Jake And Friends
Jake And Friends
Episode 52 - Biblical Finance
Parker and Jake discuss Jake's failed hunting life, Andy Stanley's Unconditional Conference, and the importance of biblical finance.
Welcome back to another episode of Jake and Friends podcast. It's me, Jake and Parker Sanders joining me from the shore, a k a, the
Track 1:that's right. The shore
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:not, not the Jo Shore
Track 1:Well, some get mistaken very quickly. I can see how people can get confused with each shore Jersey shore, you know, same amount of people.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah. What's been up to.
Track 1:Man, just, um, just hanging out, you know, with the fam. We got, I just had football season, uh, end. I coached middle school football, so, um, got beat by the, the mighty Daphne Trojans and it's not fun getting beat by them.'cause the robbery is pretty big. It's kind of like, it's kind like Charles Henderson. And Pike County, I guess. Uh, it's kind of a big deal. It's a really big deal. And then what makes it even worse? That on, we play on Thursday nights and so we got beat and then the varsity played Daphne, which is also a region game. Uh, and we lost also. So it's not been a good year for T football, um, to say the least. But just to be honest, when you got a bunch of. Just really smart kids and not a ton ath athleticism. Um, it hurts, but great kids though. Excellent
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:like all the kids down there wanna like fish though. Like isn't that the things that they're like, look, I just love fishing and hanging out and doing shore things. You know what I'm.
Track 1:Yeah, most kids do. Yeah, they go fishing. Uh, they have boats to go offshore a lot. Uh, a lot of them, a lot of their families have like condos at the beach and they just go there every weekend. And, um, but not all families, not all families are very wealthy. Um, but Yeah. fishing's a big deal. So what about you? What's been going on with you?
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:so Bo season opened up last weekend and I don't know if I've talked about hunting a lot on the podcast, but I got into hunting probably 10 years ago. But you know, wasn't, I wasn't super into it. Like it sort of like gradually took off for me. Then about then about four or five years ago is when I really started getting into it and I started going a lot and then, uh, This past, or I guess 18 months ago, I decided I was gonna buy a bow.'cause I was like, next bow season I'm gonna get, I'm gonna start bow hunting. And then I didn't do, I, I didn't get into bow season last year, so this is my first time bow hunting and I honestly didn't appreciate how uh, how hard it is.
Track 1:Oh man, it's, it's hard,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:But I've been, I've practiced enough to where I felt confident to take like a certain shot, right? And so, um,
Track 1:right?
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:I, I joked that I was gonna get out there and, you know, sit for 20 minutes, uh, at eight point was gonna walk by and I was gonna shoot'em broadside from 20 yards, drag him, got him in the the field, drag'em back to the truck and take'em back to Birmingham. Leave my kids in Troy. My parents,'cause Ally was outta town this past weekend and I was gonna watch Auburn get beat by L S U and I was like, this is a perfect weekend. You know what I mean?
Track 1:Oh yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:even watching Auburn get beat, uh, which we're Auburn fans, but that's how it was. Like whatever. This might as well happen. Uh, So everything worked out literally, like as jokingly as it seems like it worked out exactly how I thought it was going to, which never happens in hunting. It literally
Track 1:never.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:happens. Like I saw like a good, like three and a half year old eight point who, you know, you hunt a lot and you scoff at shooting a three and a half year old deer, then like, okay, fine. But I don't scoff at that. So, I was like, I'm gonna get this first kill with my bow. It's gonna be awesome. And he does everything I think he's gonna do. And he's, he's trying to walk, keep his head behind this like one tree and he's going like, walk in between this tree, I guess, or I guess behind this tree into an opening and then behind another tree and then go onto the feeder. And so I was like,
Track 1:right.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:like, when he fix his head behind this tree, I'm gonna pull my bow back. And it was dead quiet. And so like, When you pull your bow back, it makes a little bit of noise, like it's not perfectly silent all the time. And as soon as that happened, he just stopped, like with his head perfectly behind this tree, like all of his vitals. And I was like, dang it. I was like, now I'm just holding this, like I'm holding. I'm like holding it full for like, for like, for like a full minute. And I look out the corner of my eye and his buddy's like, Behind, behind him staring right at me. And I was like, oh my gosh. I was like, what am
Track 1:Oh gosh.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:And so he was perfect broadside, but then he like kind of stepped like quartered a little bit to me. And like, if you know, the thing about bow hunting, um, a quarter two, kind of like when the shoulder's like facing towards you is like a tough shot to take. And I knew I shouldn't have taken the shot. Then I was like, but you could definitely kill this deer right now. Right. And
Track 1:I mean, you can make a miracle shot and, and drop this and think about the story. You could tell all these things are going in your head. You know, like all these things
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:uh, it is like my first ever bow hunt experience. And I'm like, this is awesome. And I. full story short, I'm shaking, you know, like, like I can't hold the bow still. And then, It goes high, it hits him in the back. Um, not a lethal shot by any means, just wounds him. He runs off, he looks fine. When he runs off, he just, I mean, he looks like he's in pain, but I tracked him for probably three and a half hours after that. Couldn't find him. And I was like, that deer is either a mile away dead and I'll never find him, or he's perfectly fine. Um, so
Track 1:But you found the bow, you said, or you found the arrow.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:the arrow went clean through the back. So, um,
Track 1:Hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:it was a lesson learned
Track 1:tough, man.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:by me just to be patient and to not, like, just don't take a shot that you're not comfortable taking.
