our own God-given purpose, service becomes joyful instead of heavy.

Becoming Who You Were Meant to Be

The invitation God extends is simple but profound: be who I made you to be.

Discover your God-given gifts. Use them generously. Serve faithfully. Let go of comparison and embrace your Christian identity. When that happens, the Christian life stops feeling like a performance and starts becoming a calling.

In a world constantly telling you to be more, God gently reminds you that you are already complete in Him.

And that realisation changes everything.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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What a simple prayer in a tough moment reminds us about coming back to God.

Australian singer, Guy Sebastian, is rightly famous for winning the first season of Australian Idol back in 2003, and then going on to have a stellar career with ten albums totalling seven million sales and nearly two billion streams on Spotify so far. He is, some two and a bit decades later, still the most successful by far.

There was an article about Guy that caught my eye in the Sydney Morning Herald in which he and his wife talk about the legal wrangle he found himself in when his former manager was charged with stealing a truckload of his money. It’s a pretty raw account of what happened.

And it starts this way:

When Guy Sebastian found himself sobbing in a toilet cubicle of a NSW courtroom, where he was giving evidence against his former manager and friend, Titus Day, he began to pray. “Then I felt guilty,” says the musician as his wife, Jules, gently places her hand on his arm. “It was like, ‘Ah, I’ll just say a prayer when [things] hits the fan.’ I haven’t prayed for so long [and now I’m] just asking for help when things are rubbish.”

Guy has gotten stick down the years for having abandoned his faith when he got famous. He was pretty churchy back in the day, as were many of the Idol singers who had cut their teeth on stages in the megachurches across the country.

There were puff pieces on his faith in all the women’s mags, and for a while it was kinda cool again to be churchy and then that faded (though here we are again. Go figure!)

A bunch of us felt a little discomfited that Guy began to distance himself from his faith as he became more famous. And not out of anger, but more out of concern, given there’s a parable by Jesus in there somewhere, something about soil and seed and weeds.

But, leaving that aside,  Guy’s instinct to pray when things got tough is totally right.

Yet his guilt is not.

We’ve all been there

Why do I say that? Because we all recognise Guy’s dilemma. We’ve all been on that sliding scale of prayerlessness. And then suddenly things are rubbish and we find ourselves praying and we’re thinking in that self-loathing way, “How lame am I? I’m just asking God for help cos I’m out of my depth and in a bind!”

Have you not been there? I know I have. I well remember as an early 20-something having train wrecked a couple of years of my life, standing in the shower one morning and saying:

“Okay Lord, I’m going to get up every day and live life for you this time. And every day I’m going to ask you to help me.”

Results? Good at times. Sketchy at other times. Very, very good when I was diagnosed with a terrible illness. Not so good when life was frustrating me and I wasn’t getting what I wanted (and I was pretty sure God didn’t want me to get what I wanted either, which invariably turned out to be a good thing looking back on it). But here’s my takeaway:

Don’t let your guilt for not praying keep you from praying!

Our Heavenly Father loves to hear our prayers and isn’t standing with folded arms, tapping his foot in annoyance and asking “So, now that you’re in trouble you turn up. Is that right?”

That’s actually what WE would be like, but not God. By contrast Jesus presents his Father as one who loves to give good gifts to his children, even his wayward children. And God loves us to pray.

I recently interviewed former Ridley College Principal, and one time rector of St Jude’s in Carlton, Melbourne, Peter Adam, about his wonderful book on prayer, ‘Prayerfulness: Cultivating a Bible-enriched prayer life.’

Right at the start of it, he says this, and it moves my heart:

God likes talking and God likes listening. God likes talking to us, and God likes hearing from us when we talk to him. God talks to us when we read his word, The Bible. And God listens to us when we pray – that is, when we talk to him. God likes talking to us and listening to us, because God like us, and because he has made us to relate to him (and to each other) by words.

God likes us and likes hearing from us. Perhaps when you’re at the stage Guy Sebastian is, ostensibly far from God, it’s easy to think that God is far from you.

But we know he is close to each one of us. He was there with Guy in that toilet cubicle in a New South Wales court house, as an earthly judge determined whether he was being ripped off or not.

God wants to hear from you!

