WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.320 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:17.039 Today we're uh in part two of a series called Keep It Simple: A Guide to Financial Peace. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.239 What if financial peace is actually simple? 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:21.839 It's not complicated. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:28.000 What if it's not uh some kind of difficult thing or disillusive carrot? 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:32.240 What if the pathway to financial peace is actually quite simple? 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:40.320 And we've been talking about simple practices that you can embrace today that actually produces financial peace. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:42.560 Like, you know, I know we wrestle with this. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:46.799 How do you truly experience financial peace? 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:53.759 Now, that word peace in the scriptures, especially in the Hebrew scriptures, the word is shalom, right? 00:00:53.920 --> 00:01:01.439 It's the word not just the absence of angst or the absence of strife, it's the presence of something. 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:06.000 Peace is the presence of wholeness, of contentment, of well-being. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:06.640 Think about that. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:13.120 Like, how do you really experience financial well-being and contentments? 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:14.480 And then let's be real. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:16.239 We live in Silicon Valley. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:18.640 Is that even a possibility? 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:21.920 Because we don't uh experience financial peace here. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:22.719 What do we experience? 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:26.640 We experience immense financial pressure. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:31.280 And part of that is because of the culture of the valley, isn't it true? 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.159 It's what I call the Silicon Valley hustle. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:37.280 And uh it's what we talked about last week of this hustle. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:39.200 There is this pace, there's this pressure. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:41.519 The Silicon Valley hustle goes something like this. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.959 You show up here, it's success at any cost, right? 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:56.560 You come here, you do whatever it takes to be successful, work long hours, late nights, uh, at the expense of perhaps your health, at the expense of relationships, at the expense of your spirituality. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:07.200 And what it produces is success uh at the expense of significance, at the expense of meaning and purpose, and those deep relationships. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:10.319 And part of the hustle is not just success at any cost. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:14.879 In the valley, we wear then busyness as a badge of honor, right? 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:23.280 It is this like anyone you talk to at work, on Zoom, at the store, you ask them, how are you doing? 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:25.039 Busy. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:27.439 Like that's our code here. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.919 As if that's the right thing to say. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:36.000 And then if you're a Christian, uh maybe you want to spiritualize it, you say this, busy but good, right? 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.000 Like I'm busy, but it's a good busy, right? 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.280 It's not just a bad busy, it's a good busy, I'm busy but good. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:46.400 But what happens is that we're overworked and yet underfulfilled. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.800 And there's this aching and emptiness inside. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:57.280 And then part of the aim and the goal of this is financial freedom, right? 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.000 For many, this is the reason you moved to the valley. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:02.719 That you could make more than you ever made. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:15.439 Maybe I'm gonna be here for a season to be financially free, maybe to retire young, to own the house, to you know, be able to drive what you want to drive, wear what you want to wear, travel where you want to travel. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:21.439 And we have to be careful because financial freedom and financial peace are not the same thing. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:26.879 In fact, I've met many people who we would look from the outside and say they're financially free. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:30.560 Yes, they can retire early, yes, they can drive what they want to drive. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:34.000 And wow, those trips, Instagram worthy. 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:37.919 And yet there is not financial peace. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:44.400 And perhaps this is what you walked in today with more money, but less peace. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:48.400 How do you experience financial peace? 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:52.240 And then Jesus speaks to the heart of the issue. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:57.120 Did you know that he spoke about money more than he spoke about heaven and hell combined? 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:05.840 And as we were talking about last week, he he sums up the root reason for this, why this is such a big deal, and he says this. 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:12.319 He says, wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:17.920 Like the reason he speaks on this so much isn't because he needs your money. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:26.319 He's God, he's fantastic, he owns it all already, but he wants your heart. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:34.000 He knows that the chief competitor of your heart isn't Satan, it's your stuff. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:43.360 That there's this kind of invisible connection or line that's from your heart to your stuff, and wherever your money goes, your heart follows. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:53.680 It is a law of the universe that as you put your money towards that, you can't help it that your heart naturally goes that direction. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:05:04.480 And peace, by the way, and you note this peace isn't contingent upon your circumstances, it's a condition of the heart. