Whole Heart Finances With Dr. Shane Enete

FaithFi: Faith & Finance | Jun 5, 2024

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Show Notes

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and anxious about your finances? You're not alone.

For many, money is the number one source of stress. But what if you could transform your relationship with money from one of fear and dread to one of trust and joy? Dr. Shane Enete joins us today to discuss how we can do that.

Dr. Shane Enete is an Associate Professor of Finance at Biola University and the author of the brand new book, “Whole Heart Finances: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Managing Your Money with Joy.”

Addressing the Fear of Financial Commitment

One of the most dangerous questions Christians might ask is, "Should I give away all of my money?" This question stems from a hidden presumption that Jesus disapproves of us having money. However, Jesus lived a physical life, requiring financial resources, and he merged the physical and spiritual worlds. Therefore, Jesus does not despise our need for financial planning. Understanding this can alleviate much of the fear associated with money management.

When we separate Christ from our finances, we experience anxiety and alienation. By bringing our financial worries to God, we can grow in our relationship with Him and find comfort in His provision.

Practical Exercises for Joyful Money Management

At the end of each chapter in his book, Shane suggests Whole Heart exercises to help readers experience joy in managing money. One such exercise is creating a financial gratitude journal. You can transform a mundane task into a formative gratitude practice by tracking your expenses and recognizing God's provision.

Another exercise involves building an "elder years reservoir" for retirement. This concept focuses on sustaining generosity throughout life rather than merely accumulating wealth. By meditating on the amount needed to maintain a generous flow of resources, you can align your financial planning with your values.

Maximizing Generosity

Rather than asking, "How much can I save?" ask, "How much can I give?" This mindset shift aligns with the biblical principle of generosity and helps Christians manage their resources with a heart transformed by Christ.

Transforming your relationship with money requires integrating your faith into your financial decisions. By trusting Jesus, practicing gratitude, and prioritizing generosity, you can move from anxiety to joy in your financial journey.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

What are the tax implications for my children, who have received an inherited small farm and house in their name since the 1990s? They did not have control over it until recently, when their father passed away. I wanted to know if they would have to pay capital gains or inheritance taxes now that they have complete control over the property.
I recently transitioned from being an employee getting paid hourly to being an independent contractor on a 1099. I wanted to know if taking on more responsibility as a self-employed person was digging myself into a hole from a tax perspective or if there could be benefits. I also asked about keeping track of my miles for tax deductions and whether I could claim detention time spent waiting at locations as a deduction since I'm not paid for that time.

Resources Mentioned:

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