Transcript
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{\b\fs48 EP 70 - Building Your House on Sand\b0}
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{Have you ever felt like your world was built on shifting sand? a, sudden job loss. a, financial crisis or relationship breakdown can leave you feeling shaken to the core. It's that nagging instability. It's a sign that maybe we've prioritized the wrong things. Here's a few notes that we received over the last few weeks. My hand shook as I opened that letter. Job terminated. Four words, it turned my world upside down. The fancy car. The spacious house, suddenly, it all felt like a flimsy facade. Panic squeezed my chest. }
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{As I realized the foundation I'd built, wasn't nearly as strong as I thought. Have you ever felt that crushing sense of everything you worked for just disappeared? I was at the peak of my career, raking in the cash. Designer suits, exotic vacations, my bank account bulging. And I never felt more restless. One night gazing out at the glittering city skyline. }
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{A chilling question struck me. }
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{ If all this was swept away tomorrow. What would truly remain. That's when I knew something was deeply wrong with the way I measured success. }
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{ Seeing my daughter's tear streaked face. clutching that unpaid bill. That's the moment it hit me. I might've been fooling the world with my outward success, but behind closed doors. Debt was crushing my family. The weight of my choices became unbearable. I know I'd been chasing sand for a long time. }
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{I was the good church lady, always smiling, always contributing, but inside I battled a secret shame. My finances were a disaster. One Sunday during a sermon about building our lives on Christ. Something inside me, snapped. I realized my carefully crafted image was a flimsy house of cards. That day I decided enough was enough. }
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{Today on the Ask Ralph podcast, we're talking about how to build unshakeable lives based on a foundation that outlasts any storm. It's about finding the true source of security. And how that translates to }
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{ wise financial choices. }
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{Let's get started by reading the gospel of Matthew chapter seven, verse 24. Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man. Who built his house on the rock. The rain came down. The streams rose and the winds blew and beat against the house. and it did not fall.Because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. }
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{ The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against the house. And it fell with a great crash. I love how the Bible uses such vivid imagery. The wise and foolish builders, those contrasting houses. Envision it. a, sprawling modern mansion on a Sandy shore. Versus a simple cabin built into the bedrock. When the storms came only one survives. Now that beach mansion could represent a life built on outward appearances. We're accumulating stuff. }
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{Hey, we're all guilty of that. The rock built cabin symbolizes something else entirely. a, life grounded in God's eternal truth. Let's be honest. building on sand. Doesn't always look so obvious. It could be maxing out our credit cards on the latest trends while ignoring, growing debt. It could be pouring out every ounce of energy into climbing the corporate ladder only to find yourself spiritually and emotionally bankrupt. Or maybe it's feeling an obsessive need to control your finances forgetting that true security only comes }
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{ from God. These aren't sinful things. But they're shifting sands. When life storms hit. The wise builder. The one who hears Jesus's words and puts them in action. They recognize that fleeting success or material possessions offer a false sense of stability. }
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{Hey. I can speak for myself. I've chased after those things. And at the end you find you're just empty. Instead, they focus on building a life rooted in something far stronger. An unwavering relationship with God and it's all about their relationship. Guided by wisdom of scripture. Listen, that doesn't mean Christians can't be wealthy. Or that there's no joy in a comfortable life. }
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{I am sick and tired of hearing about people say, well, you goody two shoe Christians. You don't live life. You aren't having any fun. You don't have any happiness. That's nonsense. But, and this is the key. How do we build that rock solid foundation, especially when it comes to our finances. }
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{Well today, I'm going to get practical folks. }
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{I'm going to give you some biblical wisdom }
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{ and give you some action steps of how to do it. Let's start with the book of Proverbs chapter 21 verse 20. It says in the house of the wise are stores of choice, food and oil. But a foolish man devours. All he has listen a budget. Isn't just about numbers. It's about aligning, our spending with God's priorities. Generosity. Smart saving and avoiding the trap of wasteful spending. That's what it comes down to. }
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{If you have a smart budget. It's biblical. like it says here in Proverbs, in the house of the wise are stores of choice, food and oil, but a foolish man devours, all he has. Are you devouring? All you have. }
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{Let's talk about conquering debt. Because it entangles us.}
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{ It limits our ability to give back and build for the future. Let's look at Romans chapter 13, verse eight reminds us this. Let no debt remain outstanding. Except to continue in debt to love one another. Well, what does that mean, Ralph? }
