Are You Following the World's Wisdom or God's Wisdom in Your Finances?

Ralph00:00:00

Have you ever felt like you're spinning your wheels when it comes to money? Like you're working hard, but you're just not getting ahead? Well, today we're tackling a question that many of us struggle with.How do I break free from the world's wisdom and find peace in God's wisdom as it relates to my finances? Listen, if you've ever felt that tension between what the world says about money and what God tells us, let me just tell you, this episode's for you.So let's dive in and find some practical answers together.

Podcast Announcer00:00:30

In a world where crushing debt keeps you trapped, where living paycheck to paycheck has become your new normal, and where the dream of retirement seems impossibly out of reach, there's hope. Join financial evangelist Ralph Estep Jr. A man who's walked through the fire of financial failure and emerged stronger on the other side. Welcome to Ask Ralph, the show where real world experience meets biblical truth to break the bondage of financial despair. Get ready to take control of your money, break free from the financial stress and align your resources with God's purpose for your life. This is Ask Ralph with Ralph Estep Jr.

Ralph00:01:10

Welcome to another episode of the Ask Ralph show, where we're all about mastering your finances from that Christian perspective. I'm your Financial Evangelist, Ralph, and I am thrilled you've chosen to join me today. This episode is going to be a guiding light in helping you navigate the complex waters of financial uncertainty. So you might be asking, why should I listen today? Well today, we're going to explore a profound and emotional question that many of us face. And that question is, how do we break free from the world's wisdom. That wisdom that says, go get it, it can be yours, and find peace in God's wisdom when it comes to our finances. We're going to be getting into the struggle between following the world's advice and aligning our financial decisions with God's teachings. And listen. This is a crucial topic because so many of us feel trapped by debt. We feel overwhelmed by financial pressure and we feel uncertain about how to honor God with our money. But by the end of this episode, here's my promise for you, you will have clarity on how to shift your mindset from worldly wisdom to God's wisdom. And I'm going to help you find practical steps to manage your finances in a God honoring way. And in the end, here's the most beautiful part, and ultimately experience the peace and freedom that comes from trusting in God's guidance. So stay engaged as we explore this life changing topic together. Yesterday, we discussed redefining what being rich means to you. So if you missed it, be sure to check it out at askralph.com because that was a powerful first step towards aligning your financial goals with your values and priorities. And today is going to be the next step in that plan moving forward. Well today, we're exploring a profound and emotional question. And this one comes from one of our listeners and her name is Lisa. And she writes this, she says this, "Ralph, I've been following your podcast for a while and it's really got me thinking about how I handle my finances. I'm drowning in debt, credit cards, student loans, and a car payment that's way too high. Every day, I'm bombarded with messages telling me to buy more, upgrade my life and keep up with the Joneses. I've tried to make smart decisions based on what the world tells us is wise, but I feel like there's a disconnect with my faith. I'm filled with shame and I'm filled with guilt and I don't know how to break this cycle. The world tells me to focus on material success, that instant gratification and self reliance. But I know God calls us to something far different. How do I move from following the world's wisdom to following God's wisdom when it comes to my finances? I need specific examples and key ideas to overcome this deep challenge. Please help." Well Lisa, I just want to start by thanking you so much for the courage you took in sharing your struggle. And I can feel the weight of that burden, that constant pressure to spend more, that guilt of debt and that disconnect between your financial decisions and your faith. In a lot of ways, I feel like it's like being trapped in a dark room and you're just, you're feeling around and you're unable to find that door that leads to freedom. Doesn't it feel like that, Lisa? But let me assure you, there is hope. Listen, I've seen it firsthand. I've seen that transformation that comes when we align our finances with God's wisdom. So we're walking this journey together. I'm going to take you step by step. And today we're going to find clarity and more importantly than that, we're going to find confidence that you need to break free from the cycle of shame. Does that sound good, Lisa? Well, if it does, let's get started. And remember, if you've got more questions you'd like answered on the show, head over to justaskralph.com because in the end, I'm here to help and your questions are the heartbeat of this show, Lisa, and everyone else listening. Well Lisa, let's start by turning to God's word for guidance. I always like to ground us in scripture and this one comes to us from the book of Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 and 6, and we read this. