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Stewardship isn’t a burden — it’s a blessing.
In this Men of Faith x Project Sisterhood crossover episode, Caleb and Chrissy Cole unpack what it really means to steward what God has entrusted to you: your time, your money, your gifts, and your responsibility. This isn’t a “give to the church” conversation — it’s a discipleship conversation about building a life that honors God and creates eternal impact.
We talk budgeting, generosity, tithing, biblical wisdom around finances, and why stewardship isn’t just practical… it’s spiritual. If you’ve felt overwhelmed financially or unsure how to get momentum — this episode will give you clarity and next steps.
— — — — — — — — — —
In this Men of Faith x Project Sisterhood crossover episode, Caleb and Chrissy Cole unpack what it really means to steward what God has entrusted to you: your time, your money, your gifts, and your responsibility. This isn’t a “give to the church” conversation — it’s a discipleship conversation about building a life that honors God and creates eternal impact.
We talk budgeting, generosity, tithing, biblical wisdom around finances, and why stewardship isn’t just practical… it’s spiritual. If you’ve felt overwhelmed financially or unsure how to get momentum — this episode will give you clarity and next steps.
— — — — — — — — — —
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review — it helps more women find Project Sisterhood 💛
🎧 Listen to Project Sisterhood:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12Mzxkt8WDImuZJpu90b7N?si=a5208fcedd2c44f7
📲 Follow Project Sisterhood on Instagram:
Instagram: @projectsisterhood
⛪️ Project Church:
Website: https://projectchurch.com
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Creators and Guests
Host
Chrissy Cole
Chrissy’s parents moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in the late 70′s. She saw her parents both come to know the Lord at a young age. She and her family poured their lives into the local church and were changed by God. Chrissy attended Evangel University in Springfield, MO and earned a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations.
Guest
Caleb Cole
Caleb, a Sacramento native, grew up in a pastor’s home and is a third generation minister. At the age of 12, after one of his grandfather’s sermons, he felt a call from God to be a pastor. He consistently pursued that call throughout high school and college. Caleb attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO where he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies and went on to the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary where he earned an M.A. in Theological Studies.
What is Project Sisterhood?
Project Sisterhood is a podcast for women who want to grow in faith, find healthy community, and become who God created them to be.
Hosted by Chrissy Cole and the Project Church Sisterhood team, each episode brings honest conversations and biblical encouragement centered on identity, belonging, spiritual maturity, healing, relationships, and purpose.
With a mix of humor, vulnerability, and real-life wisdom, Project Sisterhood creates space for women in every age and stage to feel seen, strengthened, and connected—because you were never meant to do life alone.
00;00;00;02 - 00;00;01;17
Speaker 1
Can I give a call up to you?
00;00;01;19 - 00;00;02;25
Speaker 2
Oh my goodness. What could.
00;00;02;25 - 00;00;07;00
Speaker 1
We get? Like less Amazon packages showing up to our door every single day?
00;00;07;03 - 00;00;08;06
Speaker 2
I can't guarantee.
00;00;08;06 - 00;00;34;11
Speaker 1
You can I give Chrissy a call up? This is the Chrissy call up. I'm not calling you out. Calling you up. You're listening to men of Faith, the podcast dedicated to calling men up and not out. Join me as we live a life dedicated to our God.
00;00;34;13 - 00;00;59;13
Speaker 2
This is a project sisterhood podcast for all things women. Whether you sole purpose for ministry, motherhood or the marketplace, we have fruitful and genuine conversations that transcend your season yet impact your true identity as a woman. From light hearted and laughable to honest, deep matters of the heart. Your soul will be encouraged. We hope you and all women of every age and every stage buy life and freedom in Jesus.
00;00;59;15 - 00;01;04;18
Speaker 2
Hey guys. Welcome back to the Project Sisterhood Podcast and.
00;01;04;21 - 00;01;08;14
Speaker 1
The men of Faith podcast, where my MOFs at.
00;01;08;17 - 00;01;10;25
Speaker 2
Ammo is crazy.
00;01;10;28 - 00;01;18;06
Speaker 1
I don't know that just shows that Christy does not listen to the men of Faith podcast. We say it all the time.
00;01;18;08 - 00;01;18;26
Speaker 2
Awesome.
00;01;18;26 - 00;01;21;04
Speaker 1
Oh man.
00;01;21;06 - 00;01;36;09
Speaker 2
Where my PPS is. That's also crazy. If I added PMS, that would be even funnier. Anyways. Project sisterhood podcast welcome back to a crossover with the apparently moths.
00;01;36;09 - 00;01;47;08
Speaker 1
Yes, yes, we love the crossover episodes. We've done a few of these to end the year and start the new year. And, so I'm just thankful to be on here with you, Chrissy, this is actually one of my favorite topics.
00;01;47;10 - 00;01;48;11
Speaker 2
Is it?
00;01;48;14 - 00;01;52;05
Speaker 1
Yeah, I love talking about this because I think it's just so relevant to our lives.
00;01;52;09 - 00;01;59;12
Speaker 2
I think it's really relevant for this season that we're in as well. And we today are talking about stewardship.
00;01;59;16 - 00;02;02;12
Speaker 1
Yeah, let's talk about money. Let's talk about finances.
00;02;02;12 - 00;02;11;13
Speaker 2
Let's talk about stewarding our time. Money and talent. And that understanding of stewardship will inform your testimony.