So whether it’s a toilet cubicle, or a virtual pig pen in a faraway land, or even that office you’re sitting in, or that kitchen window you’re staring through wondering just why the fan’s been hit so many times, God still wants to hear from you! Amazing, but true.

And more than that, he is wherever you are at the moment. That is how God is because that is who God is. If a cross is not too low for God to turn up at, then you slumped over the bowl sobbing your heart out isn’t too low for him either.

And as we know, God whispers in our pleasures, but shouts in our pain. CS Lewis reminds us of this. Perhaps Guy’s pain is God’s way of drawing him back to Himself. One can never tell.

And perhaps that’s true of you today too. You haven’t prayed for so long, and now here you are asking for help when things are rubbish.  And in God’s economy, that’s totally okay, as this famous prayer from Hannah in 1 Samuel 2 reminds us:

“The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honour.”

Or to put it differently, the one who left the throne of heaven, isn’t ashamed to be with you as you cry ugly tears, deep in the midst of your own mess. Angels might not have brought you here (let the reader understand), but God may well have done. And he can raise you back up again. You only have to ask him. Guilt free.

Article supplied with thanks to Stephen McAlpine

About the Author: Stephen has been reading, writing and reflecting ever since he can remember. A former church pastor, he now trains church and ministry leaders, and in his writing dabbles in a number of fields, notably theology and culture.

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Have you ever had a dream that God has given you that you have given up on?

It feels like you have been waiting so long that it is dead and buried. But what if it isn’t dead? What if the dream is lying dormant?

Every March in the area we live in, beautiful pink Easter Lilies, also known as Belladonna Lilies, pop up.  They always catch my eye. They bloom for a season, then are gone until the next year. Just because I can’t see their beautiful flowers doesn’t mean they are gone forever. They are just dormant. 

Dormant Season

Many plants have a dormant season, including Easter Lilies. The season’s flower dies off, but the bulb remains. In the bulb is everything that the plant needs to grow again, when conditions are right. 

A dormant season isn’t a waste. The bulb is deep in the earth, absorbing the nutrients that it needs. It’s removing waste from the season that’s been and preparing to grow again. Dormancy protects the plant from extreme temperatures and allows root development in preparation for the coming season. 

Our dreams are often like that. I have wanted to write for as long as I can remember. When I was in my teenage years, I used to write children’s books in my head, plan stories, and write poetry as a creative outlet. I wanted to write more publicly, but I never felt like it was the right time. As time went by, I would write journals, blogs, and stories. It was a way of processing, but I never published anything publicly until the last few years. 

When I think about why I didn’t do it before now, it feels like a season of dormancy. God was preparing me. Many things needed some work for it to be the right time, myself included. Ten years ago, I would have wilted at the first sign of criticism. I was too insecure to give my work to others for feedback, so I could improve. My self-image was so poor that I thought no one would care about anything I had to say. I was not ready to write then, and it would have crushed something so precious in my life before it even began. A season of dormancy has allowed for sustainability. 

Strengthen Our Roots

Sometimes it feels so long since we had the promise from God or felt hope that the dream in our heart could be achievable, that we give up on it. We think it’s dead and buried, and there is no hope for us. Trust that there is a right time for you, and the waiting is enabling you to prepare. In dormancy, we can strengthen our roots, learn to trust God deeply, and work on ourselves. If you are waiting to start working towards a dream, consider that it may not be dead; it’s just dormant. 

Article supplied with thanks to Lorrene McClymont.

About the Author: Lorrene McClymont is a writer and photographer from Hope Images. On her blog ‘Moments to Rest’, she shares about rest, faith, and family.

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Many of the toughest battles are fought quietly in the mind.

Life often has a way of presenting us with many challenges we didn’t see coming. Some of these can be external, where we have little control. But many of the toughest battles are fought quietly in the mind. We can find ourselves becoming overwhelmed, exhausted, and worn down by consuming thoughts that feed our doubts. Living the Christian life means learning the practice of overcoming doubt with God’s Word, anchoring ourselves in truth when uncertainty tries to take hold.

Joyce Meyer reminds us of the holy and living power that we have in Christ Jesus. When we truly take hold of the truth and base our identity on God’s Word, the enemy loses his influence. Joyce encourages believers to take hold of the spiritual weapons God has given them so they can live with freedom and confidence in Christ.