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight." And think about it, Lisa, this verse is just a gentle reminder that true wisdom, I'm talking about real wisdom, it comes from God. So when we trust Him and we submit to His will, He will guide us and He will make our paths straight. So Lisa, in the midst of your struggle, here's the first thing I want you to know. I want you to know that God is with you. He's ready to lead you to a place of peace and a place of freedom. And Lisa, isn't that comforting? So I just want to start off with some gratitude, Lisa. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge with you. The truth is, God has blessed me with over 30 years of professional experience as a licensed accountant. This is what I do. This is what I live. And I've seen how following God's wisdom, how following that Godly wisdom can truly transform lives. And it's a privilege to be part of this journey and to help you overcome your financial challenges from a place of faith. In the end, that's why I do this show. So Lisa, let me share a personal story with you. It's been several years ago and I had a client named Frank and this guy was deeply in debt. See, he had followed the world's advice. He was living well beyond his means. I'm talking about way beyond. He was relying on credit cards and he was in this constant chase for material possessions. And he was always surrounded by the constant noise of the world. And we all are, we all experience this. Lisa, I know your experience. I know I experience this, this telling him to spend more, to save less, to keep up with the neighbors. As they say, keep up with the Joneses. But in the end, Frank felt empty. He felt overwhelmed. And I'm sure Lisa, you can feel the same thing. I sense it from your letter today. And one day, Frank scheduled an appointment with me. He came in, he was exhausted. He was desperate for a change. I don't know about you, but that sounds familiar to me. So let me tell you how I helped Frank. And what I did with Frank is I shared this same Bible verse that we read today. That's from Proverbs 3:5 and 6. And I said to Frank, I said, listen. True financial freedom comes from trusting God and following His wisdom. I had to help him break away from that worldly wisdom and we worked together and we did specific things. We did concrete things. We created a budget. We created a budget that reflected his values. We started a savings plan and listen to this. Frank began paying off his debt. And it wasn't easy. It was hard. This was hard work, but Frank had had enough. He felt so empty. He was committed to doing it. Now, it didn't happen overnight, but Frank saw a slow transformation in his financial life and over a year or two, he became debt free. He started saving for emergencies. He even started giving to his church and to other charities. Now you might say, Ralph, that's fantastic. It was a breakthrough. But the most significant change, and this is the one I'm talking about today. This is really where I want to go today. The most significant change was in his heart. And that's what we're all seeking. Frank found peace. Frank found joy in knowing that he was honoring God with his finances. And he said to me one day, he said, Ralph, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I could finally breathe again. And Lisa, let me just tell you something. You can experience that same transformation. So let's take a few minutes and let's talk about the contrast between the world's wisdom and God's wisdom. The first one is very broad. It's Materialism vs. Stewardship. Now the world will tell you success is measured by your wealth and by your possessions. You know, the more you have, the better you are doing. Right, Lisa? Well, maybe not. Now this, the counterpoint to that is God's wisdom. And God's wisdom says this. We are stewards of God's resources and our success is measured by how well we manage what God has given us, not how much stuff we acquire, not much how we're keeping up with everybody else. Just look at the book of Matthew chapter 6, verses 19 and 21, it says this. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth." And this morning, think about this. "Where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." And I love the end of this. And this is what it's all about today. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Let's move on to the second thing, and that's Debt as a tool vs. Debt freedom. Now worldly wisdom will tell you debt is seen as normal. It's necessary. It's a tool for achieving financial goals. It's a tool for achieving financial success. It's just all part of the game, isn't it Lisa? But that's not what God's wisdom says. God wisdom says debt is a form of slavery. I mean, that is bold, but it does say this. I'm going to get to that scripture reference in a second. So in God's wisdom, we should strive to be debt free and avoid taking on new debt. Now I'm not saying all debt is bad, but we need to work at getting away from debt. Look at Proverbs 22:7. This is the boldest verse in the Bible about money. It says, "The rich rule over the poor." And this part is the most important part. "And the borrower is slave to the lender." Do you want to be a slave to your debts? Do you want to be a slave to the lender? Because that's what worldly wisdom tells you. Go get it, go borrow for it. You can have it all, but are you becoming a slave to those debts? The third