00;02;11;15 - 00;02;24;15
Speaker 1
Yeah. You know, a great philosopher once said, mo mo money, mo problems. And, I just want to say that that's not always the case. I would say mo money means mo stewardship.
00;02;24;23 - 00;02;25;16
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;02;25;19 - 00;02;26;09
Speaker 1
You feel me?
00;02;26;09 - 00;02;48;00
Speaker 2
Yeah. And I think people do see stewardship as a problem, but I actually think it's a blessing. That will give you the ability to build something with eternal impact. But I think most of this world is building for earthly, here and now, present, success and kingdom.
00;02;48;02 - 00;02;48;25
Speaker 1
Yeah. For sure.
00;02;48;25 - 00;03;07;04
Speaker 2
So we just got done with a generosity series in our church, focusing on being Kingdom builders, building your life. And one of the weeks was on stewardship, building a life. And what would you say is your, foundation for building a life of good stewardship?
00;03;07;07 - 00;03;24;06
Speaker 1
Yeah. I mean, I always have put my foundation on the word of God, and I think that it's why I love the Bible. It's way more practical than probably a lot of people realize. Right. So many people just read the Bible and don't go through all of it.
00;03;24;08 - 00;03;24;20
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;03;24;22 - 00;03;54;08
Speaker 1
Pick and choose cherry pick scriptures, take them out of context, whatever. And and I think that, like, as I have read the Bible through many times now, I do it every year. I've realized just how much game is in the Word of God for us when it comes to finances and stewardship, and it's so practical and and that's what I think we want to share today, is just the reality that most people are struggling with finances right now.
00;03;54;10 - 00;04;18;17
Speaker 1
In America, which is who primarily listens, most people are struggling in their stewardship. They're struggling in their generosity. They're struggling in in how they're navigating, expenses and life planning for the future. And so I think it's good for us to talk about this and not from a, hey, our goal here is not to be like, hey, give to the church.
00;04;18;21 - 00;04;40;05
Speaker 1
No, our goal here is to help you, to steward better what God has entrusted you with. And that's what it comes down to, right? Like we've been entrusted with something. Are we going to be good stewards of it? And so when Jesus told the story of the talents and it was a story specifically about money and how we manage money is not about your talent, right?
00;04;40;05 - 00;04;59;21
Speaker 1
How talented you are, and are you going to bury that talent of worship in the ground or bury that talent of teaching or communicating in the know? It was about money. So are you going to take what God is giving you? Are you going to steward it well? Are you going to multiply it so that you leave something for those that come after you, so that you seed into what God's doing right now?
00;04;59;23 - 00;05;25;26
Speaker 1
Because ultimately, most of us are just focused on building something earthly. Acquiring earthly possessions, building an earthly kingdom. But we have a responsibility as followers of Christ to build the kingdom to. And so we have to be thinking bigger picture than just how do I get myself healthy financially? We have to be thinking about how do I seed into the kingdom, as well, because God's called me to that, to a life of generosity.
00;05;25;28 - 00;05;48;01
Speaker 1
But you can't do that if you don't steward well what you've been given. And so the reason most people aren't generous as they would like to be, it's not they don't want to be. I think there's actually a heart of generosity in most people, especially the people listening. It's that we haven't planned, strategized, budgeted, and stewarded well enough to where we have anything to be generous with.
00;05;48;05 - 00;05;50;23
Speaker 1
And so that's what, you know, we want to talk about today. Yeah.
00;05;50;23 - 00;06;13;14
Speaker 2
Well, you answer the question of what's the foundation of your good stewardship? I think it's the word of God. And I love that. I actually tell you every time we speak on generosity, that I really enjoy listening to you speak on it. And it's not necessarily, because, you know, you're more powerful when you talk about finances than other times.
00;06;13;14 - 00;06;47;03
Speaker 2
But I do think that there is this conviction and anointing that comes on you because you are a man of the word. And so when we look at the Word of God, you said something there that people don't realize how practical the word is. I think sometimes the Bible becomes something mystical to people and they don't realize that, when especially new believers, it's like this whole spiritual realm and the Bible is almost like this, special book that we see, like in wicked or that movie or that that Broadway show.
00;06;47;03 - 00;07;16;09
Speaker 2
Yeah. Or not even demonic. Just that it's like this mystic spiritual thing where you can access a spiritual realm. But I'm like, listen, finances and much of our faith is very practical and pragmatic. And I think this is really the foundation, of faith. You know, God's not trying to get you to this, like spiritual realm, like we are called to live on this earth here and now, but bring heaven to earth, and that's going to have to be done.
00;07;16;12 - 00;07;27;04
Speaker 2
And that has to be worked out very practically, pragmatically. And so the Word of God is practical. I just really want to speak to that. So it's not this weird spiritual realm thing.
00;07;27;11 - 00;08;01;01
Speaker 1
Yeah. I think that there's always a component. Right. Of God's perspective on money that somewhat contradicts the natural. Yeah, right. There's a supernatural dynamic to it, that we have to be aware of. And it involves faith. Yes. Right. But then and that's part of Scripture. And, and then there's another part that's super practical, right? So for example, second Corinthians nine six and seven, this was the the core scripture for our series.
