SeedTime with Bob and Linda Lotich

>>> First, grab the guide I told you about in this episode: How to become a millionaire even on an average salary A few years ago we sold off some Tesla stock to pay off our second house. If you run the math on what that stock would be worth now, the result is honestly brutal. But I felt the Lord tell me clearly to do it. And looking back, I think I see exactly why He said what He said. In this episode Linda and I walk through five biblical investing secrets most Christians have completely missed: the verse Solomon wrote down 3,000 years before a man named Harry Markowitz won a Nobel Prize for the same idea, why God rebuked a servant in Matthew 25 for playing it too safe, the Bible verse that describes Warren Buffett's entire patient-compounding strategy, the move every wealth advisor still preaches that came straight from Joseph in Genesis 41, and the generational vision in Proverbs that reframes a lot of what most Americans get wrong about money and family. If you enjoyed this, we'd love to send you a free copy of our book — you just cover shipping. It has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Grab it at seedtime.com/free. WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE Here's a little of what we cover in this episode: Why God rebuked a servant in the Bible for NOT investing (and most Christians have missed it) The investing principle Solomon wrote down 3,000 years before Wall Street figured it out Why "boring" is the actual investing strategy (and the lottery winner stat that proves it) The Bible verse that describes Warren Buffett's entire investing strategy The Joseph blueprint that every wealth advisor still preaches today The "vitamin K on day 8" principle that shows how specific God's instructions really are The Tesla stock decision Bob can't undo (and why he is at peace with it anyway) Why generational wealth without character is dangerous (and how to do it the other way) BIBLE VERSES MENTIONED Matthew 25 (Parable of the Talents) Luke 19:23 Ecclesiastes 11:2 Proverbs 13:11 Genesis 41 (Joseph and the seven years) Proverbs 13:22 RESOURCES MENTIONED 10x Investing (use code PODCAST for a discount) Grab the guide I told you about in this episode: (How to become a millionaire even on an average salary) DISCLAIMER Obligatory legal disclaimer: I'm a financial educator, not your financial advisor, investment advisor, tax pro, or lawyer. This channel is for general education, not personalized advice, and nothing here should be taken as a recommendation to buy, sell, or use any specific investment, account, or financial product. I'm just sharing what I'm doing, what I'm learning, and what I find interesting. Markets can be humbling. Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money, and my results are personal, may not be typical, and are not guaranteed. Do your own research, use wisdom, and talk with a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Some links are to our resources and some are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That helps keep the lights on around here, so thanks for the support.

The first time I ever heard the word tithing, I watched a guest preacher publicly shame two guys at the altar of a small Florida church for not doing it consistently. They walked back to their seats with their heads down. I never forgot it. Linda has a different shame story — quiet, private, ten years long, all over a single tithe she felt led to give to friends going on a mission trip instead of her local church. Two completely different shame stories, same root system. Both deadly to generosity. In this episode, we finally do the conversation we've sidestepped for almost two decades. We get into the difference between condemnation and conviction, why we treat tithing the same way we treat Sabbath, and the moment we corrected our giving and got a raise the very next day that exactly covered the gap. This is not a shame episode. It's not a license episode either. It's where we've actually landed. And If you enjoyed this, we'd love to send you a free copy of our book — you just cover shipping. It has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Grab it at seedtime.com/free. WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE Here's a little of what we cover in this episode: The altar-shaming Bob watched as a brand-new Christian (and what it did to his view of giving) The 10-year guilt cycle Linda carried over a single tithe she gave to the "wrong" place Why condemnation comes from the enemy and conviction comes from God (and how to tell which is which) The Sabbath analogy that finally helped us land somewhere honest Why both shame and license are wrong (and what 2 Corinthians 9:7 actually says) Where to start if 10% feels impossible right now BIBLE VERSES MENTIONED Matthew 7 (referenced — "if your eye causes you to sin") Genesis 14 (Abraham and Melchizedek, referenced) Genesis 22 (Abraham, "God will provide" / Jehovah Jireh) 2 Corinthians 8-9 (referenced as a giving framework) 2 Corinthians 9:7 Galatians 3:13 (referenced — "redeemed from the curse of the law") John 8 (the woman caught in adultery, referenced) Luke 19 (Zacchaeus, referenced) Hebrews (Jesus as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, referenced) RESOURCES MENTIONED True Financial Freedom (church curriculum) → seedtime.com/true DISCLAIMER Obligatory legal disclaimer: I'm a financial educator, not your financial advisor, investment advisor, tax pro, or lawyer. This channel is for general education, not personalized advice, and nothing here should be taken as a recommendation to buy, sell, or use any specific investment, account, or financial product. I'm just sharing what I'm doing, what I'm learning, and what I find interesting. Markets can be humbling. Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money, and my results are personal, may not be typical, and are not guaranteed. Do your own research, use wisdom, and talk with a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Some links are to our resources and some are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That helps keep the lights on around here, so thanks for the support.