thing is Self-Reliance vs. Dependence on God. Because see, worldly wisdom would say this. Independence and self reliance, those are praised things. And you should all rely on your own strength and abilities. That's what the world says, but that's not what God's wisdom says. God's wisdom is very clear. We are dependent on God for everything. Think about that for a second. We're dependent on God for everything. Like our verse says today, Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart," not part of your heart, not some of your heart, because He wants us to be dependent on Him for everything. So "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways," not some of your ways, not a couple of your ways, not most of your ways, but "in all of your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." Hey, I don't know about you Lisa, but I want to be on a straight path. Let's look at the number four thing I have on my list here today of Worldly versus Godly wisdom. And this one is brutal. This is Instant Gratification vs. Patience and Planning because the world would say this. Immediate satisfaction is encouraged. If you want it, buy it now. It sound familiar, Lisa? That's what the world is telling us. Hey, why wait for tomorrow? Tomorrow's not promised. Buy it today. But that's not what Godly wisdom says. Godly wisdom takes us in a completely different direction. It talks about patience and planning, and those are really the keys. Look at Proverbs 21:5. I use this on this show all the time. "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." I don't know about you, but patience and planning versus that instant gratification. And listen, we live in a culture right now that's all about instant gratification. We are bombarded on all sides. I could go right now on my computer and I could buy something on Amazon and I could literally have it before lunchtime today. That's instant gratification, but that is not what God is calling for us to do. He wants us to be patient and he wants us to plan. Let's move on to number five, and that's keeping up vs. Contentment. The world says this, you need to keep up with the Joneses. You need to keep up with the neighbors because your worth is measured by how well you compare to others. That is the world's wisdom. Listen, this is the truth. Everybody's looking at, look at Facebook, look at social media of any type. It's all about, look what I have, look what I have, look what I have. And there's some value that the world sees in that, but that's not God's view. That's not God's wisdom. In God's wisdom, contentment is the key. Look at the book of Hebrews 13:5, it says this, it says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money." And this is the best part, "and be content with what you have, because God has said this, 'never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" See Lisa, one of the big takeaways from today is find contentment. Find contentment, move beyond that keeping up mentality. It's that keeping up mentality that keeps us shackled in debt. It's that keeping up mentality that keeps us from saving, that keeps us from being able to really enjoy what God has already given us. So find that contentment. I'm going to encourage you go back and read Hebrews 13:5. And like it says, keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you already have. And Lisa, you might be thinking, yes, Ralph, exactly. That's what I want to do. You've hit all the, you've nailed it, Ralph, but how do I make that happen? How do I change the paradigm? How do I change that dynamic? So Lisa, here are my keys to help you getting to that point, because it's all about action. You can have the best of intentions. You can say, Ralph, I agree with everything you said. Now let's go do it. But if you don't go do it, you're never going to find that transformation. And in my personal view, it all starts with prayer. Lisa, ask God at the first of this, ask God for wisdom, ask him for guidance in managing your finances. And a lot of people say, Ralph, wait a minute. I've always been taught that the God in finances are, you know, you don't want to talk about that. Well, guess what? God does want to hear from you. God wants to see you prosper. God wants to see you be successful. Look at the book of James chapter 1:5. It says this, and this is as clear as it can be in scripture. It says this. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all," not to some, not to a couple, "to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." So Lisa, in those quiet moments of prayer, you are going to find something miraculous. You're going to find strength and you are going to find clarity that you need to make right decisions. And that's what it all comes down to is making right decisions. So it all starts with prayer. Well, the second part of this is study. You can't just pray and say, well, I've done what Ralph said. I prayed. Now let's see God happen. No, it doesn't work that way. You've got to study. You've got to surround yourself with things that will build you up, read, meditate on what the Bible says about money and finance and let God, let God's word be your compass. Let it be your guiding light through the complexities of financial decision making. Look at Proverbs 22:7. It says this again. I'm going to come right back to it. It comes back and says "The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender." And