00;08;01;03 - 00;08;23;12
Speaker 1
And it says, whoever sow sparingly, we'll also reap sparingly. Whoever sows generously will also reap generously. And then, Paul, the writings of the church in Corinth, and he goes on, you should give whatever you decide in your heart. But this is the supernatural component that says, if you. So if you're generous, if you give, then God will touch it.
00;08;23;14 - 00;08;40;21
Speaker 1
They'll use it, he'll multiply it. But he'll also bless you in return. Right. You. So you'll read. Yeah. If you sow sparingly you're going to, you're going to reap sparingly. If you don't so. Well you know, you don't give you're, you're not going to reap, you're not going to get a lot if you. So generously you give generously, you will reap generously.
00;08;40;23 - 00;08;59;02
Speaker 1
Now this is spiritually speaking, and it actually talks about in this same text, like there's going to be a harvest of righteousness that comes out of your life. So you become more righteous, more like God, by being generous. But I also think there's so many scriptures that show us practically that you will reap in the natural as well.
00;08;59;05 - 00;09;29;03
Speaker 1
Yeah, you'll reap naturally, practically. But I think that the component that is practical of that. So there's a supernatural component, but the practical component is that we see, statistically speaking, that people who give intentionally meaning, they set aside a percentage. And we're not going to go all the way to 10%, although I think that's a great starting point, but let's say 5%, 8%, 10% that they steward the rest better than those who just give whatever's left over.
00;09;29;03 - 00;09;41;03
Speaker 1
Yeah. So the practical side is that when you're intentional in sowing, you're intentional in your generosity and giving, it makes you steward better what's left over.
00;09;41;03 - 00;09;41;24
Speaker 2
Right.
00;09;41;26 - 00;10;05;13
Speaker 1
But when you just give whatever is left over right, you usually won't steward what you started with as well because you didn't plan for it. And so. Right. And so the Bible though, and we'll get into some more, some more scriptures that are, that are more practical about how you can be a better Stewart. But I think we have to understand that there's the supernatural component of generosity that God touches and blesses.
00;10;05;15 - 00;10;20;03
Speaker 1
But the reason he also says that to us is because the supernatural turns into natural practices of stewardship, of budgeting, of planning, of strategizing that plays out. And God knew that when he told us this.
00;10;20;06 - 00;10;43;13
Speaker 2
Right. I think I think what you're saying, is foundation actually leads me to a practical foundation for me. And that is the tithe I think. Yeah. When we could talk about this because, Caleb and I can have a dynamic in our relationship where I'm a little less grace filled and he's way more grace filled, and that comes to even he's.
00;10;43;13 - 00;10;44;10
Speaker 1
Very black and white.
00;10;44;10 - 00;11;11;10
Speaker 2
I can be more black and white. I wouldn't say I'm very black and white in all aspects of my life, but when it comes to finances, I think it is. But here's where I the reason why I think that I've become more black and white with finances. It's because I'm perhaps overcompensating for the way I was raised and where there was a lack of, I think money, financial literacy and how to handle it and do it well.
00;11;11;12 - 00;11;31;24
Speaker 2
Yeah. And then like, right after college, I remember being like, oh, I can have a credit card now. And then I bought a bunch of shoes and clothes from Dillard's. If anybody knows Dillard's, shout out Midwest shopping centers. Nordstrom. Yes. And so, so I think that there's like this overcompensation now where I'm like, I got a tithe, but I think that pleases the Lord.
00;11;31;24 - 00;11;52;28
Speaker 2
When we do say, I'm going to designate this 10% to the Lord because I trust you to do more with my 90% than you can, than I can do with my hundred percent. So I think that for me personally, tithing is huge. But it is. Yes, a command is theologically debated all the time. And we talked about this in our series.
00;11;53;04 - 00;12;14;21
Speaker 2
Yes, 10% was a command in Malachi because the people were not bringing any more money to the storehouse where that was where they worshiped. That's where, they were able to help the needy in their community. But then you see, in the New Testament that Jesus never explicitly says this is a command. But I am always challenged.
00;12;14;21 - 00;12;42;08
Speaker 2
This is the question that I actually asked our congregation. If it's not required for us to give 10% in the New Testament, should that, should does a heart of generosity mean give less to me? And the way we run our household with the 10%, which I think is the foundation for me is the discipline for me, is that we are going to give that so that we can set the priority and value system of the rest of our household.
00;12;42;15 - 00;13;02;16
Speaker 1
Yeah, yeah. Going to that scripture like where Jesus, specifically does address the tithe. And he's speaking to the Pharisees. Right, right. And he says you, you tithe, but you ignore the weightier matters of justice and mercy. Right. And love. Right?
00;13;02;16 - 00;13;03;09
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;13;03;12 - 00;13;13;11
Speaker 1
But then what does he do. He follows that up with, you should do the latter. Without ignoring the former. So he actually says do both.
00;13;13;17 - 00;13;14;16
Speaker 2
Yes.
00;13;14;19 - 00;13;33;24
Speaker 1
And that's something that when people have debated this I'm like are we forgetting that Jesus actually said do both. But let's just say for a moment, that we throw that verse out. Yeah, we ignore that Jesus said that at all. And there are people who argue, you know, that that the tie there's an Old Testament covenant.
00;13;33;24 - 00;13;54;23
Speaker 1
We're not bound by the old law anymore, which we aren't. The came not to do away with it, but to fulfill it. We're under a new, law or, sorry, a new covenant of mercy and grace. Right we are. Here's what I say to you. Not tithing does not eliminate you from heaven. Okay? Just want to be clear with that.