Using God’s Word to Overcome Doubt and Fear

How much time do you spend speaking the Word of God out loud? For many of us, it isn’t nearly enough. When the truth is not spoken consistently over our lives, it becomes easier for doubt and overwhelming thoughts to creep back in, slowly distorting our vision.

The truth is, the battle against these consuming lies has already been won. Through Christ, we have the victory. What remains now is our responsibility to boldly declare that truth and actively practise overcoming doubt with God’s Word. Joyce stresses the importance of speaking this truth, focusing on the good things that God has done for us.

“When you do this, you’re feeding your faith instead of feeding your doubts.”

Rather than falling into the enemy’s traps, we turn our hearts towards Jesus and allow the truth of who He says He is to pull us out of discouragement. Choosing God’s Word over fear strengthens our faith and renews our minds.

Praise as a Weapon in Overcoming Doubt with God’s Word

Praise also serves as a powerful spiritual weapon. When we sing, we should sing with intention and purpose, declaring God’s victories over our lives. Praise shifts our focus away from fear and helps us see ourselves through the lens of who God has called us to be.

As we praise God, we reinforce the truth of His Word in our hearts. This practice strengthens our ability to stand firm and continues the process of overcoming doubt with God’s Word, even in challenging seasons.

Developing Spiritual Strength to Stand Against Doubt

Standing against the enemy requires a holy and determined spirit. We cannot simply remain passive when lies try to take root in our minds. Joyce reminds believers that Jesus died on the cross to give us complete victory, and that victory is available to us today.

Referencing Romans 10, she explains that “whosoever will” receive God’s promises must hear the Word of God. Faith grows when we consistently expose ourselves to the message of Christ and learn to stand firm in truth when doubt arises.

Why God’s Word is Medicine for Your Soul

The Word of the Lord is not simply information to be learned, but nourishment for the soul. Just as the body cannot thrive without healthy food, the spirit cannot thrive without consistent time in Scripture.

Rather than approaching Scripture as a task or obligation, Joyce encourages believers to develop a genuine hunger for the Word. God’s truth brings life because it meets us where we are, addressing the places that need healing most.

“It has inherent power in it that will heal your life.”

Over time, reading Scripture doesn’t just inform us. It strengthens us, helping us to stand firm when challenges come and reminding us of who we are in Christ.

The Victory is Won

The challenges we face may not disappear overnight, but the way we face them can change. Joyce encourages believers to be intentional about what they feed their minds and spirits, knowing that God’s Word has the power to restore, renew, and transform.

As we choose to speak truth, praise with purpose, and hunger for Scripture, we position ourselves to walk in the freedom Christ has already secured for us. In doing so, we discover that the Word truly is medicine — bringing clarity, strength, and life in every season, and leading us continually towards overcoming doubt with God’s Word.

Article supplied with thanks to Vision – a non-profit, follower-funded Christian media ministry taking God’s Word to every corner of Australia and beyond through broadcast, online and print media.

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It’s possible to build a financial plan that’s both resilient and biblical. True wealth is built over time. 

Many Christians wonder how to build wealth that lasts without compromising their faith. In 2026, with economic uncertainty, market fluctuations, and rising costs, planning for the long term can feel overwhelming. But building a financial plan that is both resilient and biblical is possible. 

The first thing to understand is that wealth isn’t just about accumulating money, it’s about stewardship. Scripture encourages believers to plan wisely, save diligently, and give generously. A long-term plan is not a sign of doubt in God, but an act of faithful preparation. 

Why Resilience Matters More Than Returns 

Life rarely goes as planned. Unexpected events like job changes, health challenges, or market downturns can quickly disrupt finances. 

Jesus teaches in Matthew 7 about building your house on a solid rock. Similarly, aligning your finances with God’s principles creates a foundation that can withstand life’s storms. The goal is not to chase the highest returns but to build financial resilience that protects your family and allows you to serve God faithfully. 

What Does the Bible Say About Planning Ahead? 

Some Christians worry that planning for the future shows a lack of faith. But the Bible tells a different story. 

In Proverbs 13:22, it says: 

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” 

This verse encourages forward-looking stewardship. Planning for the future, saving for your family, investing wisely, and preparing for emergencies, is an expression of faith, not doubt. 