Track 1:Right. Yeah. That's tough. Dude. I, last year, uh, during hunting season, I had this eight point come out, or I guess this was two years ago, maybe this was two years ago. And I hadn't seen anything all year long. Like literally nothing. Like nothing has came out one time. And I told Kayla, like, it was like the last, it was like the last morning I could go and I said, I was sitting in a, in a, uh, a stand and we had like some cows that could potentially come onto our property, uh, as my dad's cousin's cows, but we thought that he had fenced him up so I was gonna hunt in this spot. Um, and sure enough, after sitting there for about an hour, these cows start coming in and I'm like, you gotta be kidding me. And they go straight to our feeder and start eating all the corn and I'm like, man, I. Like, I'm not gonna see anything. And I said, this is like the epitome of my hunting season, like duck season. I didn't, I think I killed maybe one wood duck and I didn't kill anything on the causeway. And then deer season, I didn't even see anything all year except driving back and forth in interstate at night. So like I, um, I, I say, man, forget this. So I get down and I walk across the street to a tree house stand, uh, that has a little green plot. And as I was walking in, there was this huge like eight point that just like I spooked and ran off and I said this, it's just things just keep adding up, adding up, adding up. And long story short, I was like, you know what? I'm going to sit here for about 15, 20 minutes, maybe he'll come back. And sure enough, 10 minutes he came back in the field and it was like, it was like a 50 yard shot with my 30 out six. It was an easy shot and like he was walking pretty fast.'cause it was during Rutt, so like, I just whistled at him to get him to stop, and he stopped and looked at me and I took a shot and I think I just pulled the, the trigger and I pulled the gun up and dismissed it. And like I. What makes it even worse, it was a eight point with a drop ton. I've never seen a deer with a drop ton before. And man, that's like, so for those that don't know what a drop ton is, it's like a, a normal deer has a normal rack, but this, this, uh, antler or this point is going down. Um, so all your antlers of a deer go up, but this one point goes down. It's very rare and yeah, never saw it again. I was very butt hurt. Very, very butt hurt.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah, well, to make it, uh, to like, make matters not worse. I mean, I was still excited, but, uh, my brother-in-law, Alex Winkie, shot like a, just a absolute stud with his bow, like that afternoon and, like, and he, and uh, and I helped him, I helped him clean it that night and. I was like, man, I was like, I just, I was like, I'm, I, I really
Track 1:What? could have been
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:that bowl today. I, I dunno, we could have been enjoying this together, but instead I'm just, I
Track 1:Ah,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:but
Track 1:oh man. That's tough.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:no, we'll have to get, we'll have to get something together so we can, I'll try to hunting sooner than
Track 1:Yeah, it's kind of like that group text that we have me and you have with William Till and Blake Sanders and Steven Pearlstein. How you continue to remind us of when we did the Huntington weekend and nobody answers except me and I'm like, let's get it. Like let's do it. And all the other three guys are just like, Nope. So I guess me and you just gonna have to just go by ourselves because we have three friends that, you know, I guess just really don't care about hunting or hunting with us. One of the two.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:to plan. We'll just have to plan a date and just be like, this is the day we're going be there. Or you're gay. You know? And then like they can just.
Track 1:Well, you know, you, you can't ever trust William Teal. So, I mean, we've talked about this multiple times with the podcast. You can't, you can't trust him.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:we've forgiven him, but he is not allowed. No, I'm just kidding. No,
Track 1:playing.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Uh, so did you see that, uh, what did you, I know you've heard about it, but did you see anything on the, uh, Andy Stanley conference that was,
Track 1:I did, man, and I actually didn't even know about it until, um, Kayla sent me an article about it. Uh, and man, it was like very shocking. You wanna kind of like, kind of talk about a little bit, like generally what happened?