00;13;54;25 - 00;14;18;01
Speaker 1
However, disobedience does disconnect us from the Lord. His heart. His best for us. And and walking with greater connection with him and righteousness in our life. So what I always say to people as I go to this text that I just read at the beginning here, which is where Paul then follows up, you know, so generously, and you'll reap generously.
00;14;18;01 - 00;14;34;20
Speaker 1
So sparingly. And then he says, you know, each one of you should give what you have decide in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. So I always say to people like, look, you need to get with the Lord and say, God, what are you asking me to give? What does obedience look like?
00;14;34;25 - 00;14;54;07
Speaker 1
We live our life, according to the tithe. But I think a lot of people, generosity is not a muscle that they've exercised. We're under grace. And so my encouragement to everyone listening is that you would begin to steward well by planning to give something to God.
00;14;54;09 - 00;14;54;28
Speaker 2
Yes.
00;14;54;28 - 00;15;28;25
Speaker 1
That's not what's left over. You're strategizing. You're planning your budgeting. This is my first fruits to the Lord. Yes, I think that's obedience. I think that's biblical. And if that means starting with 3% or 5% or 7% or 10%, you need to start somewhere to develop that. That muscle of generosity. And right now, statistically speaking, I just read it today, 10% of evangelical Christians in the church give the tithe and the tithe being at least 8%.
00;15;28;25 - 00;15;31;23
Speaker 1
Right? So I don't know why we're saying it's 8% now, but that's.
00;15;31;27 - 00;15;32;17
Speaker 2
Biblically is a.
00;15;32;17 - 00;16;18;27
Speaker 1
Tense. Yeah, but that's a study. So that means 90% of probably the people listening right now because we have a lot of like we have believers are listening to us are not tithing. What's crazy is that 30% of evangelical Christians, 3131, will give nothing to their local church or any nonprofit organization, so they will release zero generosity. And then we wonder why we're reaping sparingly because we're so fairly so here's my challenge to everyone out there beyond the practical side, that when you budget to give you budget, the rest better is the obedient side that says, man, God is asking you to be generous.
00;16;19;00 - 00;16;44;13
Speaker 1
And if I'm doing nothing, I'm not going to reap a harvest of generosity. I'm I'm hurting myself from God blessing me financially. This is what the Bible says, right? And so my challenge to you is that you would say, hey, I'm going to start somewhere today. I'm going to plan, budget and strategize to give something weekly, monthly so that I can begin to develop the muscle of generosity.
00;16;44;13 - 00;16;59;07
Speaker 1
Number one, because it's an act of obedience. Number two, because practically the Bible says, I'll be blessed, with righteousness and an even better financial finances by doing so. And so I think you need to start somewhere. That's my challenge to everyone out there.
00;16;59;11 - 00;17;18;17
Speaker 2
Yeah. And it's funny that people wouldn't give 31% was alarming to me. To not even give it to any charitable organization to me is wild, especially when there are tax write offs for you. I mean, they're not enormous, but, I do think that that's even a blessing that comes from the Lord because I've heard the I mean, do you think I'm black and white?
00;17;18;18 - 00;17;44;10
Speaker 2
There's some people who are even more black and white with so much clarity that they wouldn't even give to that, because I don't even want, my name on any gifts. You know what I mean? Like, I don't want any any credit. Like, I know people who won't even, put their name on any gifts to a charitable organization or to the church because they just feel like, you know, I don't even though they're so humble, they don't even want to be seen for what they've been given.
00;17;44;10 - 00;17;54;28
Speaker 2
But I'm like, that's just foolish to me. When there are said that there's a set up in the government in the structure in which God provided for us to live in, where we can benefit from it. And then I said.
00;17;55;01 - 00;18;02;14
Speaker 1
Well, like I said, you go to a nonprofit that's building something. People Kingdom. Yes. Then to the pit that is our government, to be honest.
00;18;02;15 - 00;18;26;00
Speaker 2
Okay. Well that's there's that's a very honest thought. But here's the thing. Some people with their with their money are more accountable to the vendors and the, the people who are, giving them invoices for bills. They're more accountable to Smud, PG and E and their mortgage company than they are to the body of Christ or to anything that would be generous to this world.
00;18;26;00 - 00;18;31;20
Speaker 2
And so, you know, Heavenly Kingdom seeds, for eternity.
00;18;31;22 - 00;18;50;12
Speaker 1
And what I always say to our churches, I'm not trying to get something from you. I'm trying to get something to you because I've lived this life. Yeah, for 20 plus years now, serving the Lord and tithing faithfully. And I've seen God continue to bless me and increase, and and I'm not saying that I haven't had tight seasons.
00;18;50;12 - 00;19;05;27
Speaker 1
I mean, me and Christy definitely have. We've sacrificed in a big way, especially when we launched this church and there were seasons where we were like, I don't know how we're going to pay our next bill. I don't know how we're going to buy this next meal. We were fully relying on the Lord, and he came through every single time.
00;19;05;27 - 00;19;23;14
Speaker 1
And it never stopped us from being generous, knowing that things were tight. Right. And I've seen God bless me. And as a result, I've seen increase, continue in our lives. And so up. I'm telling you this because the fruit of my life. Yeah. And I want you to experience the same thing. Yeah, but I would also go ahead.
