Spending Decisions Are Spiritual Decisions with Dr. Kelly Rush

Faith & Finance with Rob West

Spending decisions aren’t just financial—they reveal what, and whom, we value. That was the central insight Dr. Kelly Rush shared in today’s conversation on Faith & Finance, where she unpacked the Old Testament story of Jonah through the lens of money and stewardship. Dr. Rush, Professor of Finance and Financial Planning at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, explained that Jonah’s story isn’t only about a prophet running from God. It’s also a revealing case study in how financial choices often mirror the condition of the heart. Her core conviction is simple but challenging: every spending decision is a spiritual decision.

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Show Notes

Spending decisions aren’t just financial—they reveal what, and whom, we value. That was the central insight Dr. Kelly Rush shared in today’s conversation on Faith & Finance, where she unpacked the Old Testament story of Jonah through the lens of money and stewardship.Dr. Rush, Professor of Finance and Financial Planning at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, explained that Jonah’s story isn’t only about a prophet running from God. It’s also a revealing case study in how financial choices often mirror the condition of the heart. Her core conviction is simple but challenging: every spending decision is a spiritual decision.

According to Dr. Rush, money functions like a mirror. It reflects what we care about, what we trust, and what direction our hearts are moving. That principle, she noted, is woven throughout Scripture—and Jonah provides a surprisingly clear example.

Many readers miss the fact that money appears twice in Jonah’s short book. The first instance comes right at the beginning. When God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah runs in the opposite direction. Scripture tells us that he paid the fare to board a ship to Tarshish. Dr. Rush noted that this is one of the few passages in the Bible where the cost of travel is explicitly mentioned. The detail matters. Jonah didn’t just flee spiritually—he financed his rebellion. Running from God came at a financial cost.

That decision didn’t affect Jonah alone. When God sent a storm, the sailors were forced to throw their valuable cargo overboard to save their lives. Dr. Rush emphasized that poor stewardship rarely stays contained. Our financial and spiritual misalignment often impacts others—families, churches, workplaces, and communities. At the same time, she noted, faithful stewardship creates ripple effects of blessing.

The story then turns. In Jonah chapter two, inside the fish, Jonah repents. He cries out to God and vows obedience. This time, Dr. Rush explained, Jonah’s “payment” isn’t money but repentance and follow-through. When Jonah’s heart is realigned, his response changes as well. Repentance redirects both priorities and spending.

Spending Decisions Are Spiritual Decisions with Dr. Kelly Rush

Show Notes

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