money

How to Steward Your Finances

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Pile of mixed US dollar bills on a wooden table with rubber bands
Image generated via AI.

Managing money well isn’t just about earning more — it’s about making intentional choices that align with your values, goals, and responsibilities. Being a good steward of your finances means treating your resources with care, using them wisely, and planning for both the present and the future. Here’s how you can start building a healthier relationship with your money.

1. Understand Your “Why”
Before diving into budgets and investments, take time to reflect on your financial purpose. Are you saving for a home, building a safety net, or preparing for retirement? Knowing your “why” helps you make decisions that feel meaningful rather than restrictive.

2. Create a Realistic Budget
A budget isn’t a punishment — it’s a roadmap. Track your income and expenses to see where your money is going. Allocate funds for essentials, savings, debt repayment, and a little for enjoyment. The key is balance: spend intentionally, not impulsively.

3. Live Below Your Means
Financial stewardship thrives when you resist lifestyle inflation. Just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should buy it. Prioritize needs over wants and let your spending reflect your long-term goals.

4. Build an Emergency Fund
Life is unpredictable. Aim to save at least 3–6 months’ worth of living expenses in a separate, easily accessible account. This cushion protects you from unexpected setbacks without derailing your financial plan.

5. Manage Debt Wisely
Not all debt is bad, but unmanaged debt can quickly become a burden. Focus on paying off high-interest loans first and avoid taking on new debt unless it’s strategic and affordable.

6. Invest for the Future
Once your basics are covered, put your money to work. Whether it’s a retirement account, index funds, or real estate, investing helps your wealth grow over time. Start small if needed — consistency matters more than perfection.

7. Give Generously and Obediently
Part of stewardship is recognizing that money is a tool for impact. Whether through charitable giving, helping family, or supporting causes you care about, generosity can be deeply fulfilling.

8. Know Whose It Is
The above information is all good, but understanding whose money it is in the first place is important. If you believe in God and have accepted him, then allow him to be Lord over your finances, too. Trusting God in that way is really difficult for some people. It is all his. Your attitude should say, “Everything I have is because of God. When you understand that, it becomes easier to do what needs to be done to be financially sound. He may even ask you to give when it doesn’t look as if you can, but know this: God will make a way and provide for your needs. That kind of obedience builds faith and trust.

“After all, God, who is your Father, knows your needs before you ask him.” Mat. 6:8

19 Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. 20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness! 24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). 25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? 28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. 29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? 32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Mat. 6:19-33 (AMPC)

Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

How Much per Gallon?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Robotic arm accepting Japanese yen bill at a gas pump
Image generated via AI.

It’s hard to miss the sting of higher gas prices. Every time we fill up, the numbers climb faster than we’d like, and for many, that extra cost means cutting back elsewhere. While the economic impact is real, there’s also a deeper, spiritual layer worth exploring.

1. The Test of Trust

When expenses rise, our first instinct is often anxiety. We start calculating, worrying, and wondering how we’ll make ends meet. Yet Scripture reminds us that our ultimate security isn’t in our bank accounts, but in God’s provision. Rising gas prices can become a modern-day test of trust—an opportunity to lean into the truth that “my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

2. The Call to Contentment

Higher costs can tempt us to grumble or compare our situation to others. But contentment isn’t about having everything we want—it’s about recognizing that what we have is enough for today. This season can be a reminder to simplify, to be grateful for the transportation we do have, and to see every mile as a gift rather than a given.

3. The Invitation to Compassion

When prices rise, those already struggling feel it the most. As followers of Christ, we’re called to notice and respond. Maybe that means offering a ride to a neighbor, helping someone cover their commute, or simply listening to their concerns without judgment. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who always moved toward those in need.

4. The Shift in Perspective

Gas prices may be out of our control, but our perspective isn’t. We can choose to see this moment not as an inconvenience alone, but as a spiritual checkpoint—asking ourselves: Am I trusting God with my daily needs? Am I using my resources to bless others? Am I letting gratitude outweigh frustration?

Final Thought:

The numbers on the pump may keep changing, but God’s faithfulness doesn’t. If we let it, even something as ordinary as filling our tank can become a moment of worship, trust, and generosity.