if you think about it, I talked about that instant gratification. A lot of things we talked about today were about debt. And this verse is a stark reminder of the dangers of debt, but bigger than that. Think about the overarching principle of this. It's finding that financial freedom because that's really the counterpart. So that's the second thing, Lisa. First thing is pray. Second thing, study about it. Find scripture to build yourself up. The third thing, yes, Ralph's gonna talk about budgets again. But it all comes down to creating a budget that reflects God's priorities and your values. Lisa, this is the roadmap to financial freedom. If you want to know where the secret is, this is the secret. This is what they call the secret sauce. A lot of people say, okay, here goes Ralph talking about budgets again. I don't really care what you think about that. It is an intentional spending plan. If you want to find financial freedom, it is very simple. Start with a plan, start with the end in mind and build that roadmap. It is simple. By listing all your income and expenses, and then allocate those funds to your priority. And one of the things I'm going to encourage you to do is make sure to include giving, make sure to include savings. And if you're in debt, by all means, put together a debt repayment plan as part of your budget. So we started with prayer, we went to study, then we went to budgeting. Well, let's go to the most important part of that. And that is save. It's all about saving. You got to start saving for emergency, start saving for those future needs and start saving for, wait a minute, listen to this one, for giving opportunities, because if you build a safety net, you are going to start to reinforce that confidence, that way you're able to face whatever comes your way. And that's all part of it, is facing that thing, facing those things of what is coming your way. And look at the Bible, look at Proverbs chapter 6 verses 6 through 8, it says, and I love this one. "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise. It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Now, I'm not saying we're all ants, but we can learn from that. Just like the ant, we should be diligent in saving for the future. So that's saving. Well, now it's another thing, and this is going to be counterintuitive to culture. Listen, we're talking about Godly wisdom, not worldly wisdom, but the next thing is to give. You might be saying, Ralph, wait a second. I don't even have money to pay my bills and you're telling me to give. No, the Lord is telling you to give. Practicing generosity by giving to your church, by giving to charities and then giving those in needs is not just helping others. You're investing in your own spiritual growth and you're deepening your connection with God. Because Lisa, one of the things you said to me is you feel disconnected. Well, one of the best ways that you can connect is start to give back, start to give back what God has so richly blessed you with. We don't realize how richly blessed we are, how much we have. It's all about that contentment, but it's all about giving back. Look at the second, the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 9:6-7. It says this, "Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." Think about that for a second. If you sow sparingly, if you're barely given out, if you're barely given back, you're not going to, you're not going to get this huge reaping of, you're going to get it back the same way. But what does the good book said? It says, but whoever sows generously. So if you give generously, guess what it says, you're going to reap generously as well. And the Bible is very clear about each of us should give what we have decided in our heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because I love this part, for God loves a cheerful giver. And Lisa, that is part of the secret to change in your paradigm and that is to become a giver. Now, another thing I'm going to strongly encourage you to do is avoid debt. We've talked about that a couple of times. You've got to work towards becoming debt free and avoid taking on new debt because listen, you've got to break the chains of debt because that's going to help lift that burden of shame. When I talk to people, the number one thing of people who are in debt, they feel ashamed. And you've got to break that shame and what this burden of debt, if you can break free of it, it's going to give you the freedom to live the life that God intended for you. Look at the book of Proverbs again, the rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender. I don't know how many times I can say it, but I like this one even better. This one's from Romans chapter 13, verse 8, it says, "Let no debt remain outstanding." And I love this part, "except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." Hey Lisa, everybody else listening, do you want to fulfill the law? Then stay out of debt. Number seven, you got to seek wisely counsel. Lisa, one of the things that you're crying out to, you reached out to me on the show because you're looking for somebody to help you. And I'm going to encourage you to surround yourself with wise, Godly counsel. Make that part of your study. These people like me and other people can help you make sound financial decisions and you're going to need their support. You're going to need their