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah, so I guess I should preface that uh, Andy Stanley's son, Andrew Stanley was on this podcast like a year and a half ago or so. Um, so I want to say that like this has nothing to do with Andrew Stanley. I, you know, I met him once and he seemed like a cool guy. I don't know anything about his theology or his salvation. You know, I don't, I don't know him like that, so I'm keeping him out of this. But just, you know, just saying what I saw about. Uh, his dad's conference thing. So, uh, somebody told me about it a couple weeks before it happened, and at first we were like, like, maybe this is like a bait and switch type thing, you know, I won't say bait and switch, but you know, maybe it's like a, Hey, let's talk about homosexuality in like how you can be in your own family in the sense that like, You treat it as if it's any other sin that needs to be dealt with. Right. Um,
Track 1:Right.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:especially in Christian culture and in just culture in general. Like, it's so easy to see. Homosexuality is like a taboo sin, you know, as a, but like alcoholism we're like, so we're super comfortable with that, you know,
Track 1:Mm-hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:friends with people like that. But anyway, uh, so. I looked at a few articles this past week after, you know, it had settled and, uh, I don't think it was that, I think it was they had, they invited a couple different homosexual couples who were affirming homosexuals. Um, and this is based off of people who went to the conference and listened and wrote articles about it. But apparently there was not a whole lot of. Uh, condoning of sexual sin. Um, it was more or less like, here's how you deal with someone in your family who is being tempted by sexual sin. And almost like the underlying theme was like, we're that no one ever came out and said, this is okay, but all the people who spoke, um, were. Uh, gay Christians and like practicing homosexual Christians. Um, and then I think, uh, Andy Stanley preached after, like the week after, you know, when it was just a regular Sunday and was talking about how it was, um, they still believe the Bible, um, to be true. Um, and they believe in biblical teaching, but. Uh, apparently he didn't condone homosexuality as being a sin. Uh, and Al Moler, who's the president, I think president of the Southern Baptist Convention right now is, uh, he came out, not that, uh, north Point, I think it's North Point Community
Track 1:poor church in Atlanta.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:North, north Point Church. Yeah. They're, uh, Um, they're not a part of the Southern Baptist Convention, but Al Moler came out anyway and just said that like, you know, this is not just in case anyone was curious, this is not, you know, in line with biblical teaching so
Track 1:Right. Yeah. That's, man, I, you know, I was, I, I really like how like Andy Stanley was. Open to have a talk about it. Especially like, you know, with us, like having young children, like our parents never really had to deal with what we're dealing with, uh, being parents of young children. Um, because like, you know, this is very Prevalent in our culture right now. Um, and it's been, it's becoming more socially acceptable. Um, and so like, you know, we, I've, I've always had questions like I met with our pastor, um, last, I guess it was last year, and just ask him questions like, you know, what do you suggest? Like we suggest we do as parents, like as believers. Um, When this is pushed so hard on our, the younger generation. Um, so I, I appreciate that they're having conversations, but at the same time, like, like you said, like, you know, there's gotta be scriptures. It's not, it is not gray in this area at all. Like it is very, very black and white. Like, just like you said, like, you know, homosexuality and, um, you know that, that sin is. It's very black and white when it comes to this is a sin and this is not okay. Just like, um, just like, you know, being, uh, being a drunkard or, uh, being addicted to sexual sin. Um, all of that, all of it is still wrong regardless of how you spin it, regardless of how, you know, you make it look good to the culture around you, like. Scripture says, very point, clear, it's a sin. Um, now that we can get in a whole rabbit hole with that, but, um, I, like I said, I, I was disappointed to see like, you know, I think there's gotta be a balance between like, you know, grace and showing the love of Christ. Because I really do feel like, you know, if you look at Jesus' life, I. His three years of ministry, he was hanging out with the people that, the, the world and the culture was like not for, and not like, want to be around like the tax collectors. Everybody hated those people. Um, but I'm not saying that everybody hates, you know, people that practice homosexuality, but I'm just saying like, you know, I wonder if Jesus was alive during his ministry during this time period. You know, I, I have a very good feeling that he would be spending a lot of time with the L G B T Q community, um, because that's who he is. Uh, so I feel like there's gotta be a balance, you know what I'm saying? Like there's gotta be a balance of, you know, being more open to talk about it, but also being very like, Hey, scripture says this is very clear. Like, it's very, very clear.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah. And like, look, I, I know I referenced the Southern Baptist Convention, but like the Southern Baptist have not, have, have not been the best like leaders at times. You know, like,
Track 1:Right.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:but uh, I mean, yeah, we, we could all, we could all benefit from. Uh, take Elise's taking like something that Andy Stanley did there and being like, oh, well, he at least found a way to like, get people to like see this, you know? Um, whereas I, I feel like if, if First Baptist of whatever, whatever town was like, Hey, we're gonna have a Conference on homosexuality, they're gonna be like, I can sniff that out in a hurry. You know, like, you're not gonna
Track 1:right.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:call me. But,
Track 1:And I guess I'm not saying, like, I'm not saying that, you know, the way that maybe Andy Stanley approached it was, was perfect. Um, or I agree with it totally because I, you know, me personally, I don't, I don't agree with having two pastors who are openly gay, uh, come speak at a At my church, like, like I don't, just like, just the same way that I wouldn't be okay with a pastor who is like very openly committing adultery. Like, you know, I, you know, that gets into a whole rabbit hole too. And I'm not, by all means, condemning them or judging them'cause I have no place. But I, I do think, you know, speaking in front of people about the gospel holds a very Serious, like, you know, weight that you have to carry. Um, so you know, there's that.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah. No, it's, yeah, it's a, yeah, you definitely held to a much higher standard. Um, yeah, I, I saw that. I was, I was hoping that was gonna turn out differently than it did, but, um,
Track 1:Yep.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:But,
Track 1:Yep.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:um, so what we got tonight, Parker, we're talking about
Track 1:Biblical Finance,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Biblical. What does Amazing does
Track 1:so
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:can we just like, uh, roll, can we just talk through the baby steps and just, just call it
Track 1:Yeah, we'll just call it quits here. Here are the five. Here are the five steps to be the best Christian you can be with your 5 0 7, excuse me. Seven.'cause the, that's the biblical number. Here are seven steps to live a biblical. No, I can't. Can you?
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Uh, so we read Total Money Makeover because every good Christian reads that book right when you get married.