Copyright © 2026 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Monopoly – A Game of Spiritual Analogies?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image generated via AI.

At first glance, Monopoly might seem like nothing more than a competitive scramble for cash, property, and power. But if we look closer, this classic board game can actually serve as a thought-provoking metaphor for biblical truths about life, stewardship, and eternity.

In Monopoly, no matter how many hotels you own or how much cash you’ve stacked, the game eventually ends. When it’s over, everything goes back in the box. The Bible reminds us of the same reality: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). Our earthly possessions are temporary; what truly matters is how we use them for God’s purposes. And at the end of your life, you, too, will go into a box.

In the game, you never truly “own” the board — you’re just managing resources for a time. Likewise, scripture teaches that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). We are stewards, entrusted with time, talents, and treasures to manage wisely. Winning in God’s eyes isn’t about accumulation, but about faithfulness.

Monopoly often rewards aggressive acquisition, but in real life, unchecked greed can destroy relationships and peace. Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). The game can be a playful reminder of how easily our hearts can be drawn toward “more” instead of “enough.”

Monopoly may be a game of strategy and competition, but it can also be a mirror for our spiritual lives. The real “victory” isn’t measured in property deeds or stacks of cash, but in a life lived with open hands, a generous heart, and an eternal perspective.

In Monopoly, one player’s gain is often another’s loss. But the Kingdom of God operates differently — it’s not a zero-sum game. In Christ, we are called to generosity, lifting others up rather than bankrupting them. Imagine if we played life more like that — offering mercy, forgiveness, and help instead of just trying to “win.”

(I have been experimenting with AI more and more. As a result, most of this blog post was written using an AI. tool.)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

A202516

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image generated via AI.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mat. 25:34-40 (NIV)

April and I like being benevolent. A word meaning: kind and with positive intentions. So when the need went out yesterday in church to help buy children back-to-school clothes, supplies, and perhaps something they wanted, we knew we had to respond.

April turned to me and asked, “Do you want to help?” “Of course,” I replied. Then she asked, “Do we have enough extra money right now?” I said, “God will provide.”

As we started shopping for the individual April had selected, it seemed daunting to buy clothes for a young man whom we had never met. So, I started praying. Asking God, who knows this child, to lead us and guide us with questions like, “What are 14-year-olds wearing these days?” I mean, you want them to look nice but be cool as well. When I took hold of the pair of shoes, I started crying. Here is a young man, just starting high school and wondering, “Will I fit in?” “What am I going to wear?” My heart broke. A kid should never have to worry about what they will wear or what they will eat, or where they will sleep tonight.

I don’t write about these things to say, “Look at us. Look how generous we are.” We are only able to do these things because of God! The reason is to say:

  1. Trust God that He will meet your needs.
  2. Open your eyes to the needs of others.
  3. Live within your means, so you can help.
  4. And remember that when you do it for the least of these, you do it for Jesus.

The young man that we got to help is more than a number. More than “A202516.” We pray that he knows God and will learn by seeing Him in action how loving and caring He really is. And that He is a good, good God. We pray that when he grows up and someday hears the cry go out that a child has a need, he will remember how someone answered that cry for him, and then do the same.

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Rich Man, Poor Man

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image generated via AI.

“People don’t know how expensive it is to be poor!” From the movie “Straw.” It is hard for me to relate to the above quote. I’m not privileged or from a wealthy family, but compared to 99% of the rest of the world, I am rich.

None of us get to choose who and where we are born. If given a choice, most of us would pick a wealthy family in America so we would have opportunities. The movie Straw portrayed a side of life that a lot of people deal with every day. The movie was good, but the language was very rough. Honestly, it was difficult for me to relate to, but I feel for anyone who is struggling financially.

There are situations where individuals struggle due to their own issues and decisions. There are usually ways out of your current situation and ways or means to better your life. I’m sure doing so is a huge fight and it probably feels like trying to climb Mt. Everest, almost impossible. But there are stories of people who do it.

Struggling financially is certainly not the life God had wanted or planned for people. He placed Adam and Eve in a garden. And Jesus said in John 10:10 that he had come to give people life and to give it to them more abundantly. The one word that determines abundant living is “contentment.” Someone who is just barely making ends meet might say they are content. They have a warm, safe place, food on the table, and reliable transportation. For one who has limited resources, if any one of those needs more and they don’t have more, that is when they can get into trouble.