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:08.800 Let me say that again because a few of you are like, oh, that's good. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:16.079 It's not contingent on your circumstances because you've known people who have deep and abiding peace with little, right? 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:19.360 It is a condition of the heart. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:29.920 And so if you want financial peace, you have to look at where your money's going because your heart follows wherever it goes. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:34.720 And so we said last week the path to financial peace, it's actually simple. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:35.680 It's so simple. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:45.360 A 10-year-old Ryan Ingram, taught by his mom and dad, taught me financial peace is simply this reverse the order. 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:46.560 Well, what's the order? 00:05:46.800 --> 00:06:01.120 The normative practice for you and I, the normative way we go about it is consume what you make, save if you can, give if there's any left over, or if there's a commercial that really gets your heart strings, right? 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:11.040 Um, or something happens major in the world, or you just really want others to think that you're generous and you want to give to that cause that's kind of going off on social media. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:12.079 Called out. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:15.519 Okay, give, you know, so we do this. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:21.279 This is our consume what we have, save if we can, and then give if there's any left over. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.480 And God says the pathway for financial peace, it's simple. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:25.839 And my parents taught it to me. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:26.959 I was 10 years old. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.800 They got these um jars, these are the literal jars. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:39.920 I put uh dinosaur stickers on it, and one jar said give, one jar said save, and the other jar said spend. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:52.240 And that is the order that we give first because our heart naturally gravitates to what we give to, and we're gonna prioritize and give to God first, and then we're gonna save second and then live on the rest. 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:55.680 In fact, in your notes, I want you to write next to those the percentages. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.759 Give to God first, 10%. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:59.920 We talked all about that last week. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.560 If you missed it, go back and listen to it. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:04.959 God even says, test me on this. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:06.879 That's why we had the stewardship challenge. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:11.759 Not that you give more to awakening, but that you would begin to step in and go, you know what? 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:19.680 I'm gonna begin to test you on this and begin to trust that it's actually what Jesus said, more blessed to give than receive. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.240 Next to save and invest, write 10%. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:27.519 So give first, save second, 10%, and then live on the rest. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:30.399 That is the pathway for financial peace. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.120 Give first, save second, live on the rest. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.319 Would you do this with me? 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:35.680 Uh, would you say that? 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:40.399 I want us to get that mantra, like it just in our hearts and our minds. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:44.720 Would you say give first, save second, live on the rest with me right now? 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.399 One, two, three, go. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:52.399 That was pretty darn good. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:54.319 You did have your coffee today. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:55.839 Good job, church. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:58.560 Give first, say second, live on the rest. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:02.480 Today we're gonna be talking about saving and investing second. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.839 Uh, the sermon title today is The Best Advice. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.759 Uh, and if I ran out of room, let's be real. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:14.720 Uh I the the full title is The Best Advice I Didn't Take. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:20.240 You ever have that where you had someone give you like great advice and you didn't take it? 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:21.839 And later you're kicking yourself. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:24.480 You're like, if I only listened. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:30.240 So my parents kind of taught me the principles give, save, spin at 10. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:36.639 But there was a couple named Joy and Gordy Roberts that gave me the best advice I never took. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:39.360 Now I was about 14 years old. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:42.720 Uh, my older brothers had moved out of the house at that time. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:50.399 Uh, they're in college, and my me and my younger sister, when my parents would go out of town, we'd stay with Joy and Gordy Roberts. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:09:02.080 Now, I love staying with them because they had this basement, and down there they had all these, well, they're VHS's back then, uh, but they had all these movies that I wasn't allowed to watch at home, which was fantastic, right? 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.960 And so um I would stay up to like 1 a.m. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.200 watching uh all the old Bond movies. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:11.120 I'm like, this is amazing! And I can't wait to see the new one either. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:14.720 Um, and then they had all the old Batman movies, you know. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:15.840 This is the 90s, right? 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:22.879 So not the new ones, and they were like, I'd be up there like watching all night long, and I remember this one moment. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:25.679 Isn't it amazing how moments just stick with you? 