Track 1:Right, right.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:save, save a thousand dollars and these haven't changed since 1990 something. So save a thousand dollars. Pay off
Track 1:Oh, you're talking about the Dave Ramsey? Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. Mm-hmm. Yeah,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Uh, it's pay, it's save a thousand dollars. Pay off your debt using the debt snowball method. Uh, it's save
Track 1:I'm about to look it up right now. Jake,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:3, 3 to six months of your emergency fund. Of your emergency fund. Uh, fourth is save for college. Fifth is invest 10 or 15% in your retirement?
Track 1:uh, let's see. Invest 15% of your household income in retirement.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Six is pay off your house, right? Yeah. Sorry. I guess the debt snowballs everything, but the house six is half the house. Seven is live and give, give generously.
Track 1:Yeah, build wealth. Build wealth and give
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:wealth and give and that's all you gotta do. And then we can, we'll see you in two weeks. You know what I mean? Like
Track 1:Alright, so we'll just stop the podcast there.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Nah, but for real.
Track 1:We'll just reference Dave Ramsey and be done with it.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:so, well, you couldn't have, you couldn't get outta here without referencing Dave Ramsey. But this is not about that. This is not about
Track 1:No,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:that. So what did you
Track 1:not that. Not that Dave Ramsey. You know, not that Dave Ramsey is like a bad thing. Like Kayla and I, that was like one of our books that we had decided, like we had done premarital counseling, we had like three books we had to read and then I. Her dad suggested that we read this also. And so it was actually a great read. I mean, we, we definitely read it because, you know, we had, I had no idea about money. I mean, you know, I just, my budget was, oh, I'm gonna go to the grocery store and, oh yeah, this looks good. I'm gonna get some Pop Tarts and I'll just figure it out from there. Uh, That was, that was pretty much my budgeting. Um, but her end was completely different. So like, it was a good balance to us to at least start on. Uh, so I do appreciate the Dave Ramsey, but I've learned a lot since then. Still learning.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:yeah. Um, so what would you say Biblical Finance should look like then if it's not
Track 1:Hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:baby steps?
Track 1:Yeah, that's, that's a loaded question. Uh, you know, I do think, I do think there's just, like we talked about, there's a, there's gotta be a balance. Like I feel like this is like, I feel like this is the quote of this podcast. Like there's gotta be a balance between, uh, you know, being diligent and budgeting and, you know, saving money for different purposes to have a goal, but it's also gotta be a balance to where You're not unwilling to deviate from that budget. To, to, um, accomplish what God has for you. Um, because ultimately, you know, biblical financing in my mind is like you, you've got to be willing to do whatever a spirit calls you to do at any moment, any time. And I admit, sometimes I fail at that quite often because in my mind I'm like, oh, but if I, if I don't do this, then I can save here. And if I save, then I can have more comfort in my bank account and what's going on in my bank account. Uh, But really that's, that's just as sinful as, you know, spending money on your selfish desires. Um, so, you know, I, I feel like it's gotta be a balance between those and being willing to do and willing to give, however, might the, however amount of the spirit tells you to give, um, but also being a good steward of what God has given you, um, and not blowing it, um, you know, on your selfish desires. So what do, what do you think, um, What do you think biblical finance is?
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Uh, well, just like everything else in your life, I say everything else, a lot of things, right? Like, it's not, like money's not inherently bad. You know, it, people like to misquote. I can't remember what it is. But that money is the root of all evil. But it's like the love of money
Track 1:Mm-hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:of all evil. And so like,
Track 1:Yeah, that's in one Timothy.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:thank you for, thank you for doing that.'cause I was like, I was like, I knew I saw that somewhere, but uh, or I looked at that earlier and just didn't write it down.'cause it was one of those, you're like, like I know that one. That's easy
Track 1:Oh yeah,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:when you're out. You can just be like, Paul. Paul wrote it in one of his letters. Uh, And then if you're, if you're real confident, like you just be like in one of the, one of the letters to the Corinthians and people will be like, okay, maybe. Sure. No, usually I don't condone misquoting scripture on purpose. That was a joke. Uh, but it's like everything else, like, it's like a heart issue. Like when,
Track 1:Mm-hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:like if you, let's take hunting. Like hunting can be a heart issue. It can be, it become, it can become idle worship. Like if I. Find myself, which I have admittedly lately, like watching YouTube hunting videos and just, you know, and just learning everything I can about like how to shoot the best bow shot or like what to look for when you're bow hunting or like what's the best bow setup.'cause you can get in rabbit holes in all these things. Now I'm like,
Track 1:Oh yeah.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:now this is a problem. Like at first I was just like having fun and I obviously like you wanna be. Good. And like you're, you wanna be ethical and you want to know that you have confident in every shock you take, you know, beside that. But like, it's fun, like, and it becomes addicting. Like money's the same way. It's like, uh, I think the article you sent me from Desiring God was, uh, I think the, the, the sort of the tagline was like, it's almost as dangerous as porn. And then
Track 1:Hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:are like, sure, let's read it. And it's talking about the, you know, we like to think of like loving money and spending a lot of money, as you know, inherently dangerous, but like, also like you were talking about the, the, the addiction and comforts of having abundance and wanting to save or just feel like you're independent from God. And God's provision
