The 5 Pillars of Financial Discipleship with Brian Holtz

Pillar Three: Choice

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus tells us we cannot serve both God and money. Every financial decision—whether saving, giving, or spending—reveals who we serve. Choosing God requires aligning daily habits with His Word, even when it feels counterintuitive. As Isaiah reminds us, God’s ways are higher and better than ours.

Pillar Four: Multiplication

Discipleship is never meant to stop with us. In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus calls us to multiply what He has entrusted to us. This means sharing what we’ve learned and inviting others into the journey. Financial discipleship involves helping others apply biblical wisdom so that God’s Kingdom continues to grow.

Pillar Five: Eternal Focus

Finally, discipleship means setting our eyes on eternity. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19–21 to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth. But these treasures aren’t material—they’re about our relationship with Christ. Living with an eternal focus keeps us from being distracted by temporary wealth and anchors our hope in Him alone.

How Financial Discipleship Differs

It’s easy to confuse financial discipleship with financial stewardship or freedom. Stewardship may stop at wise resource management, but discipleship goes further—it’s about helping others learn, apply, and multiply biblical truth for God’s glory. True discipleship always leads to transformation, both personally and in community.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• I’m about to receive money from a relative’s trust and want to place it in a high-yield money market account. How can I find a reputable option, especially since I don’t recognize many of the online banks?
• I’m 47 and just starting my career after years as a stay-at-home mom. My employer offers a 403(b), but the 3% match doesn’t kick in until after a year. Should I start contributing now or wait? I’m also still working on paying off debt.
• I’m newly married, expecting our first child, and we’re in the process of house hunting. Should we go through a mortgage broker or a bank for our loan? And can you share advice on budgeting as we start our family?
• I have a Roth portion in my 401(k). When I retire in a few months, can I withdraw that money tax-free?
• I just sold an RV for $40,000 that I bought five years ago for $30,000. The title agency issued me a 1099—what does that mean for my taxes?

Resources Mentioned:

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)
• Compass Financial Ministry
• Financial Discipleship for Families: Intentionally Raising Faithful Children by Brian C. Holtz
• Money and Marriage God's Way by Howard Dayton
• Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU)
• Bankrate.com
• Movement Mortgage
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)
• FaithFi App