They can quickly find themselves without a place to live, struggling to put food on the table, or having a vehicle they cannot afford to maintain. They may suffer a physical illness that they can’t afford, or if they can’t get to work, they could lose their job, and that might cause them to lose where they are living. I can understand why someone would get depressed and potentially snap.

Living a life that is surrounded by sin and that is open to demonic influence doesn’t make life easy either. In the first part of John 10:10, Jesus tells people that Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. Satan wants to influence people to the point where their lives are ruined!

I contribute what I have to God. He has guided me in making good decisions. I’m not bragging because it was God, and I am not a financial genius, but I was able to retire at the age of 55. I have a home that has increased in value by $134,000 from when I bought it eight years ago. I live within my means, and I tithe on the income I have. God upholds his end of the tithing thing. He closes the mouth of the devourer. (Mal. 3:10-11) I do drive an old, beat-up car that is 15 years old, but it is dependable. I give God all the credit and the glory.

Do life WITH God. Accept Jesus, have your sins forgiven, and get on a road that leads to contentment. Learn how to live life abundantly.

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Control

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image generated via A.I.

Accepting God’s gift of salvation is easy. “Even a caveman can do it.” (A line from a famous commercial some years ago.) What’s not so simple is giving God control of your life. It seems a lot of people still want to make significant decisions on their own. Then, when they find themselves in trouble, they wonder why.

After graduating college and landing a drafting job with the local electric company, I felt I was set for life. After all, as I was starting my career there, my uncle retired from the same company. But God had other plans. I was offered a youth pastor’s position in a small church 1,582 miles away. The problem? They couldn’t afford to pay me. Crazy right? Who in their right mind would take such a position? Believe me, I heard a lot of opinions from others who I knew were concerned for me. My father’s thoughts were the loudest, though.

After a lot of prayer, I did what God called me to. I was scared, but I felt assured that He knew what He was doing. It turns out He did, and all of my needs were met.

That experience taught me to seek God whenever making decisions about things like where to live, where to work, and where to spend money above and beyond living costs. Oh, don’t forget who to marry. These are the areas of life that most don’t even think to ask God about. Somehow, they feel these decisions are theirs. And some go as far as to tell God, “Hands off!”

Of course, God allows this because He gives us free will. But I can only wonder how much it aches his heart when the decisions people make hurt them. God wants the best for us, and He has the ability to see beyond the edge of the map. He knows in advance what decisions are good ones and which ones aren’t.

I would have to say that letting God have complete control of my life has allowed me to have a wonderful life and one of the most incredible adventures anyone could ever live.

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Eph. 1:11-12 (MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
    don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
    a father’s delight is behind all this. Prov. 3:5-12 (MSG)

Cease striving and know that I am God; Ps. 46:10a (LSB)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Hacked

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image by Pete Linforth via Pixabay

Individuals are getting hacked all the time these days, especially on social media. I know my Facebook account got hacked once. Just the other day, a friend told me someone, or a group, got into her “X” (formally Twitter) account. There is even a company now you can pay to try to guard you against hackers getting your personal information and securing loans or, worse, draining your bank accounts.

A few years ago, I took a nap on a Saturday. When I woke, I looked at my phone and saw an email from my bank. I had set up a “Withdrawal Alert” whenever more than a set amount came out of any of my accounts. The email informed me that $9000 had been transferred from my savings. I immediately called the bank and told them I didn’t do it and didn’t authorize it. They finally stopped treating me like a criminal, a “guilty” party, after two hours. I told them the people responsible were tied to the account where the money went. I got the money back, and I have greater security today.

But what happens when someone’s heart gets hacked? What do I mean by that? An individual, perhaps raised in a church, knows right from wrong and believes in God even, but Satan found a way into their heart and, as a result, into their life. His presence in their heart could cause them to act in a way that is no longer pleasing to God. It could cause them to say and do things that are not right. You don’t think it could happen? What about Judas?

Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples. He heard the teachings and saw the miracles. In fact, he probably had a front-row seat. I can only guess he was in attendance every time.

Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them. John 12:4-6 (MSG)

Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.