Track 1:Yeah.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:equally as dangerous. Um, I think he even quotes, um, that Jesus doesn't, Jesus talks a lot more about, um, wealth and how we should be on guard against having an abundance more so than like sexual sin, which is kind of interesting. Uh, and that guy was saying, uh, He was saying it's Jesus notice. Jesus didn't say, um, it's easier for, uh, the i the camel to pass through an eye of a needle than it is for a man to, or a sexually impure man to enter heaven. It was like, than it was like, no, he's talked about a wealthy man. It's much harder for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of heaven than it is for. Came to pass through I a needle and I thought that was really interesting. Um,
Track 1:Yeah, that's Mark. That's Mark 10. So I'm just gonna read that.'cause I was like, this is, I, I've never thought about that. Mark 10, 20, 24 through 25. It says, this is Jesus talking. He says, children how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. And just like you said, like it didn't say like You know, anything else it says for a rich person, and if you look at our life, like here in America, we're rich. It doesn't matter what anybody else says. Like it doesn't matter how you compare to somebody else. Like in our culture, we might think that you know somebody that has a big house and you know, a nice car and makes a lot of money, like that's a rich person like, In my opinion compared to the rest of the world, if you have a house, if you have a vehicle, if you're able to pay for, go to the grocery store and get food, if you're able to go through a drive-through and get food, like you're pretty wealthy, um, especially compared to the rest of the world. And so, like, this is Jesus talking. He says, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And that is terrifying to me. Like I, that scares the mess outta me. Um. But yeah, this, this article that Jake's talking about is called at least as Dangerous as Porn. It's written by, uh, John Bloom. And I'm, uh, for those that are listening on the podcast, we have a YouTube channel now up and running, and I'm gonna put that link to that article in the description box. So if you're watch on YouTube, go down and click on it and it's gonna be right there. It's a very good read because, you know, I was just kind of researching, kind of figure it out what I thought, you know. Biblical what the Bible said about what bi biblical finance is. And I stumbled upon this and yeah, it was very convicting and uh, he also quotes, um, Let's see. He also, I think, Jake, you already mentioned this already, but one Timothy six, 10 through 11, it says, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the fate and pierced themself with many pains. But as for you, a man of God, flee these things, pursue a righteousness, um, Man, that's, that's kind of scary too. Like people can wander away from the faith because of money. Uh, and the way that this guy kind of, you know, you know, he kind of talks about this is the reason why he titles it, uh, at least as dangerous as porn, is that I'm gonna kind of read this. He says that, um, How many, ask yourself how many stories that are powerful transformer, life altering, love producing sanctifying encounters with God, all those things that you encounter God with, or the result of being lavished with worldly prosperity. If you're like me, you come up empty. I was like, man, he's right. Like it's really in those times of need that you really feel like you need to pursue the Lord. But money, what it does, it makes you feel like you don't need to pursue the Lord and you don't need him. Um, and so it's like, I think, you know, that's part of why Jesus said it's hard for those that are rich to enter that kingdom of God because you don't feel your need for God and you get comfortable in your money.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah, they just piggybacking off of that, Matthew 19, uh, the rich young ruler, or the rich young man, it, I'll just read, uh, the story'cause it's not that long. Uh, but starting in verse 16, it says, and behold a man came up to Jesus. Saying teacher, what good deeded must I do to have eternal life? So already he's thinking like, what do I have to do? Like how can I earn my way? Uh, and Jesus said to him, why do you ask me about what is good? There's only one who is good. If you would enter, you would enter life, keep the commandments. And he said to him, which ones? And I thought it was funny. And, uh, He says which ones as if there's like, like as if he can pick and choose, you know, like, can I keep these without these, you know? Um, and Jesus said, you shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your mother and father, and, uh, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. He said, all these have kept, what do I still lack? And Jesus said, if you would be perfect, which you can't be, but go sell what you possess and give to the poor and you'll have treasure in heaven and come and follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. Um, and so like, I mean that's again, like it goes back to like his heart is that he was first thinking like, Can I do anything to earn this? You know, like, not saying, not suggesting he thought he could buy his way into heaven, but like he is like, Hey, I've done all these things. Like, what else do I need? Like, so he notices there's a need at least, like something at least doesn't feel right. Um, and so he asked Jesus and Jesus is like, yeah, just go sell all your possessions and come and follow me. And he was like sad over it because if you've, If you're like me, when I, I feel like every time Al and I get enough money to where we feel comfortable, or this is at least in my own life, um, and that comfort can be different for other people. So like, I'm not saying it's a specific number, but when you get to that point where you're like, this is where we're comfortable, I swear something happens and it's like, we need to pay for this, this, this, and this, and I'm like, ouch. Like I'm not comfortable anymore. You know, and so like, it's this constant battle of like, why, like why, like, do I need this comfort? Like, why do, why do I, why am I conditioned? Why am I prone to want this certain level of comfort? Like I'm entitled to it? I feel like it's just a distraction for me, uh, and a temptation to set myself up for a life of comfortability. Um,
Track 1:Yep.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:so.