00;19;23;19 - 00;19;46;00
Speaker 2
There are seasons where we were strong. We had thousands and thousands of, school loans because of me. You didn't have any. And it was rough, man. Well, I've said it throughout the series, so if anybody's listening, you're hearing the story again. But yeah, it was it was hard because you knew you had to pay that big sum of money, to get that, you know, debt taken care of.
00;19;46;02 - 00;20;04;00
Speaker 2
But we continued to tithe and we were still able to be generous, maybe not to the degree that we would have liked to have, but we did, slowly whittle that down. And when it was paid off, oh, what a glorious day that was. I feel like we celebrated that day, but.
00;20;04;05 - 00;20;25;14
Speaker 1
Yeah, but I think, you know, to to get back to the practical side of this, what what we've done, I think we've, you know, done well is we also early on in our marriage, we were both kind of managing the finances together, and it became very chaotic because like, I think she was paying a bill and she think I was paying a bill and we missed some bills and it hurt our credit score for a little bit there.
00;20;25;14 - 00;20;55;13
Speaker 1
And so we established, you know, which one of us was going to manage our finances, primarily keeping an eye on the bank account. We still talked through our spending. Yeah, we still have a budget. But one of us, which is you is, giving complete oversight to that, and that's helped us a ton. And so I think practically to get help everyone out there, you need to sit down, especially if you're married with your spouse and write out a budget.
00;20;55;16 - 00;21;19;08
Speaker 1
And every year we go over our budget and then throughout the year, we're updating it because things are changing and costs are going up and down. And, if you plan to fail or if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, right? So most people are just spending and hoping that everything works out. And then they're giving when they're if they're able to it doesn't work.
00;21;19;08 - 00;21;42;10
Speaker 1
That way. Life doesn't work that way. You wouldn't run a business that way. And yet how many of us are running our lives that way? And so, I mean, I just want to challenge everyone like that. You would get so diligent in your budget, in your budgeting, in your conversation with your spouse and what you're spending. You look at, you know, the nitty gritty of it, and it's going to be painful and hard, and you may have to make some hard decisions.
00;21;42;10 - 00;21;50;21
Speaker 1
And that's one thing we realized, but it will pay eternal dividends and practical dividends in your life.
00;21;50;24 - 00;22;05;24
Speaker 2
Yeah, I think that statement you said about planning, I'm like, if you don't plan generosity, you will fail. And of course, generosity. But what do you what would you say to families where they're like, well, I'm generous to my family. I'm generous. I want to give them a lot.
00;22;05;26 - 00;22;25;17
Speaker 1
Yeah. That's good. I would say that's great. I would say that you need to be generous to your family. I think you need to budget in a way that you can bless your family, but then also, what does that look like? Because how many of those things I'm being generous to my family in is, is want to not need.
00;22;25;20 - 00;22;46;08
Speaker 1
And how much of it is on frivolous things. How much are we actually in the generosity to our family developing a materialistic mindset in our own children. Right. As if they need every brand new, you know, pair of sneakers that comes out or, or, you know, designer brand that comes out. I mean, we're, we're a materialistic culture.
00;22;46;08 - 00;23;10;05
Speaker 1
And as followers of Christ, we have to live counts our culture. It doesn't mean we don't care about clothing and we need to present ourselves. Well, I mean, you and I have a budget for for clothing. And you use most of it, but that's true. But, but, you know, like, I also don't want us to be so fixated on the materialistic things that we ignore the kingdom.
00;23;10;05 - 00;23;29;00
Speaker 1
And so you, you're you're generous to your family. But what is that developing in them? In their hearts, in your children? Do they know that you're generous to the kingdom of God? Two things that have eternal impact, right. We're supposed to store up treasures in heaven right off. The rust cannot destroy, right?
00;23;29;05 - 00;23;51;13
Speaker 2
Are you doing that? And I think if we're being generous only to our family and not to any one else, I think that our kids are not going to pass on anything of generosity to the next generation. Yeah. I think we just need to be careful, because there's some times where I'm like, oh, I'm being generous to my family, but I just don't think God calls us to take care of just our house.
00;23;51;17 - 00;24;16;09
Speaker 2
We are a part of a communal faith. We're a part of, faith where you see within the very first church that church of acts, they help support the needs of others. Is your family. Are your children seeing me? Be generous outside of your own family in this that mindset of, yeah, you know, we talk about this like a lot, but it's the mindset of scarcity that will have.
00;24;16;14 - 00;24;40;09
Speaker 2
And I think that because some of us have been raised in more scarcity, we overcompensate with our kids and we try to give them what we never had. But we're actually, setting them up and it'll have a set, not setting them up for success. And it has an adverse effect where now our kids aren't even knowing what it's like to have any lack.
00;24;40;11 - 00;24;55;14
Speaker 2
And they I think we're feeding into an entitled generation. Yeah. So I don't know talk about that a little bit. The thing as not steward well to compensate for, what we lacked growing up.
00;24;55;16 - 00;24;59;05
Speaker 1
Oh, totally. I mean, I see it all the time in our peers.
00;24;59;06 - 00;24;59;14
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;24;59;17 - 00;25;13;24
Speaker 1
Who we we buy these homes and we want to. We want something that looks like what our parents have not thinking about where our parents were when they were our age.