“What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.” John 13:26-27 (MSG)

See, the scriptures point out that Satan “hacked” into Judas’ heart. He found a way in, and he caused Judas to betray Jesus. The sad end to Judas’ life is he knew he had sinned. He gave the money back to the priests, well, tried to. They didn’t want it because they knew it was now dirty. After Judas did this act, he judged himself and committed suicide. I know that if he had gone to Jesus and asked for forgiveness, Jesus would have done so.

If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. 1 John 1:9-10 (MSG)

Guard your heart by guarding your mind. Bring every thought into captivity. For what you think, you begin to believe. And what you believe, you start to speak and act upon. Don’t let your heart get hacked. You won’t be guilty, and your life will be “locked,” secured for eternity.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

$1000 Seed

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment

There is a ministry on TV every weekend, usually in the middle of the night. These days, I am up at that time because I can’t go back to sleep. I’m not sure why I even give the program a minute of my time because I know that no matter what they are saying when I tune in, they will eventually ask viewers to give money.

I have watched enough to know they ask for a donation of $1000. They call it a “seed offering.” The speaker assures me that God will take my offering and bless it, and I will receive many times more than what I gave. I have wondered Why does it have to be $1000? I did notice during the COVID pandemic, they only asked for $333, and then it went down to 58 dollars a month! Their plea must work because they keep doing it. I think many people are so desperate for money that they will try anything.

I have also pondered I wonder what God thinks of this so-called ministry. How will He judge them? I mean, couldn’t there be a “Dollar Tree Church?” And why is giving money to them all they ever talk about? I respect the TV ministries that never directly ask for money. They might give you an opportunity to support them, but they don’t use their expensive TV time, only asking for money.

“If God is in it, He will fund it.”

Bill Gothard

Here is what I know for sure is true: God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) He will bless you if you give, for the right reasons, especially if you do it his way. According to Malachi 3:10. You can never outgive God. Giving is about the attitude of your heart and not about getting something back. With that said, I started tithing at the age of eleven. I give credit to God that I have never gone lacking for a job. I also gave Him praise when I was able to retire at age 55. Trust me, it wasn’t due to me being a financial expert when it came to investing.

The next time you are up in the middle of the night, and you come across a TV minister asking you to send him a $1000 seed, resist the urge. If you still want to sow a financial seed, plant it into your local church that you know is building God’s kingdom and not their own.

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady

The Cheapest Dream in Town

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Photo by: Paulo Diniz via Pixabay

Playing Powerball is popular in America. The jackpots grow these days to outrageous dollar amounts. Most people hope to win it. There was one such winner last night from California. They won $1.73 Billion. That’s, of course, if they take the annuity option, and yes, they have to pay federal and state taxes first. Otherwise, they can take a one-time lump sum, which would pay out much less but still more than most Americans can earn in their lifetime.

When the lottery topic came up in my old workplace, one man often reminded us, saying, “Playing the lottery is the cheapest dream in town!” He was right. And I have to admit I have played before and have joined those who dreamed of how they would spend it. I would first get out of all my dept. Then, I would give an offering to my local church and help some family members if needed. From there, I would carefully seek the Lord on what to do with it. (NOTE: I said “offering” to the church instead of a “tithe” because I would not have labored for the money. In other words, playing the lottery isn’t my job.)

Some people play because they are desperate to change their current life. Whether they are deep in debt for several reasons, need a life-saving surgery, or any otherwise impossible situation. They hoped their financial woes would end overnight. Others might play to make a large purchase of something they want but don’t need.

I have heard when someone wins a large sum of cash, they trade one set of problems for another. Like out of the blue, they have millions of friends and issues with family members who don’t get enough of the money to suit them. I heard from a trusted source that one wealthy and famous ex-TV host gets hundreds of requests daily for financial help.

“According to Ohman, most lottery winners spend all their winnings and end up in a worse financial position than before they won.”

That is sad to learn about most lottery winners. So what is one to do? For those who believe in God, it is better to put your trust in the Lord. He knows what you have need of and will provide it.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat. 6:31-33 (KJV)

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov. 3:5 (KJV)

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Ps. 55:17 (KJV)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Prov. 3:9-10 (NIV)

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.