guidance. It's invaluable as we navigate the journey to financial freedom. You need guides along the way. For example, I was reading an article the other day about people who climb Mount Everest. I can't even imagine climbing a mountain, but they have guides. They have people that have walked that walk before, and I'm going to encourage you to do the same thing. Look at the book of Proverbs 15:22, it says this, "Plans fail for lack of counsel," but this is the best part. I love this part of the Bible, "but with many advisers they succeed." Lisa, do you want success? Then surround yourself with many advisers. Well Lisa, I know I've covered a lot today, and if you want more in depth information and resources related to today's topic, be sure to check out my daily blog post. You can get that by going to askralphpodcast.com/blog. And if you didn't think I could go any deeper, guess what? I do. And on the blog post today, I'm going to share some additional resources that can help you on your journey. Well, let's get to our reflection questions to help meditate on today's key takeaway. So these are my questions for you, Lisa. Number one thing, Lisa, what are some areas in your financial life where you've been following the world's wisdom instead of God's wisdom? If you can identify these areas, that is the first step towards making a change. So list those things. Think about those things that you're saying, Oh, I've been taking this worldly wisdom, but taking this world, I've been seeking that instant gratification. I've been buying it. I haven't been saving. I've been doing all those things. Identify those areas because it takes identification to really understand how to make that change. So that's the first thing. Second thing, how do you incorporate prayer and Bible study into your financial decision making process? I've encouraged you to do this. I'm going to encourage you to do this every day. Let God's word be your guide and as you seek clarity and confidence in your financial journey, let Him be the guide to that. And number three, what specific action steps will you take today? Because remember, I talk about this on the show all the time. What are you going to do today? Don't wait till tomorrow. Don't wait till next week. What are you going to do today to start shifting from the world's wisdom to God's wisdom in your finances? Make a plan. Taking action is key. If you want to break the cycle of shame and find true financial freedom, then build action. So here are my key takeaways for today. Just take another couple of seconds here. First thing, trust in God's wisdom and guidance for your finances, Lisa. He is your rock, He is your refuge, and He will lead you to a place of peace and freedom. Second thing, take concrete action steps to shift from that world's wisdom to God's wisdom. And with each step, I promise you this Lisa. With each and every step, you're going to gain clarity and you're going to gain confidence and you're going to break that cycle of shame and you're going to find strength to move forward. And I'm going to encourage you to reflect on your financial decisions, align them with God's priorities. Let his word be your guide as you navigate the complexities of financial decision making. Before we close today, I just want to share something from my heart. I know what it's like to feel weighed down by financial struggles. I know what that stress feels like. I know what that shame feels like. And I know that lonely feeling of thinking you're the only one dealing with it. But I can tell you something. You are not alone and you don't have to stay stuck. You just don't have to. Every single day, I am here to remind you that there's hope. And I'm here to remind you that there's a way forward. That's why I'd love for you to join me over at askralphpodcast.com/newsletter. And when you sign up, I'm going to send you a daily dose of encouragement, simple, practical tips to help you take small steps towards financial freedom and reminders that no matter what you're starting, no matter where you're starting, God has a plan for your journey. And here's the best part. When you join, you're not just signing up for a newsletter, you're stepping into a community of people who are just like you. People who are letting go of shame, people who are finding hope and people who are learning to live in God's freedom one day at a time. And I want you to be a part of that. So don't wait, head over to askralphpodcast.com/newsletter today and let's do this together. You're not alone, and I'm here to walk this road with you. I can't wait to see you there. Now on tomorrow's show, we're going to be discussing another crucial topic, and that is, are you still on the hook with the IRS? How far back can they claim you owe? It's going to be surprising just how far back those IRS issues can haunt you. So be sure to join me again tomorrow for another great topic. Well, thank you for your time today. Lisa and everyone listening, and to all of our listeners, remember, my passion is to help you achieve financial success. I want to see you live out your dreams and I want to see you grow in your faith. And I know together, working together, we can master your finances from a Christian perspective. So as I always end the show, stay financially savvy out there and may God bless you abundantly.

Podcast Announcer00:27:28

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