00;25;13;25 - 00;25;14;14
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;25;14;17 - 00;25;46;19
Speaker 1
And we're comparing ourselves to our parents now. And they're in their twilight years. Right. They've had they've gone through all their years of earning potential. They hit their peak. They invested all that. And it's a somewhat keeping up with the Joneses. But I think there's a comparison factor that's even taking place in families. Yeah. Where yeah, we want what we didn't have when we were children, but we're comparing what we have now to what they have now, which they're in a different era and stage of life than us.
00;25;46;21 - 00;26;15;00
Speaker 1
So, I mean, I'm not saying you can't have a nice home. I'm not saying that you can't have, you know, nice things. But I am saying if you're doing it because of an image and because of this mindset, I want to have something they never had. But all the while you're actually in debt, you know, your eyeballs, your house, or you're struggling with your piece because you're so stressed out of our finances all the time, or you feel the constant need to have to, like, I got to earn more.
00;26;15;00 - 00;26;33;13
Speaker 1
I got to earn more. I got to earn more just to survive. I don't know that that is the wisest choice, right? And I don't know that that's being a good steward. Right. And so again, I'm not against. Nice thing. I always say, like, I can own things as long as those things are on me.
00;26;33;13 - 00;26;33;27
Speaker 2
Right.
00;26;33;27 - 00;26;55;27
Speaker 1
And I think we're in a day and age with finances. Like, let's be practical, though it's it's more challenging now than ever before because of the cost of living in a place like California, because of the cost of home, because of the interest rates, because of, you know, the home prices and income not staying on pace with the increase in home prices.
00;26;55;29 - 00;27;17;04
Speaker 1
So it is harder than ever before, I'm not going to lie to y'all out there. Right. So so we have to be wise wiser than ever before in how we steward what we've been given. And it not be about comparing ourselves or having something we didn't have when we were growing up, but more like, what is wise right now?
00;27;17;06 - 00;27;36;11
Speaker 2
Well, I think that this time of year is where a lot of families, a lot of couples are really thinking through their finances and how they steward the level of generosity that they have. Definitely the level of generosity they have for their kids because of, you know, what, it needs to be under the tree and all those expectations that we're trying to live up to.
00;27;36;13 - 00;27;45;13
Speaker 2
I love what we do, and it really has given us this pressure. This is very practical. So we only give our children for gifts just.
00;27;45;13 - 00;27;47;25
Speaker 1
For supposed to cause.
00;27;47;28 - 00;27;48;26
Speaker 2
They.
00;27;48;28 - 00;27;50;17
Speaker 1
But sometimes she pushes the envelope.
00;27;50;17 - 00;27;58;28
Speaker 2
I do, and then she pushed it. And then so we give them something they need, something they want something to read and something.
00;27;59;04 - 00;27;59;17
Speaker 1
To wear.
00;27;59;17 - 00;28;04;03
Speaker 2
To where need, want, wear.
00;28;04;05 - 00;28;07;12
Speaker 1
Need to wear.
00;28;07;14 - 00;28;09;07
Speaker 2
Read, read. Yes.
00;28;09;10 - 00;28;11;22
Speaker 1
They my children will be want. Where?
00;28;11;27 - 00;28;32;24
Speaker 2
Yes. There you go. So, But then sometimes I'll say, well, two outfits are something that they need to wear. And then stocking stuffers. Man, I go a little crazier on that, but but it still gives us some parameters. It gives us some, boundaries. And we have a list of exactly what they are going to be given.
00;28;32;24 - 00;28;54;01
Speaker 2
We know how much we're tracking, how much we're spending. We try to spend, similar amounts between each of the children for our three children. And that really sets us up. I've seen, parents just stressed and fearful, and I still get this way with that list. Where am I? Did we give them enough? Well, if you plan to give them enough,
00;28;54;03 - 00;29;13;08
Speaker 2
Or you plan to give them anything, I think that's that's enough. The fact that you're even planning. But if you're just willy nilly, I feel like being generous here. There. Oh, that would be good. That would be great. Then I think that you might be overcompensating, or you might be operating out of fear that you're not enough, or that you haven't done enough for your children.
00;29;13;09 - 00;29;25;18
Speaker 2
So you need to get, it really does this giving issue, this generosity issue, this stewardship. Wow. I cannot take this stewardship issue is a heart issue, essentially. Yeah.
00;29;25;20 - 00;29;53;19
Speaker 1
I always think of, Harry Potter and, Harry Potter's cousin is Dudley. And on his birthday, he has 87 gifts. I think it's somewhere around that. Under the under the, you know, in the living room. It's not Christmas, but it's his birthday. And and he's like 87. Last year I had 88, you know, and his parents like were there significantly larger than last year.
00;29;53;22 - 00;30;20;06
Speaker 1
And he wants one more. So he has more than last year. And I just like I think in this era of materialism and consumerism, we fall into the trap right. And, and I would just encourage you parents out there like, hey, we want to give good things to our children, bless them. And, Jesus said that in Matthew seven, if you who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more?
00;30;20;06 - 00;30;49;03
Speaker 1
So your father, who's in heaven, wants to give good gifts to his children? That's us. Right. So I think it's good that we want to give good gifts to our children, but we can't fall into the trap of just more and more and more and more and more at the cost of, peace, good stewardship, wisdom and even being generous like, this is the time of year I feel like that, we should say, how can we be more generous, you know, how can we bless the community, the people around us, the body of Christ seed into the kingdom of God?