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.399 Like, like, why does this stick with me? 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:40.879 I was sitting in their kitchen, and for whatever reason, I don't know why, Joy was giving me a haircut, and so I had like the little apron thing on, and she's cutting my hair. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:48.960 And at 14 years of age, Gordy then begins to explain to me the magic of compounding interest. 00:09:51.360 --> 00:10:08.720 And he's like, Ryan, listen, at 18, if you invest a dollar a day, at 18, you'll be a millionaire, you'll be a multimillionaire by 65, and he's got a paper out and he's drawing it all out and doing all this. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:13.120 And at age 14, I'm going like, thank you very much. 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:15.600 Uh invest, save. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:16.960 I'm like, oh my goodness. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:18.080 Now here's the thing. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.840 We got married young. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.200 I was just like turning 21, literally, when we got married. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.799 We had kids young. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:31.600 I think I was about 24 when Ella was married, stepped into, you know, like ministry full-time. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:32.960 Life was crazy. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:39.679 So in my 20s, uh, we barely had, you know, two dimes to rub together, like investing. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:42.240 I'm like, no, I can't afford to do that. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:43.600 We have nothing. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:47.519 And obviously, just a dollar feels so insignificant. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.120 And then, and then in my 30s, you know, life was full. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.919 We started a church and and all of this. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:59.360 And it wasn't until mid-30s that I began to realize I missed the boat. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.559 And Gordy, sweet Gordy, what a great name, by the way. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:05.919 How awesome is that? 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:10.320 The best advice I never took. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:23.840 And my hope and my prayer and what we're about to talk about today, that you'll say, no, no, no, this was the best advice I did take, and I won't look back in regret, but I'll look back in gratitude. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.200 And so let's talk today. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:28.320 How do you build wealth that leaves a lasting legacy? 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:32.799 Not just to build wealth, to build wealth, but that leaves a lasting legacy. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:38.799 And in fact, in your notes, would you just write down 1 Timothy 6, 17 through 19? 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:42.240 I would love for you to actually take time on your own and study it. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:44.559 The Apostle Paul talks about how to be rich. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:56.720 Many of us are focused on how to get rich, but he talks about how to be rich, uh, that you don't put your hope in wealth, that you're actually generous and how to give out a lasting legacy. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:03.440 And our time, I want to give you a not so new perspective, but it's one we forget a lot. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:08.879 It's a perspective Jesus wants us to have about our finances or about what we have. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:15.279 And then just real simply, let's get practical on what does it look like to save or invest second? 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.559 So here's the perspective. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:18.960 Here's what Jesus wants to say to you today. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:25.519 The new perspective that's not so new is simply this there is more to life than having more in life. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:27.919 That's it. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.600 And you already knew that. 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.039 You're smart, you get that. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:46.879 There's more to life than simply accumulating more in life, having more stuff, driving, wearing, owning, and we understand that, and yet we miss it all the time, don't we? 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:59.679 You know, one day Jesus was approached by two brothers, uh, and these brothers were in an argument because uh their parents had passed and the older brother wasn't sharing the inheritance. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:07.440 Tragically, I've seen that story play out so much that the minute uh inheritance is involved, you see this dispute. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:12.799 Family members, people who love each other all of a sudden are at each other's necks. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:13.200 Why? 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.519 Because of money. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.240 And they come to Jesus and they ask him, like I say, it's the younger brother. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.919 I'm a younger brother, so I get this. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:27.120 Uh, and he says, Tell my brother to share the inheritance. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.919 They want Jesus to be the arbitrator. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.840 And he says, Who am I? 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.360 Am I your judge? 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:39.360 And he doesn't even give them a response, but then he says this this is so good. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:45.919 Watch out, be on your guard against all kinds of greed. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:50.799 Life does not consist in the abundance of possession. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:56.320 Watch out, be aware of all kinds of greed. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:02.799 Now, truth be told, I've actually never seen anyone or heard someone say, I'm greedy. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.919 Have you been around someone said, yeah, hey, guess what? 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.120 I am greedy. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:10.080 Woohoo! Right? 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:12.799 You just haven't been around someone that's ever said that. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.120 Maybe I'm a I'm frugal. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:21.120 You might someone might say stingy, but that's kind of like the borderline of it. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.679 Uh, I'm very thoughtful, but greedy. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:25.519 Well, what does it mean to be greedy? 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.200 In fact, just circle that word. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:30.480 Let me give you a biblical definition of greed. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:35.200 Biblically, greed is wanting more than I need. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.639 That's what greed is. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:41.759 Wanting more than I need is having this drive and desire. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:48.159 If I have what I need and then I want more on top of that, that is the starting place of greed. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:51.840 And then he says, watch out for all kinds of greed. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:15:05.120 And we live in the Silicon Valley hustle with the Silicon Valley pressure and the Silicon Valley pace, that then says you have to achieve and look and attain and get more and more and more. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:14.159 And by the way, your value is dependent on what you drive and what you wear and how much is in your bank account and what trips you can go on. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:17.840 And you begin to live out and run after. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:25.360 And if we're honest, and if you look at your life, your life wouldn't say that there's more to life than having more in life. 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:26.799 Many of us, wouldn't it? 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:28.720 Be the other way around. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.759 That life's all about having more. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.200 And yet I've sat with people at the end of their life. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.039 And nobody said, I wish I worked more hours. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.600 Nobody said, you know what? 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:52.240 If only I had another car, because it doesn't matter in that moment. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:07.120 I wish I would have leaned in and been more generous with those around me, with my time and with my attention, with my resources. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:13.440 I wish I would have invested my life differently, not just my money differently. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:13.919 Why? 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:18.080 Because there's more to life than having more in life. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:22.799 And so here's the practice for us as we begin to think about this. 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:31.919 The practice there is no secret formula to simply spend less than you make. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:42.480 We kind of think there, Ryan, there's gotta be some kind of secret formula to figure this out, some magic, you know. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:46.320 Um, if we just hit the stock market at the right time. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:48.960 You know, my my son Miles loves to invest. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:51.200 He's well, he's 11 now. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:54.720 Um, and he hit the stock market at the right time. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:58.720 It's like the worst teaching lesson as a dad ever. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.399 He's like wanting to invest. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.080 I'm like, yeah, think long term. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:09.920 And uh Jenny like coaches him, find something that you're interested in that you know it was closed over COVID that will open up after. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.680 So he invested in AMC. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.400 He made like 150 bucks off of 20 bucks. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:17.440 I'm like, son, you're not learning the lesson. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:25.119 Because we think we just gotta hit it at the right time or be a part of this startup and and all those things. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:32.160 There's nothing bad with it, but here's the here's there's no secret formula, just spend less than you make. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:40.799 Proverbs says it this way dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little, what? 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.680 Help me out. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:48.240 Little by little, incremental over time makes it grow. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:54.799 In fact, uh that word dishonest actually can mean uh wealth gain quickly. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:18:01.759 So it's not necessarily just dishonest, it's actually one translation says, wealth gained quickly will dwindle away. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:08.880 When and you've seen this, you've seen this with people who've all of a sudden got a lot of money early, they didn't know what to do with it, and they just blew it, right? 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.319 And you're like, I wouldn't do that. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:12.319 Well, maybe you would, maybe I would. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:17.920 We just didn't have the character, but one who gathers little by little will make it rich. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.319 Uh, and we think it's complicated. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:24.400 Even as we're thinking about, okay, spending less than I make and saving, right? 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:28.079 If I just put it in a savings account, I'm actually losing money. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.839 Don't you know inflation? 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.680 Absolutely, I do know inflation. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:35.680 That's one way to look at it, and certainly there is a way to invest, and we'll talk about that. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:39.680 But can we address the other issue in the house, the the kind of bigger one? 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:43.759 You're like, if I save it, you know, it's actually not keeping up with the rate of inflation. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.200 And have you seen the rates lately? 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.640 Yes, we all have. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.759 But can we talk about this angle? 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.920 Sorry, I apologize. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.359 This is going to get personal. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.960 Um here we go. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.000 It's 20% off. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.799 I saved money. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.640 It's a sale. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.039 I saved money. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:13.119 No, you didn't. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.880 You spent money. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.200 You did not save money. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:22.640 See, we think if I save it, it's not keeping up with the rate of inflation. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.839 Why would I put it there? 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.440 But I'm saving money by spending it all over here. 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:28.960 No, you're not. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:36.400 You spent just 20% less than you would have. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:42.880 But you wouldn't have purchased it if it wasn't 20% off. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:45.680 So you just spent 80% more. 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:49.839 Oh, that's how that works. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.599 Perspective, there's more to life than having more than life. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:55.599 The practice, there's no secret formula. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.839 Simply spend less than you make. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:59.039 So how are we gonna do that? 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.079 Let's lock in. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.440 Number one, here we go. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:03.680 Stop buying things you can't afford. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.640 I didn't get one, amen. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.279 I got it right. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.000 Thank you very much. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.200 One, amen. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:12.319 Stop buying things you can't afford. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:13.920 Proverbs 13, 7. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:16.559 One person pretends to be rich yet has nothing. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.720 Sound like the Silicon Valley to me. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:21.759 Another pretends to be poor yet gains great wealth. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.279 Proverbs 21, 17. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.279 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:29.680 Whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:33.200 Stop buying things you can't afford. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.759 We're gonna make it a song. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:42.400 So my son and I uh we just picked up fishing. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:48.000 And uh, yes, for you fishermen, this is my tackle box. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.359 Yes, it is lame. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.000 I get it, it's pathetic, but I can afford it. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.559 Okay. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:21:01.039 Um here's what happens for us, and the reason this is such a challenge. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:19.440 Instagram and TikTok is not your friend, and all you see are people who are spending money on what they cannot afford and then showing it off, and you feel like you're missing out, and you somehow have to keep up, right? 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:32.000 And it's this dangling of these trips, it's this dangling of wow, look at where they're eating out in San Francisco or in Napa or whoo, look at that night, and look at that dress, and look at that outfit, and it is this lure. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:40.240 It's a shiny thing saying this is the more to life, right? 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:47.359 And if you run after it, you chase after it, it will it'll finally satisfy you in life. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:55.920 And we already know there's more to life than having more than life, but if you buy into it and you bite into it, the problem is there's hooks attached to that. 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.599 Every single time, and I watched so many. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:11.279 People who are lured in, whether it's on Instagram or TikTok or what's going on around them, and they just constantly are going, Yes, yes, I want that, I need that, I need, I need, I need. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:15.680 Sorry, that we've been quoting uh Bill Murray's um uh movie. 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:18.079 Sorry, that's that was a Bill, anyways, sorry. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.680 I was I was channeling my kids and moment with my kids there. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.160 Okay. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:29.599 But we look at it, go, I want that, I need that, I have to have it, and we buy things we can't afford. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:39.599 You know, this generation at 25 often what is once what it took the other generation's 25 years to get to. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:55.599 I was helping a young man a while ago as he was working through his finances and we're working through getting out of debt, and I I showed up and I saw him, and he had a brand new iPhone and brand new sneakers on. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:23:01.200 And I went, hey man, what's we already know you we've already walked through? 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:04.240 I already know his finances of like I know you can't afford it. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:10.799 It's like, no, no, no, listen, um, this is only like$29 a month, and then my sneakers. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:13.680 Well, I I really needed new sneakers. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:17.200 Like, did you need new sneakers? 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:32.799 Because the last ones I saw, they looked pretty darn good, but you keep buying things you can't afford because you are caught up with the latest and the greatest, and it keeps you stuck, and it keeps me stuck. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:33.920 Stop. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:41.200 If we're gonna start spending less than we um make, we first have to stop buying things we can't afford. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.160 Can I afford it? 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:46.160 Secondly, we have to then get out of destructive debts. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:51.440 We have to get out of destructive debt, namely credit card debt. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:59.599 You know, when you spend credit card, uh spend money on a credit card, you spend on average at least 12 to 18 percent more than you would with cash. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:04.799 And I don't even know what the stat is for Amazon and clicking. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:08.559 Seriously, and I love it, right? 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:12.640 I'm like, my that's my daughter laughing because I am an online shopper. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:16.960 You don't know this about me, but I love Amazon and I love just to be able to click it and it's here tomorrow. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:24.240 I'm like, wow, and you don't feel it, and we spin without thinking. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:33.279 69% of bankruptcies are attributed to credit card debt, 19% of bankruptcy filers are college students. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:37.200 We have to get out of uh destructive debt. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:51.200 Did you know you already know this, but the credit card companies already understand the magic of compounding interest, and they're just using it against you to keep you stuck. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:56.720 On average, the interest for a credit card uh is 16.5%. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:02.880 That's the national average that you're gonna be paying and paying and paying. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:09.119 If you start paying the minimum, that for interest only goes up to 22, to 26 to 28 percent. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:16.160 I did this one time, uh it was with the the gentleman with the what uh the the new shoes and he just putting it on his credit card. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:18.480 I'm like, okay, so those shoes cost a hundred bucks. 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:20.640 Let's just let's just do the math. 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.160 You want to do the math? 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:25.680 Did did you plan on spending$180 on the shoes or$100? 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.640 No,$100. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.880 Would you buy them if they were$180? 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.400 Of course not. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:42.640 But the buy now pay later has the hooks in them, and you really do pay later in ways you never anticipated or wanted. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:48.160 Proverbs 22, 7 says, the rich rule over the poor, the borrower is slave to the lender. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.519 Get out of destructive debt. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:56.319 By the way, if you make the minimum payment, you're gonna experience the maximum amount of pain. 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.559 It's free money. 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:00.400 Nothing is free. 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:02.720 So how do we go, how are we gonna do that? 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:05.680 First, if you're in debt and credit card debt, no shame. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.839 There's so many people, no shame. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:11.119 But make it your top priority to get out of debt. 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:16.319 If you're in credit card debt, it is absolutely possible to get out of debt. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.039 Here's how. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.440 First, cut non-essential spending. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:22.160 Like, well, what is non-essential spending, Ryan? 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:25.279 Because I feel like all of my spending is essential. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.200 Okay. 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.680 Let's pick on one. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.759 Um eating out. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:34.880 And I love to eat out, by the way, so I'm not down on it. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:38.799 It's one of my favorite things uh in the whole world is to eat out. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:50.000 Did you know that the average American eats out 4.2 times per week and spends on roughly$3,000 per year just eating out? 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:53.440 That's the average American across the US. 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:56.480 Think about what it is in the Silicon Valley. 00:26:57.359 --> 00:27:06.480 And restaurants, by the way, they charge approximately about a 300% markup on the food so they they can cover and pay what they're paying. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:13.440 So, did you really want to pay on consistently 300% more for your food when you're trying to get out of debt? 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:17.279 So if you just begin to cut eating out, or oh, this one's gonna hurt. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:19.279 What about that coffee addiction? 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.440 Yeah, groans. 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:28.960 I need you don't need a caramel frappuccino or whatever. 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:35.440 I don't even all like the four names for a cut, you know, like I need a well, it's fall, Ryan. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:37.599 I need a pumpkin spice latte. 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:43.440 Um and at five dollars a day, you can add that up. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.839 Okay, what about all the subscriptions? 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:49.279 Don't mess with my Netflix, Ryan. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:51.920 Don't do it, don't mess with it. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:56.000 You know why the subscriptions are so low? 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:58.400 Right, nine bucks a month, of course. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:07.119 Because then you pay it and it's automated, and then you forget about it, and then you're connected to all these subscriptions. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:11.359 And you really, if you just add those up, you're like, oh my goodness, I had no idea. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:13.759 $50 a month is going out. 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.559 That adds up real quickly. 00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:18.160 Cut non-essential spending. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:21.839 Then number two, save$1,000 as quickly as you can. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:25.200 Once you cut that money, are you gonna pay off all your debt right then? 