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{It means focusing on. Paying it off }
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{ aggressively. Strategizing, whether that's a snowball or avalanche method, I've talked about that in another podcast. Combined with a fierce resolve to change your spending habits. This is the key folks you got to conquer that debt. don't have your financial life built on sand, build it on bedrock, conquer that debt. }
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{It goes along with that as a healthy emergency fund. }
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{It offers peace. More valuable than any luxury purchase. Listen. If you have financial stability and financial security. That is going to be more peace than any luxury item you'll ever buy. I imagine the confidence in knowing you can weather unexpected expenses. Aim for at least three to six months, living costs tucked away to shield you from sinking into debt. }
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{When life throws a curve ball and listen than folks, we all have curve balls. I remember when my wife and I were just married, not too long. And we had two young kids. And all of a sudden we had a washing machine that needed to be repaired. And we didn't have that emergency savings. So we had to put that money on a credit card. }
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{ And it took us a while to get that paid off. If we had built that emergency fund, we wouldn't have had to suffer like that. }
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{Another part of this is investing wisely. Proverbs chapter 13, verse 11 says dishonest money dwindles away. But whoever gathers money, little by little makes it grow. Well, how do you do that? }
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{Ralph? Whether it's retirement savings or other investments research carefully. Seek godly counsel. And favor a long-term perspective is not going to happen overnight. But as it says, But whoever gains money, little by little makes it grow do it little by little and watch it grow. And another part of this is embracing contentment. We're all guilty of this. }
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{Have you look on social media? Everybody's chasing after everybody else I got to have with this one, has I got. I'm guilty of that too. This endless pursuit, of more is a trap that leads to spiritual emptiness. Listen, when you get it all and I've been there, I've had it all. And I'm not saying that to be }
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{ arrogant or brag. But I've been there. and you are more empty then. And I finally realized I know money doesn't fill my tank anymore. Is that connection with God it's that relationship with Jesus that does it. So, how do you do that? We have focused on gratitude for what you do have. And invest in experience and mostly invest in relationships with others. That's what brings real and lasting joy. Junk. }
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{Doesn't bring joy. Maybe I should catchphrase that, that sounded really good, but it doesn't. Stuff. Isn't going to make you happy. Yes, it can make you comfortable, but it doesn't make you happy. It doesn't bring you great joy.}
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{The book of Philippians chapter four, verses 12 through 13, teaches us. I know what it is to be in need. And I know what it is to have plenty. I learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. Whether well fed or hungry. Where the living in plenty or in one, I can do all }
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{ this through him who gives me strength. That's the answer to the question. }
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{Isn't it. Having gratitude and knowing that I can do all this. Through him who gives me strength. the truth is folks true. Financial resilience isn't achieved by technical skills alone. I could give you all kinds of great things to do, do a budget, measure your spending, invest in this, invest in that. But that's not the total answer. }
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{That's part of it. But it's when we daily choose to surrender everything. }
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{Our worries. Our dreams. Our financial situation, we surrender it to God. That's where we find unshakeable stability. It's only in that rock solid faith that will truly find stability. }
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{Please allow me to offer a prayer. Heavenly father, thank you for your eternal wisdom. Forgive us for building our lives on shifting sands, chasing possession, status and control. Help us to become people who prioritize }
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{ your word. Who manage money with a heart bent on generosity and kingdom impact. Strengthen us to resist temptation to overcome debt, to save wisely. And to cultivate true contentment. Give us the grace to build our lives on the firm foundation of your unchanging love in Jesus name. Amen. Remember. Even the wisest builder, couldn't withstand a hurricane without the right foundation. The same is true for our lives. Before we wrap up, I want to remind all of our listeners to visit our podcast page at, askralphpodcast.com. There you can leave us a review, share your thoughts, or even send us a message with questions for future episodes, share something. that has helped you build that strong foundation. While you're there. }
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{Join our email list so we can let you know about things going on with the program. And for right now, We're offering a $25 Amazon gift card giveaway every week. We're going to pick somebody. And they're going to win that card. }
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{ Remember this. Start building your finances on the only foundation that lasts. Jesus Christ. Friends stay financially savvy, and God bless you. }
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{Abundantly. }
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