The Legacy Journey

1. God's Ways Lead to Wealth, But It Requires Stewardship.

God had used my financial crash to say to me, “Wake up, stupid! You’re going the wrong way! What you’re doing isn’t in line with Scripture. It isn’t even in line with common sense!”

Biblical principles work. Following God's principles for handling money—getting out of debt, budgeting, saving, investing—leads to building wealth over time. This isn't just theory; it's a proven path seen in countless lives, including the author's own journey from bankruptcy back to wealth. It's about a second chance at success, this time honoring God.

You are a manager. The core shift in perspective is understanding that God is the Owner of everything, and you are merely a manager or steward of the resources He places in your hands. This realization is crucial for handling wealth the right way and forms the foundation of your legacy journey.

The Legacy Journey framework. This journey involves stages: NOW (taking control, basic needs), THEN (future focus, retirement, college), US (family legacy, preparing heirs), and THEM (leaving a legacy for others, radical generosity). Progressing through these stages is a natural outcome of diligent stewardship.

2. Wealth Isn't Evil; The Love of Money Is the Root of Evil.

First Timothy 6:10 does not say that money is the root of all evil. It says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (emphasis added).

Money is not evil. A dangerous, heretical lie, dating back to ancient Gnosticism, claims that material things, including money and wealth, are inherently evil. This is unbiblical; the Bible condemns the love of money, which is idolatry, not money itself.

War on success. This false belief fuels a cultural "war on success," vilifying wealthy people regardless of how they earned their money or how much they give. This discourages people from pursuing success, even though many "rich" people (globally, even modest incomes are wealthy) are generous and godly.

Biblical examples. Scripture features many godly, wealthy individuals like Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, and Lydia, whose wealth is never condemned but often shown as a blessing used for good. God gives us riches, and He gives them for us to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).

3. Cultivate a Spirit of Gratitude, Not Pride or Poverty, Towards Wealth.

At its core, the spirit of gratitude says, God, I’m going to manage this wealth and this stuff Your way—because it’s Yours. Thank You for trusting me to manage it for You.

Three spirits of wealth. People typically approach wealth with one of three attitudes:

• Pride: "Money comes from me; I did it." (Like Martha, focused on work over relationship)
• Poverty: "Wealth is evil; others shouldn't have it." (Like Judas, judgmental and often covetous)
• Gratitude: "Wealth is from God and belongs to God." (Like Mary, extravagant in thankfulness)

Gratitude is the right spirit. A spirit of gratitude recognizes God's ownership and provision. It stems from humility, understanding that all blessings come from Him. This attitude leads to faithful management and, paradoxically, often results in being entrusted with more.

Extravagant gratitude. Mary anointing Jesus with expensive perfume (worth about a year's wages) exemplifies extravagant gratitude. It wasn't about giving everything away, but giving her very best out of thankfulness, demonstrating a heart focused on the Giver, not the gift.

4. Contentment is the Most Powerful Financial Principle for "Great Gain".

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Contentment is key. In a materialistic culture, contentment seems impossible, but it is the most powerful financial principle. It's not about lacking ambition, but maintaining a peaceful spirit regardless of circumstances, focusing on gratitude for what you have while still working towards goals.

Attitude over income. Financial success is more about attitude than income. A couple making $40,000 with contentment and good habits can be winning, while a couple making $80,000 without contentment and with debt can be losing significantly. Contentment prevents the endless pursuit of "more."

Defining "enough". The concept of "enough" is personal and between you and God, symbolized by filling your own "chalice" first before the overflow goes to others (Havdalah ceremony). No one else has the right to judge the size of your cup; it's based on your unique circumstances and God's guidance.

5. Your Work Matters to God and is Key to Building Wealth.

If God gives us the ability to produce wealth through hard work, then we have to treat that like a special gift from our Father.

Work is biblical. The Bible consistently links hard work (diligence) with prosperity and warns against laziness, which leads to poverty. Work is not just a means to an end; it's a gift from God and a way we provide for our families.

Work is creative. Man is most in God's image when creating. Finding purpose and excitement in your work, seeing it as creating something new, aligns with God's creative nature and can be deeply fulfilling.

Activity leads to purpose. Don't wait to find your perfect "purpose" before working. Get active, do something productive, and your purpose will often find you. Small actions today can lead to enormous results later (Butterfly Effect).

6. Success and Legacy Start in Your Heart and Mind (Goals & Belief).

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Mindset is foundational. Everything valuable in life, including financial success and legacy building, starts in your heart and mind. Your thoughts directly influence your results; you become what you think about.

Set worthy goals. Success is defined as "the progressive realization of a worthy ideal" or goal. Setting specific, measurable, time-limited goals that are your own and writing them down is crucial for turning dreams into reality and driving progress.