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.480 Not just yet, please. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.319 Spend save a thousand dollars. 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.440 Here's why. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:34.640 Inevitably, something will come up that will be an emergency. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:39.119 You might have to go to the hospital or to the doctor. 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:41.279 Your car might need new tires. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.200 I needed four this last year. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:45.359 Um, what oh kick you. 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:52.000 Um and our tendency is to put it on a credit card. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:58.559 Save$1,000 as quick as you can so that if anything comes up, this isn't like, hey, I need a new dress for that. 00:28:58.880 --> 00:29:07.920 It is, hey, if something emergency, I don't have to put things back on my credit card and then use the debt snowball technique. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.920 And here's the debt snowball technique. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.440 This is powerful, this is great. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.799 It think about a snowball. 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:17.519 You know how a snowball starts small and you keep rolling it, it gets bigger and bigger the more you roll it. 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:19.119 Like you build momentum. 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:23.680 And so if you have multiple credit cards, take the smallest one first. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:28.000 Not only does it feel awesome like you paid it off, but you're making progress. 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:35.200 And so you cut necessary spending, you use uh all unnecessary spending, you use that money to pay off your credit card. 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:39.519 You pay off the smallest one first, and then you go to the next one. 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:42.319 I was doing this with a young man as we were talking. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:47.759 He had$7,000 worth of credit card debt, and he felt like that was an insurmountable amount. 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:53.440 And I said, Well, how long do you think it would take for you to pay off all your credit card debt? 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:56.480 He said, Well, it'd be more than a year at least. 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.839 I said, Okay. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.920 Well, let's get after it then. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.920 Let's just take one step, let's get after it. 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.680 But I think you can do it quicker. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.119 He said, Okay. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:09.920 He started getting after it in less than six months, he was debt free. 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:18.880 Friends, for many of you, you've been living under a burden, feeling like it's an impossible task that you can't ever get ahead. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:22.319 And yes, you need to make some decisions, some adjustments. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:26.000 This is the best advice I long for you to take. 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:29.279 It is not impossible to get out under debt. 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:32.319 Stop buying things you can't afford, get out of destructive debt. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:34.160 Number three, invest for the future. 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:37.920 Like, well, now we're to finally the save invest point of it. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:42.160 Yes, because in our culture, in our day and age, we have to do those first steps. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:47.920 Proverbs 13, 22 says, a good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:53.359 The wise store up food and olive oil, but the fools gulp theirs down. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:57.680 That we begin to save and invest for the future. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:02.400 First step to this is build a three-month emergency fund. 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:06.240 Build it, begin to save, put it in a money market account. 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:14.720 Yes, I know it's not yielding a huge return, but you need to be able to access some money quickly if you have an emergency. 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.279 Okay. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:18.079 And so roughly have about three months. 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:26.720 We have that as a church uh as well, so that if giving completely stopped for three months, we could completely cover and not have to change anything. 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:35.359 Most Americans uh say this that if they um 78% say they would borrow on credit if a rainy day came. 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:38.720 And certainly over the last 18 months, a rainy day came. 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:44.240 56% of Americans do not prepare for retirement by investing. 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:48.000 I remember uh when Ryder was born. 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:51.440 So I have three kids, Ella's my oldest, Rider's next, and then Miles. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:32:05.039 So when Ryder was born, we were in Georgia, uh, and my mom, I love my mom's right over there, uh, and she came over to watch Ella for uh so that when Jenny's giving birth, and I was just I don't I was doing nothing, let's be honest. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.720 Dads do nothing. 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:15.039 Um I was there, and and I remember my mom going, like, wow, the house really is cold. 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:17.680 It's February and winter time. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.440 I'm like, oh yeah. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:22.960 And she thought maybe we're trying to save money. 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:32.319 No, our our heater went out, and um, and so we got back and our house was freezing cold. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:35.039 It's like you can't bring a newborn baby into this. 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:42.160 And so we went and stayed with my parents for a couple days, had the the guy come out to fix the heater, he said, I can't fix this. 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.119 This thing's too old. 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:44.000 You need a new one. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:46.240 I'm like, oh my goodness, how much is that gonna be? 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:47.519 $5,000. 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:51.039 My father-in-law gave me some of the best advice. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:52.319 I still use it to this day. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:56.000 He said, You know, Ryan, just pay it and forget about it. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:59.359 Because I had an emergency fund, we could pay for this. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:06.240 And by the way, um, for those who are adulting, let me just tell you, as adults, you pay for a lot of things you don't like paying for. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:12.079 This last year, four tires, a thousand dollars for my Achilles uh at the emergency room. 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:18.000 There's lots of things just like, man, I hate paying for that, and then you like just obsessed about it. 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.319 And if I didn't, and what would I do with that money? 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.440 Such good advice. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:24.960 You got some of those sort of things, these emergencies, just pay it and forget about it. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.880 It's so freeing. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:30.240 But it's freeing because we had an emergency fund. 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.920 Build a three-month emergency fund. 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:34.960 Second, save up for big purchases and trips. 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:37.039 Don't put it on the credit card. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:38.559 It's tempting. 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:40.400 Don't do it. 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:43.599 We saved up for a trip to Italy. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:48.880 And then you know what our Christmas uh wish list was from all our family? 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.519 Money. 00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:51.119 I felt like a college student again. 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:54.000 Just send us money for us to go to Italy. 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:56.079 We're saving up for a house right now. 00:33:56.240 --> 00:34:03.519 Build a three-month emergency fund, save up for big purchases and trip, leverage the magic of compounding interest. 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:18.079 Whether it's in an IRA, a Roth IRA, whether it's uh working with your 401k at your company, time is more valuable than money when you start young. 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:24.320 Now, on average, in America, the average car note is$568 per month. 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:29.920 Most Americans will carry that for the uh remainder of their life. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:39.039 That amount invested at 18 to 65 uh years of age represents 6.1 million dollars. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:48.079 Now, the question is: do you want to drive a nice car now or be have$6.1 million in the bank at 65? 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:50.639 For many, that's the choice. 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:57.280 And where you go, you know what, I could actually invest now, and the earlier the better. 00:34:57.519 --> 00:35:05.280 Did you know that that same amount invested only 20 years yields uh$394,000? 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:12.239 It's the magic of compounding interest where if you're in your 20s, please, please, please listen. 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:20.079 If you need help figuring out how to open up like a Roth Ira, if your company does a matching program, match with them. 00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:21.519 Just start doing it. 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:24.239 It's the best advice I didn't take. 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:26.960 And so automate to stay disciplined. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.480 This is what I do now. 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:31.199 I just have it direct withdrawal out of the bank account. 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:37.039 This is what I do with my giving, and that's what I do with investing, so that I just don't even have to think about it. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:44.000 It immediately goes out when the check comes in, and then you're never like tempted, like, oh man, we could go do this. 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:48.960 Stop buying things you can't afford, get out of destructive debt, invest for the future. 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:53.280 And number four, don't delay what you could do today. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:55.440 Don't delay what you could do today. 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:58.960 This is what I say around the house, it's kind of like for procrastination. 00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:01.920 You know, don't delay what you can do. 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:13.679 So many of you are focused on what you can't do, but there are some practical steps that you can do today. 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:27.039 You know, we've been talking through the Proverbs, and the Proverbs are all about uh navigating wisely and well in God's universe and these practical, wise principles for us to apply. 00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:32.400 Do you know the difference between uh smart people and wise people? 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:40.800 You know, Silicon Valley's filled with lots and lots of smart people, but I'd argue there's relatively few wise people. 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:47.039 Here's the difference smart people know uh the right things. 00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:50.719 Wise people do the right things. 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:59.840 Chances are, out of our time together, you might be a little bit smarter financially. 00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:04.400 The question is, will you be wiser? 00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:07.599 Will you be wiser? 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:16.320 Or will you like me look back and go, remember that Ingram guy and that church? 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:19.199 That was the best advice. 00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:21.280 I just never. 00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:26.719 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:31.920 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:34.400 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:40.480 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.