Track 1:and it's like, and it's so hard too because like, you know, in our culture, We have so much and to the point where we have literally walk-in closets because we have so many clothes. Like that to me, like blows my mind. Like, and I, I'm not judging people by all means because I have a closet full of clothes, um, that I've just accumulated over time and. So I, I don't know, it just, it, it blows my mind to, to know that I never have to wake up and wonder what am I gonna wear today? Um, I never have to wake up and wonder, man, what am I gonna, what am I have for breakfast today? I. I know I have food in there. Uh, you know, when Jesus was, was talking to, um, I, I think it was a sermon amount, maybe not, but we read this a few nights ago to, to Beckham and Callen, and he was talking about, you know, the lilies in the field. They never worry about what they're gonna be clothed with and the the sparrows and the, yeah, so it is a sermon amount. So he then he talks about the sparrows. And he says, you know, they never worry about what they're gonna eat'cause God provides for'em. Um, and if we are of more value than they are, how will God not give us what we need? And so like, I just, I just thought about that and I was like, man, like, you know, do I, do I like really, like am I ever in that situation in my life where I'm just like worried about what I'm gonna need for that day? Like, I really feel like I'm in a position to where I don't even have to ask God. Like, Hey God, I trust you with providing food for me today because I already know that A God's gonna provide for me. But also, B, like I have the comfort of having the money to buy it. So like it all goes back to that, like that trust, like what am, what am I trusting in? And. I think the Lord is really working on my heart since we decided to kind of talk about this and it just so happens that our church is doing like this big giving like Campaign for, you know, some other stuff. But we're praying through like, you know, trying to seek the Lord. And I think the Lord's been really teaching me like, man, like, you know, you take a lot of comfort in what your bank account says and you take a lot of comfort and knowing that you have all this money saved up and so you don't have to worry about anything. But I could take it away right now. And what would you do? Would you put your trust in that money or would you put your trust in me? Um, and. You know, in Philippians four, um, 11 through 13, it says, this is Paul talking, and he says, not that I'm speaking of being in need for, I have learned in whatever situation I'm to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. And any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need, and I can do. Things I can do all things through him who strengthens me. So like obviously that's like a, that Philippians four 13 is like a very quoted, uh, scripture. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But when you put that in context of that, like Paul's talking about how he is content in every situation he has because of his trust in the Lord. And so he's not worried about. You know, whether he has a bunch or whether he has little, like he is fully content in the Lord. So like, I guess my question for you is like, how, how in the, what do you think is a, how do we get there? Like how do we get to a point to where we have that, like what Paul is saying, like he's learning every situation to be content, whether he has abundance or a need.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Uh, that's a great question. Uh, I'd say, uh, hate, I hate, I hate cop out answers, you know what I mean? Because it sounds like whatever, like, you know, some answers be like obviously prayer. And so like when you pray like, I want God to. Change my heart because if, if I have a heart that is loving money more than I should, you know, like if, if, if my finances are not in a biblical biblically correct order, then I need God to change my heart, to make it more like more obedient to Christ and then give me a, give me a circumstance where I have to obey and be faithful to that, you know, like, And just being honest, like 2023. I was telling my adult D group this over the summer, like 20, 23 up until June was like honestly the worst. It had been the worst giving six months. The count up, year to date, six months, like giving stretch, I think Al and I have ever had being married. I mean, it was, it was, it was just like, And I look back and I was like, what, what do we spend all of our money? Like what do we do? And it's just a heart issue where we were valuing things more and then giving God the, at the end like, or, and not giving anything and being like, well, we don't have anything to give you right now. And like, so, so prayer. That's what I had to say because like I, we had to pray about that over the summer and just like, and it's gotten better. It's not by any means. Amazing. So what about you?
Track 1:Yeah, I. I, um, so getting into the desiring guide.org, again, like we said at last podcast, I, I like to read articles in here'cause it gives you different perspectives. Not that I agree a hundred percent with everything they, they write, but what they write is super biblical. Um, and there's another article I sent you is called A Booby Trap and the Christian Budget, and it's written by, uh, Marshall Siegel, uh, and I'm gonna put that. Link in the description box also, um, on YouTube. But this like, this kind of, I guess, kind of opened up my eyes to kind of figure out like, Kind of help me kind of articulate, you know, where's this balance in following Christ of being content, like Paul says, and this guy asked four questions, and the four questions that he asks is, is my spending marked by Christian Gen generosity? And number two, what does my spending say about what makes me most happy? And holy crap that if.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah.