The Wheel of Life. A balanced life involves setting goals in multiple key areas: Career, Intellectual, Financial, Social, Physical, Spiritual, and Family. While you can't perfectly balance them daily, intentionality in each area over time prevents stagnation and ensures holistic growth.

7. Safeguard Your Legacy by Protecting Your Key Relationships.

Your wealth has the power to bless your family or completely tear it apart.

Wealth is dangerous. While not evil, wealth is powerful and can be dangerous, magnifying existing character traits and relationship dynamics. Safeguarding your legacy means actively protecting your relationships from the potential negative impacts of wealth.

Four key areas. Vigilance is needed in:

• Personal life (individual integrity, recognizing God's ownership)
• Marriage (teamwork, communication, mutual submission)
• Children (teaching stewardship, preparing them for responsibility)
• Other relationships (extended family, friends, setting boundaries)

Three lenses. View these areas through:

• Ownership: Constantly reminding yourself and others that God owns it all.
• Magnification: Recognizing that money makes you more of what you already are.
• Community: Surrounding yourself with wise, supportive people (peers and long-time friends).

8. Generational Wealth Transfer is Biblical and Requires Preparing Heirs.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.

Biblical mandate. Proverbs 13:22 clearly states the expectation for a good person to leave an inheritance for future generations. This is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, seen in families like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Responsibility transfer. Generational wealth isn't about making kids lazy; it's about passing along the responsibility of managing God's resources for His glory. Each generation builds on the foundation laid by the previous one, increasing the capacity for good.

Raise great adults. Focus on raising children with the character, wisdom, and understanding of God's ownership necessary to handle wealth responsibly. This involves teaching, modeling, and allowing them room to learn and even fail while still under your guidance.

9. Generosity is an Expectation and the Antidote to Selfishness.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Made to be givers. As image-bearers of a generous God, we are inherently designed to be givers. Giving is a core character quality of Christ-followers and is essential for a healthy perspective on wealth.

Giving is expected. Giving, starting with the tithe (10% of income), is a biblical expectation. It's not because God needs the money, but because the act of giving changes us, breaking the grip of selfishness and fear.

Giving unlocks potential. Generous givers experience "great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6) and unlock their full potential. Giving keeps money flowing through you, preventing hoarding and fostering a spirit of abundance and joy.

10. Wise Giving is Your Biggest Investment in God's Kingdom.

But Dave, when you give, you’re investing in the kingdom of God. That’s the biggest investment you’ll ever make! Why aren’t you doing due diligence with that?

Giving is an investment. Treat your giving as an investment in God's kingdom. This requires doing due diligence on ministries and causes, ensuring they align with your values and manage resources effectively.

Give to your passions. Focus your giving on areas that align with your God-given passions and values. It's okay to say no to many good causes to go deep with a few, maximizing your impact.

Don't give away the goose. While radical generosity is key, don't give away all your wealth prematurely if it means killing the "golden goose" that can produce ongoing resources for future giving and generational blessing. God calls specific people to give everything, but it's not the typical model.

11. Practical Estate Planning is Crucial for a Lasting Legacy.

Humanity has a 100 percent mortality rate.

Plan for the inevitable. Everyone will die, and having a clear estate plan is a crucial act of love and stewardship to prevent chaos and conflict for your family during grief. This includes having a will for anyone over 18.

Key estate documents. Essential components include:

• Will (state-specific, updated regularly)
• Healthcare Power of Attorney (designates decision-maker)
• Living Will (outlines end-of-life wishes)
• Child Guardianship (crucial for minors)

Avoid drama. Communicate your wishes to your family before your death to prevent surprises and conflict. Honesty now saves heartache later.

12. Simple, Long-Term Investing Builds Wealth for Your Legacy.

The Pinnacle Point is the place when your savings and investments—after years and years of dedication and hard work—make more money for you in a year than you make for yourself.

Keep investing simple. Don't overcomplicate investing. The "Keep It Simple, Stupid" (KISS) strategy works best. Avoid high-risk, get-rich-quick schemes and focus on proven, long-term approaches.

Diversification is key. Spread your investments across different areas ("don't put all your eggs in one basket") to lower risk. This is a biblical principle (Ecclesiastes 11:2).

Recommended investments. For long-term wealth building (Baby Step 4 and beyond), focus on:

• Growth stock mutual funds (diversified, managed professionally)
• Real estate (long-term, non-liquid asset)
• Retirement plans (401k, Roth IRA) are primary vehicles
• Avoid single stocks, bonds (for growth), CDs, day trading

Last updated: June 12, 2025