Matt Chandler has been in the room with actual billionaires on multiple occasions — and the way he describes what happens to people who have everything almost everyone else is chasing isn't what most of us would expect. He told us he won't even let some of them bless him. And after 23 years pastoring one of the most affluent suburbs in America, he's seen exactly what the chase actually does to families. In this conversation, we get into a question Matt says nobody has asked him: what he's actually watched wealth do to people up close. We talk about the upgrade cycle most Christian families never name (and the bigger house Matt and Lauren refused to buy because of it), why the finish line always moves no matter how much you make, the diagnostic he gives for whether money is serving you or you're serving it, and what bad stewardship really does to the peace in your home. And for more rich teaching on how to become more like Jesus check out his new book Becoming Like Jesus - WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE Here's a little of what we cover in this episode: What Matt has watched wealth do to families over 23 years in Dallas The room full of billionaires moment most pastors never talk about The bigger house Matt and Lauren almost bought (and the math that decided it) "The finish line always moves" — the trap most Christians never name The diagnostic Matt uses to spot whether money is serving you What bad stewardship actually does to the peace in a home How Matt and Lauren built radical generosity into their budget when he made $12,000 a year Why budgeting is a spiritual discipline, not a numbers nerd thing BIBLE VERSES MENTIONED 1 Corinthians 16:2 RESOURCES MENTIONED Matt Chandler's Book: Becoming Like Jesus DISCLAIMER Obligatory legal disclaimer: I'm a financial educator, not your financial advisor, investment advisor, tax pro, or lawyer. This channel is for general education, not personalized advice, and nothing here should be taken as a recommendation to buy, sell, or use any specific investment, account, or financial product. I'm just sharing what I'm doing, what I'm learning, and what I find interesting. Markets can be humbling. Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money, and my results are personal, may not be typical, and are not guaranteed. Do your own research, use wisdom, and talk with a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Some links are to our resources and some are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That helps keep the lights on around here, so thanks for the support.

37% of people making $250,000 a year are living paycheck to paycheck right now. Which means the thing keeping most of us stuck financially has almost nothing to do with how much we make. Linda and I have coached people pulling in $250k who are dead broke. We've watched a $20,000 raise get absorbed by lifestyle inside six months and leave them exactly where they started. The problem isn't income. The problem is that most of us are working hard on the wrong math problem. In this episode we walk through the four stages of money (surviving, stable, secure, and surplus) and the one mistake almost everybody makes when they try to jump from one stage to the next. We get into why "boring" is the actual investing strategy, why we wish we wouldn't have taken the raise, the bank-manager story that explains why the system is rigged against people in stage one, and the moment we finally figured out that the move that got us from stage one to stage two was the exact same move keeping us stuck in stage two for years. If you enjoyed this, we'd love to send you a free copy of our book. You just cover shipping. It has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Grab it at seedtime.com/free. WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE Here's a little of what we cover in this episode: The stat that proves your financial stage has almost nothing to do with your income The 4 stages of money and how to know which one you're actually in The one mistake almost everybody makes trying to jump from one stage to the next Why a $20k raise can leave you with the same $0 left at the end of the month The bank manager story that exposes how the system is rigged against people in stage one Why "boring" is actually the right investing strategy at stage three The Elon-Musk-doesn't-mow-his-own-lawn principle most people get backwards Why willpower-based budgeting always fails (and what to do instead) BIBLE VERSES MENTIONED Matthew 14:13-21 (referenced. The five loaves and two fish. "You bring it to me and I'll multiply it.") RESOURCES MENTIONED Mission-Driven Millionaire cohort Simple Money, Rich Life (the book) Free book offer DISCLAIMER Obligatory legal disclaimer: I'm a financial educator, not your financial advisor, investment advisor, tax pro, or lawyer. This channel is for general education, not personalized advice, and nothing here should be taken as a recommendation to buy, sell, or use any specific investment, account, or financial product. I'm just sharing what I'm doing, what I'm learning, and what I find interesting. Markets can be humbling. Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money, and my results are personal, may not be typical, and are not guaranteed. Do your own research, use wisdom, and talk with a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Some links are to our resources and some are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That helps keep the lights on around here, so thanks for the support.