Four Pillars of a Resilient Financial Plan 

Building a long-term plan starts with four key principles:

1. Margin: Live Below Your Means

Create room in your finances by spending less than you earn. A simple framework is the 80-10-10 rule: 80% for living, 10% for saving, and 10% for giving. Margin allows you to handle unexpected expenses and give generously.

2. Protection: Prepare for Life’s Risks

Emergencies happen. Having an emergency fund (about 3–6 months of expenses) and appropriate insurance protects you from unexpected setbacks and ensures your family is cared for if something goes wrong.

3. Consistency: Build Faithful Habits

Wealth is built little by little through steady, disciplined habits. Automate your savings, practice regular giving, and stay consistent. Over time, small, consistent actions make a significant difference.

4. Diversification: Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket 

Investing in a variety of assets protects your finances from market fluctuations. As Ecclesiastes 11:2 says, diversify because we don’t know what challenges may come

Avoiding Short-Term Thinking 

We live in a results-driven culture that pushes quick wins and instant solutions. But financial success is achieved in seasons, not overnight. 

Patience, consistent saving, and long-term planning are critical. Christians are encouraged to adopt an eternal perspective, using money to serve God, bless others, and leave a lasting legacy, rather than chasing immediate gratification. 

Keeping Money From Becoming an Idol 

Jesus warns that we cannot serve both God and money. Wealth becomes dangerous when it dominates our priorities or becomes the measure of success. 

The solution is to step back and ask: 

• What is the purpose of my wealth? 
• How am I using it to serve others? 
• What legacy will I leave? 

When we see money as a tool we get to use for godly purposes, it stays in its proper place. 

Preparing Without Predicting 

It’s tempting to try to predict economic downturns, market crashes, or global events. But no one can foresee the future. 

The goal is not to predict, but to prepare: 

• Spiritually: Trust God with what you cannot control. 
• Practically: Build margin, save consistently, diversify, and protect your family. 

A combination of spiritual and practical preparation creates a plan that is resilient and faithful. 

Final Thoughts 

The Bible does not condemn planning or saving for the future. Instead, it calls believers to stewardship, wisdom, and faithful preparation. 

True wealth is built over time: 

• Faithfully: Trusting God in all things 
• Wisely: Making disciplined, practical decisions 
• Purposefully: Using resources to bless others and advance God’s kingdom 

In 2026, Christians can build long-term financial plans that are both resilient and rooted in faith, creating security, freedom, and the ability to give generously. 

Article supplied with thanks to Wealth with Purpose.

About the Author: Alex is a licensed financial planner and the founder of Wealth with Purpose a Stewardship Ministry that helps Christians handle their money God’s way.

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When approval becomes a trap.

I was talking with a friend the other day. She has just taken on a new role in her workplace. She knows she needs to speak up more in meetings. She knows she doesn’t because she worries what people think of her.

I thought that the opinions of other people didn’t bother me so much. How wrong I was!

I started thinking about a work context where I am more than happy to contribute my ideas. I began to realise that a lot of that desire is driven by a need to prove why I’m in the room. I worked this out from the way I respond when my shared ideas encounter feedback. I take it way too much to heart. This is because in rejecting my idea, they are also rejecting me.

Both my friend and I have fear of other people’s opinions – it just manifests itself in different ways. In some situations it keeps me talking – while for my friend, it keeps her silent.

What is FOPO?

Fear of other people’s opinions – or FOPO- is a term coined by high performance psychologist and author Michael Gervais. FOPO is having an unhealthy fixation on what other people think of us. It can be distracting, limiting or even debilitating. It can stop us putting forward new ideas (or in my case, being overly sensitive to the reception of ideas), speaking up in meetings, having difficult conversations, or trying something new.

FOPO traps us into devoting our energy, attention and focus on attempting to manage what other people think of us. Which, when you think about it, is a losing battle because we really can’t control other people’s opinions. And it’s exhausting. As another friend of mine says: “You’ll be that puppy dog constantly after the next pat on the head. And that’s quite an exhausting way to live, and it’s really unpredictable and inconsistent.” Devoting our energy, attention and focus in this way means we are less able to bring our best selves into the room.

So what’s the solution?

Do we just need to be braver? How do we become braver?

It strikes me that what we need is something to anchor ourselves for those times we can get buffeted by the opinions of others. And it’s best to work out what those anchors are when the waters are calm.