Track 1:That alone was like, man, that's, that's gonna open up big time where my heart is. Um, number three, does my spending suggest I'm collecting for this life? And that, that to me goes back to what I've been talking about. Like me and Kayla are big time savers. Uh, we, we don't like to spend a whole lot of money. We like to, to save so that we can do things as a family. Um, but you know, Is that, am I collecting for this life or am I putting my treasures in heaven? Uh, and then four is my spending explicitly supporting the spread of the gospel. Um, so all four of those questions I was like, man, like all of these are very Christ-centered, biblical focused. Like, you know, am I willing to lay aside my wants and my desires for others? And I think that goes back to. You know, the first commandment, loving the Lord's, your God with all your heart, soul, and bond. And then secondly, loving your neighbor as yourself. Um, and uh, man, I just like the Lord has been like working on my heart like a ton recently about I. Like, just for me, it's, it's just having that comfort of, of saving, um, and just having that savings account. Like that's what I put my trust in a lot. Uh, and then also one thing that I put my trust in, um, I struggle, so I don't struggle with like buying stuff. I don't really like to buy stuff. I don't really like to have stuff at the house. Like I like to have the bare minimum. Um, but what I struggle with is, um, Like trips with our family. So especially when it comes to like going to Universal Studios or Disney World, like I struggle with that because it is like, that's like my kind of vacation. Like I love those type of vacations. Um, and man, I yes. Star Wars. I struggle big time with that. Like, like you were saying earlier, like how you watch YouTube. And like to, to figure out how to shoot your bow the best. Like I watch YouTube sometimes just to figure out what's the best deals and when's the best time to go and, and like what's, what's the best restaurants to eat there? And like, it's, yeah, sometimes it gets outta hand. Like, and especially when like, we know, I know I'm going soon. Like that's when it really amps up. Uh, so like, I. God's been really working my heart being like, man, you need to like lay off a little bit and just, you know, just figure out like, you know, are you content with me? Like, are you content with just having me Like, you know, we, we sing that song all the time. You can have the world, but give me Jesus, like, okay, well is the way I'm spending my money the way I'm focusing on spending my money? Is that what. My life shows, if that makes sense.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah. Uh, yeah, I think you hit on what, or I guess that article hit on and you reiterated. What I was gonna get to is like, you know, I, I, I say a lot that like you. You spend a lot of time, or you can know a lot about a person's heart based off of like how they spend their time. Like, and like what they say. Like you make, you make time for the things that you care about and you spend money for the, for the things that you care most about. Um, and like, and that's what I think God wants us to tithe. Not that God needs the money, but it's like it's, it helps you. Detach yourself. Like, and say, I'm taking a, a 10th. Yeah, we're gonna get numbers. I'm gonna take a 10th, or whatever I can take and I'm gonna let that go to God. Not like
Track 1:Mm-hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:throwing it away and not like, oh, I'm checking the box because I did this. But like, no, I'm, I'm saying I don't need this. I've got God. Uh, and so like that helps. I, I believe that that helps also, in addition to like prayer and giving you opportunities to be faithful with your money, blah, blah, blah. That's part, that's the part that just helps you like reset your heart on a recurring basis to where you don't get so far down this road like me and you go however many months or whatever, and you're like, we haven't even given like as much as we planned on giving, you know? Um,
Track 1:Mm-hmm. and yeah, it definitely requires a discipline. I mean, it's, I, I really do feel like. Giving is, I, I really feel like it's a spiritual discipline, um, because you have to be willing to say like, no, to my wants and desires and yes, to the Lords and like this article that we just mentioned, like for us, for me, it's, we follow our budget pretty, pretty closely. Um, But also to a point to where sometimes like our goal is just to have more money in our savings account. And so this, this article is very convicting of me, convicting to me. It says there's a brand, or Christians quickly become some of the most diligent about their incomes, investments, and donations. That is a good and right trend as a whole. But there's a brand of budgeting though that wears the heroic Cape of Christianity while masking a, you know, secret sin of money and a love for money can look like a love to have or a love to spend. A love for money might also reveal itself in obsession with saving or even giving money away. Like, I was like, oh man. Like, that's true. Like we, there's gotta be a balance. And I think, you know, like, like you said earlier, I think that if, if our mind and our treasure is, you know, Jesus talked about where your treasure is there, your heart's gonna be also like if our, if our treasure and our mind is focused on the Lord and what he wants by through prayer and by Memorizing scripture and by just pouring our minds with, with scripture, um, you know, I think naturally it's gonna be okay, God, like I'm gonna listen, like, do I, do you want me to go, you know, buy gas for this person right beside me? Like, let's, let's get it. Do you want me to buy the food behind me, uh, when I'm gonna drive through? Yeah, sure. Whatever, uh, being willing to say yes to whatever God calls you to do, because man, there's been a lot of times in my life where I'm like, I know God's telling me like the spirit's telling me to go do this for this person, and
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah.
Track 1:I'm just a afraid of what they're gonna think. And then B, I'm also thinking, man, that's a lot of money. Like, are you sure God? Like how are we gonna, that's gonna take a big dent outta my savings account. Like, are you sure about this? But where's your treasure? You know, where's your treasure at?
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:And you were talking about saying yes to God and like, this sounds cliche, but like in order to say yes to God, you gotta say no to like yourself. Like you gotta say no to.
Track 1:Mm-hmm.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Doing this, that, or whatever. Because if you say yes to yourself the whole time, like, like I do too much, then you'll spend your money right out of, you'll be like, oh, what? What happened to all my money? Then you look and you're like, we went, we spent this much on eating out. Like dang. Um, Shout out also to disciplines of a Godly Man by our Kent Hughes, uh, where you're talking about the spirit, like spiritual disciplines. And in that book, um, it talks about the discipline of giving and like biblical finance. So if you haven't read that book, I think it came out, let's see what it came out. Honestly, I think it's aged well. Oh, I dunno, when it first came out. Doesn't matter. It came out a while ago. Because I think in part of the book it was like I think it, I think it was talking, I, I don't know, it may have talked about, this is a sec or a rabbit hole, but it was talking about like a, I wanna say like a beeper or maybe talked about taking, like a, taking like a, a voicemail, like writing down your notes or you know, people who to call back and like, um, I was like, man, that's really aged this book out. But honestly, like the all disciplines are are pretty, pretty spot on. I thought it was a great book. Uh, but anyway, um, what else you got?