00;30;49;05 - 00;30;54;23
Speaker 1
And it's so easy to fall into the trap at Christmas, a season that's supposed to be about Jesus.
00;30;54;29 - 00;30;56;02
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;30;56;04 - 00;31;14;20
Speaker 1
And it become about stuff and materialism and, and we're feeding that into our children. And so we have to be careful. And so I would caution you, and maybe you could implement what we do. Yeah. Which has really helped our kids. And I don't feel like they ever feel like they're being gypped. You know, it's like they know that this is what you you know, these are the gifts you get, and you're blessed.
00;31;14;20 - 00;31;15;01
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;31;15;03 - 00;31;16;07
Speaker 1
You have so much.
00;31;16;10 - 00;31;53;15
Speaker 2
I know a lot of the parables that Jesus talks about, money. He's talking actually about money. But I do think that once our we were practically stewarding our money, it informs the rest of our stewardship what we're spending our time on, what we're using our gifts on. And so I think that during this Christmas season, if we're going to pass on good stewardship to our children and we make this season what it's really about, and that's why I think advent is so important, our advent calendar is filled with activities that have nothing to do with our children getting, and it has everything to do with what they're giving.
00;31;53;19 - 00;32;11;19
Speaker 2
What letter are they writing to a teacher? You know, that's one of the things that they have to do. How are you spending time with your family and time? What Christmas activities are we doing together? They sent a message to a relative or a cousin that's all the way in Kansas City. And they send a Christmas greeting.
00;32;11;22 - 00;32;34;27
Speaker 2
And we're trying to make this Christmas season really about being a giving season, because God so loved the world that he gave. So we want this season really to be about the Lord. So how are you stewarding your time? In this in this season? And it has to be really focus on the Lord and what he's done for us.
00;32;34;27 - 00;33;00;16
Speaker 1
Yeah. I want to just, to wrap this up. I want to actually challenge everyone, you know, when we think about Jesus. He leveled everything up. Yeah, right. He he fulfilled the law. But in his fulfilling of the law, he actually took the law. I believe, and biblically, you can back this up to a greater level. So for instance, he said, you've heard it said you shall not commit adultery, right.
00;33;00;16 - 00;33;21;19
Speaker 1
So adultery, you know, intimacy with someone, not your spouse. You heard it said, you shall not commit adultery. But I say, This is Jesus, that if you even look at a woman lustfully, you've already committed this sin in your heart. So this was one example of God or Jesus. He's like teaching on the law. And he's like, here's what the law says.
00;33;21;19 - 00;33;25;08
Speaker 1
I'm actually leveling it up.
00;33;25;10 - 00;33;47;17
Speaker 1
He says the same thing about your enemy. Yeah, right. Turn the other cheek. If they ask for your tunic or your shirt, give them your tunic also your jacket also, they ask you to go one mile. Go with them. Two I think we can say the same thing about generosity. The law was 10%. To me that's a starting point.
00;33;47;20 - 00;33;48;28
Speaker 1
This is going to be my final charge.
00;33;48;29 - 00;33;50;04
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;33;50;06 - 00;34;16;10
Speaker 1
I do believe in we're in the. We're in an era of grace. We're not bound by the law. It's. This isn't about your salvation. But is about obedience. Yeah. Some of you need to develop that muscle of generosity. You need to start with 2%, 3%, 5%, 8%, whatever. But if we're speaking, if we get real about it, what Jesus said, he leveled up everything when it came to the law that I think generosity 10% is a starting point.
00;34;16;12 - 00;34;35;06
Speaker 1
And we've tried to live where like, how do we continue to increase? Yes, that every year we're not giving less or the bare minimum. How do I hit 10% on the dot so I know I'm good? No. It's like that's why that was my starting point. That's my that's my floor. And I want to get to a higher ceiling of my generosity.
00;34;35;09 - 00;34;52;28
Speaker 1
And so I'm trying to level the level up because that's what I believe Jesus said to level up everything when it came to righteousness holiness serving him following obedience. So this is a a deep challenge that I think that God has given to us, but one that I think we're living the fruit of, by walking that out.
00;34;53;01 - 00;35;17;02
Speaker 1
And I think about my grandfather, my father, you know, they were pastors their whole life, never made a lot of money. And I remember being, you know, a young person. And my parents, I mean, we're scraping by where they're like, hey, we have a few days left before we get pay. We can't buy any food. We have to eat what's in the cupboard, you know, survive on what we have.
00;35;17;04 - 00;35;38;05
Speaker 1
And, we're still, I would say like lower middle class. But I think about them, and here they are all these years later because of not how much they earned. Yeah. But all these years later now, my dad told me the day I could retire right now and know that all I have enough to pay for all my bills.
00;35;38;07 - 00;36;03;04
Speaker 1
Because of good stewardship, right? Not because of. They were rich and made all this money, but because they practiced generosity. They stewarded well, budgeted well, invest it for the future. And now here they are. And, God set them up for the for the future. And they're going to be able to bless our children and, you know, our children, our children's children and, and and that's what we want our goal to be.
00;36;03;04 - 00;36;05;25
Speaker 1
So that's my charge to everyone out there. Yeah.