The anchor could be, for example, the opinion of a trusted friend or mentor. That can give us perspective and help us to filter or assess the opinions in the room. Or it could be something we say to ourselves in opinion-threatening situations. For me, I can remind myself that my ideas should be more about the good of others and less about others feeling good about me.

While that thought might anchor me in the moment, it comes because of an even deeper anchor it is attached to. As a follower of Jesus, there should be something even more important to me than the opinions of other people.

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:4-7

Jesus says the only one who should be feared – and rightly feared – is God himself. And yet that fear is from a place of safety and security because of how valuable Jesus’ followers are to God.

I find those words both challenging and comforting. Challenging because I need to fear God more than I fear people. Comforting because I am valuable to God – I matter to him. The way for me to become braver is to fear God more, because then the opinions of others will matter less.

Knowing that my worth comes from God means I am freer to act for the good of others, and so I can bring more of my best self into the room. Sharing my ideas becomes less about wanting others to feel good about me, and more about what is good for others. It then becomes a less opinion-threatening situation. And I can then more thoughtfully and calmly assess the feedback on my ideas.

Questions

1. Have you observed any FOPO behaviours in yourself?
2. What could your anchors be in opinion-threatening situations?
3. How could you see this making a practical difference?

Article provided with thanks to City Bible Forum.

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NDIS funding changes are increasing pressure on families. Here are practical ways churches can support people with disability and their families.

According to ABC News, the NDIS minister Mark Butler said funding amounts for social and community participation would be “reset” to 2023 levels, around $500 a week, with measures aimed at preventing further “runaway growth”.

Budgets for social participation activities are expected to be progressively reduced from October this year, pending the passage of legislation in June. These supports often fund group programs, outings and community engagement, meaning many families could face fewer opportunities for connection and inclusion.

As formal supports shift, the role of the local community becomes even more important. Churches are not only a place to worship God, but also a place of belonging. This creates an opportunity for churches to step in with practical care, inclusion and genuine connection.

Create a culture of welcome

Inclusion starts before any program begins.

In practice, this can be as simple as having a team that is attentive and prepared, greeting people personally, offering help in a natural way and making it clear who to approach for support. Some churches create quiet or sensory-friendly spaces where people can step out if needed or ensure there is consistency in who families interact with each week so trust can build over time.

Jesus consistently made space for those on the margins. Churches are called to reflect that same heart.

Make spaces accessible

Physical accessibility is essential. This includes ramps, accessible bathrooms and clear signage.

Accessibility also goes beyond buildings. It includes how services are structured. Clear communication, predictable routines and sharing what to expect ahead of time can help reduce anxiety. Small adjustments such as lowering volume levels, providing captions for online content or simply making spaces easier to navigate can make a significant difference for someone trying to engage.

Train and equip volunteers

This might look like running simple workshops, offering practical guidance on communication or creating a clear approach to how volunteers can respond when someone needs support. One of the most effective ways to learn is by listening directly to people with disability and their families, allowing real experiences to shape how a church responds.

Volunteers can also access formal training online. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission offers free courses and certifications that help build understanding and practical skills when supporting people living with disability.

You can explore training here.

Support the whole family

Families of people with disability often carry a significant emotional and physical load.

Support can extend beyond Sunday services. It may include pastoral care at home, personal catch-ups during the week, involvement in small groups or simply spending time together and studying the Bible in a more informal setting. For many families, these moments of connection outside the church building are where real support is felt most deeply.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)

For many families, this kind of consistent and relational support is what makes the greatest difference.

Involvement in church life and serving

Inclusion is not just about access. It is also about being part of something.

Often, when people are given the opportunity to give rather than only receive, it shifts the focus away from limitations and towards purpose and contribution.

This can mean adapting roles, creating space for different abilities and recognising the value each person brings into the life of the church.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV)

When everyone has a place, the whole community becomes stronger.

A community that reflects Christ

While systems like the NDIS play an important role, they cannot replace the power of genuine community.

For churches, this is an opportunity to reflect the love of Christ in practical ways. To see people, to include them and to walk alongside them.

Where a church may not have the resources or programs to meet every need, there is also value in looking beyond its own walls.

In a time when some supports are being reduced, the presence of a caring and consistent community can make a real difference in everyday life.

This article was prepared with AI assistance and then carefully reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by our Digital Team.

Article supplied with thanks to Salt 106.5.

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