Track 1:Yeah, I, I was thinking too, um, Hebrews three, uh, 13, five. Uh, it says, um, keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have for. He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So I feel like, you know, having this biblical. Financial mindset has to be, you have to be content with what you have. And in order to be content what you have, you have to know. You have to a know the Lord. And um, you have to know that. The Your treasure, that's what we kind of talked about. Your treasure is not found in your bank account. It's not found out what you have, because those things are all gonna fade away. All of it's going to die off. All of it's gonna be destroyed. This world is gonna be made new. This world will be gone along with all everything we have. And the only thing that'll be left with our will be our relationship with Christ. And so, You know, I, I really think I, this podcast, I'm gonna start looking at, okay, where am I spending my money? And that's gonna show where my treasure is. Um, I. And I think that's a challenge, you know, for us just to be, have self-control, to be willing to, to give whatever God calls us to do. And just to listen. Like we, I tell my children all the time, listen and obey. Listen and obey. When your daddy or mommy tells you something, listen and obey. Well, I better be telling myself that because I need to be listening and obeying when the Lord calls me to do something and I need to obey it right away. Um,'cause I mean, when you're content like It's just naturally. Yeah, take whatever, like, take whatever you want, uh, for your kingdom, so
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yeah. Uh, I guess kind of to close, uh, I couldn't go too many episodes without bringing up job. Right.
Track 1:Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:I had, I'll, I love the book of job. If, if I had to pick like top three Old Testament books, it's gotta be Genesis job and, I don't know, maybe Proverbs or. Psalms, it's not important, but job like you, I mean, you're talking about being content with like your relationship with God. God, like God describes Job as like being a wealthy man, like one of an extremely wealthy man, and it lists like how many, how many oxen he had, like horses, sheep, cattle. Uh, workers to like work the land and like he lost every bit of it and all of his children. And, uh, in like a, in, in a day, like it says literally like, like before the, I think it says like, before the servant could finish the sentence, the next servant ran up and said, you know, like, this is what else has happened. But like, guy or job, never. Blasphemed God over. You know, like never blame God for saying like, like, why would you do this to me? Like, I had everything and you took it all from me. Now I'm nothing. He was like, no. Like surely God has a, a paraphrasing like 35 chapters, but he is like, surely like, God, surely God's done this for a reason. But, um, anyway, gotta, gotta love job. Um.
Track 1:Oh man, that's, that should be like a whole podcast, just on job, like just talking about the book of job.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:We should do it. I've talked about it enough that it is a running joke for a while and it's probably like not even, uh, it's not a funny joke anymore, but that I kept bringing up Sanford people who witnessed Sanford and Job and that was it. And I was like, well, stick to what you know. You know,
Track 1:Yep.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:not
Track 1:Oh. Uh, Yeah, man, I, you know, I do, I do. I will have to say, before we get off, I will have to say, I've, I've been encouraged by you and Ella, uh, just by y'all's willingness to give up what you want, uh, for this world, uh, to be able to, to a, be more, you know, biblically, Finances, like following that, but also, you know, be also just being willing to, to give up what you want, um, so that you can do things from other people. And I've seen that, you know, pretty directly. So you guys have encouraged us for sure. Shout out to Jake and Ala Smith.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Don't shout us out that hard. Uh, we're not that, we're not that cool man, but nah, I've, I've been encouraged by you and Kayla is what? How
Track 1:Yes, yes. Here we go. On the podcast, let's just go ahead and just, just feed it back to forth through each other, so everybody listening. Just be like, oh my gosh, here they go.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:is holier than I'm so much so Uh, I'm just kidding. Alright, well
Track 1:I'm just playing too.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:out. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight, Parker. Um,
Track 1:Yeah, man. Always a pleasure.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Oh yeah. Before. No, don't click off this video. Follow us on Instagram. Follow us on Facebook. We have a Facebook page. Check your friends podcast. Click. I don't even, I've never subscribed to a single YouTube channel, but I'm begging you to
Track 1:All you gotta do is just press. All you gotta do is click it. That's it, and then hit the bell for notification and let us know when we upload a new video,
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Yes. And if
Track 1:like share, subscribe.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:And if you wanna be the first Jenkins friend's sponsor, just send me a dollar and you can say, here's what we'll do. You can say whatever you want for a dollar. And I'll say it, but that's the only rule is you gotta pay for it. I'll say it as long as it, as long as it's not sinful and it's not, you know, gonna hurt anybody's feelings for real. Like, I'll do it, I'll say it. So at
Track 1:So, so Jake, uh, you, you open the door up for like, Blake and Pearlstein and, and te to just like say, here's a dollar. You gotta say it. You gotta say it.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:I'll believe it when I see it. So you need, Hey Pearl. Hey. You know Pearlstein won't part with a dollar
Track 1:Oh man. Heck no. Heck no.
jake_2_10-16-2023_202515:Uh, all right, we'll
Track 1:So follow, like, subscribe later.