00;36;05;25 - 00;36;27;08
Speaker 2
I think, you know, my charge is not going to be just about finances. But I think just that whole concept about Jesus leveling up everything. I think if we live in a way where it's only the law, it's only keeping the law and not extravagantly loving Jesus, then we're going to be stingy in all areas of our lives.
00;36;27;11 - 00;36;59;16
Speaker 2
And so Jesus calls us not to just, skate by with the 10% and just do things exactly right and be so law focused. And, that law focus makes you achievement focus. But what God, did was he so generously gave Jesus to us. And if we so generously live the way that God wants us to live, and that's a generous lifestyle, then we will reap, the righteousness will reap that, just a harvest of peace in our lives.
00;36;59;22 - 00;37;18;03
Speaker 2
And so I don't want my faith to look like exacting. I want it to look like overflow and blessing and generosity. And, you know, radical is not the word I want to use, but it's coming to my mind. But, like, radical generosity, and love. Because that's how Jesus was to us.
00;37;18;06 - 00;37;39;20
Speaker 1
I love it. You know, I, I think it's funny, this our generosity series four weeks. It was the least watched series in the last year on YouTube. Mike, who's behind the camera could attest to this. But I think it's funny that, you know, this is a topic. It's uncomfortable. Right? It's hard to hear. It challenges us.
00;37;39;20 - 00;37;42;23
Speaker 2
It's shame inducing sometimes. At times it can be.
00;37;42;28 - 00;38;05;00
Speaker 1
And and I, I pray that this podcast like for you the that made it this far. Thank you. That it's, you know, if the Lord's convicting you, then you respond. Right. It means nothing if you listen to this and just walk away and change nothing. Right. And I think even as we taught through this series, the Lord's continuing to convict us in our stewardship.
00;38;05;01 - 00;38;26;29
Speaker 1
We could steward better, right? We could budget better, plan better, spend better, but also our generosity. And, and so I think this wasn't meant to bring shame, but but I do pray the Lord convicts us all right to steward better. I want to I want to hear. Well done, good and faithful servant. Yes. And at the end of my life, that's depending on how I steward it.
00;38;26;29 - 00;38;47;21
Speaker 1
Everything. My time, my talent. And my treasure. And so, my charge to you all out there, men of faith, a call up is that you would allow this moment even this talk, this, podcast to convict you in a way where you leave and do something different in your stewardship. And I don't care what it is.
00;38;47;21 - 00;38;50;25
Speaker 1
I'm not going to tell you what it needs to be, but do something.
00;38;50;28 - 00;39;16;20
Speaker 2
Yeah. I think my challenge, would be to the sisters and to the men that you would make this season about being a blessing, being generous and to keep it about Jesus. When we keep it about Jesus, then we can't help but, be more like him and be more generous. And let's even think this is twofold. So keep the season about the reason of the season, which is Jesus.
00;39;16;28 - 00;39;25;27
Speaker 2
But also let's listen. Let's make sure, that we are being generous. Generous because that's who Jesus was.
00;39;25;28 - 00;39;27;13
Speaker 1
Can I give a call up to you?
00;39;27;15 - 00;39;28;21
Speaker 2
Oh my goodness. What could.
00;39;28;21 - 00;39;32;26
Speaker 1
We get? Like less Amazon packages showed up to our door every single day.
00;39;32;29 - 00;39;34;03
Speaker 2
I can't guarantee.
00;39;34;05 - 00;39;40;04
Speaker 1
Can I give Chrissy a call up? This is the Chrissy call up. I'm not calling you out. Calling you up.
00;39;40;09 - 00;39;41;23
Speaker 2
Okay? I'm not going to call you out.
00;39;41;24 - 00;39;46;14
Speaker 1
Should Amazon Package just show up every day, multiple times a day?
00;39;46;17 - 00;39;52;27
Speaker 2
I'm going to be just I'm going to be generous to you by restraining and yelling at you.
00;39;52;29 - 00;39;54;06
Speaker 1
That was all in good fun.
00;39;54;06 - 00;39;54;23
Speaker 2
Restraint.
00;39;54;27 - 00;40;03;28
Speaker 1
A lot of it is just stupid little practical stuff. It is like the other day I forget what showed up, but I was like, oh, that's random that you ordered this on Amazon.
00;40;04;00 - 00;40;08;16
Speaker 2
I needed to get the wax off of the candles. Is that what you're the strippers this great scraper for?
00;40;08;19 - 00;40;12;18
Speaker 1
For wax. I'm like, it was this little tiny thing in a package. I'm like.
00;40;12;18 - 00;40;13;11
Speaker 2
Yeah.
00;40;13;13 - 00;40;15;06
Speaker 1
Thankfully we recycle.
00;40;15;08 - 00;40;18;26
Speaker 2
Well, that's it for the Project Sisterhood podcast and.
00;40;18;26 - 00;40;19;29
Speaker 1
The men of Faith Park.
00;40;19;29 - 00;40;29;09
Speaker 2
Make sure you recycle it. Just kidding. But we love you guys and we hope you have a wonderful Christmas season. I think this is the last podcast of the year maybe, you know.
00;40;29;10 - 00;40;32;17
Speaker 1
Reuse, reduce, recycle.
00;40;32;20 - 00;40;36;01
Speaker 2
And be a good steward. But we love you guys. See you next time.
00;40;36;04 - 00;40;36;19
Speaker 1
Peace.