What if obedience doesn't lead to the breakthrough you expected? Andy and Serena Ryan did "the right things." They took a biblical money course. They committed to tithing. They tried to steward their finances faithfully. And then everything fell apart. They lost income. Fell behind on rent. Needed food pantries and church assistance. And eventually—after months of praying for a miracle—they packed up their family and moved into an RV in someone else's backyard. This episode isn't a prosperity story. It's a surrender story. In one of the most vulnerable conversations we've ever had on the podcast, Andy and Serena share how their financial collapse became the very thing God used to reshape their hearts, heal their marriage, humble their pride, and prepare them to steward money in a way they never could before. Their turnaround didn't come from a check in the mail. It came when they stopped clinging to how they thought life had to go—and released it to God. In this episode, we talk about: Why radical generosity without clarity can still lead to chaos The hidden danger of "YOLO money" and living paycheck-to-paycheck—even with faith What it feels like to receive help when you've always been the helper The difference between humility and humiliation How to discern God's voice when everyone around you is saying something different Why surrender often comes before provision—not after How living with less brought more joy, peace, and community than they'd ever known What changed when they finally stopped fighting God's plan and trusted His timing Andy and Serena also share how God eventually restored stability—not instantly, not painlessly, but faithfully—and how they're now paying off debt, rebuilding their credit, and stewarding money with a completely new mindset. If you're walking through financial stress, uncertainty, or a season that doesn't look anything like what you prayed for, this conversation will remind you: rock bottom is not the end of your story. "Sometimes the things we look to for hope are the very things we need to release to God." Scripture referenced (NLT): "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones…" — Luke 16:10 "That is why we never give up… our present troubles are small and won't last very long." — 2 Corinthians 4:16–17 This episode is for encouragement and education—not individualized financial advice. Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/JIdhLJ68Eoo)! If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

In this episode, Bob and Linda unpack spiritual habits found in Scripture that quietly shape financial outcomes—habits that have nothing to do with spreadsheets or hustle culture, but everything to do with becoming the kind of person money can be trusted with. These aren't the usual "Christian money tips." They're deeper. And once you see them, you can't unsee them. 🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode Bob and Linda walk through 7 overlooked spiritual disciplines that directly affect how we earn, spend, save, and steward money: Why fasting trains your "no muscle"—and why self-control matters more than budgeting How integrity in the small things (the ones no one sees) protects your finances long-term The quiet power of choosing the right friends—and how the wrong voices shape your future Why wasting time eventually leads to wasting money (Ephesians 5:16) How rest, not grinding, invites God's provision (and why Chick-fil-A is a case study) Why gratitude shifts you from scarcity to abundance (1 Thessalonians 5:18) The biblical formula for prosperity and success most people skip (Joshua 1:8) Along the way, they share personal stories—from fasting and spending fasts, to integrity decisions that cost them in the moment but paid off long-term—and explain why God's math often looks different than ours. 📖 Scriptures Referenced (NLT) Matthew 6 2 Corinthians 9 Proverbs 13:20 Ephesians 5:16 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Joshua 1:8 📣 Share This Episode Know someone who's frustrated with their finances and feels stuck? Send them this episode—it might reframe everything. Educational content only. This episode is not individualized financial advice. Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/lcpak8giDn4)! If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

Over the last few weeks, there's been so much talk about the Charlie Kirk tragedy. But as I've listened to all the commentary, I realized—no one's talking about this. We didn't want to make another video about what happened. We wanted to talk about what Jesus actually modeled when something unthinkable happens… and how that applies to us right now. This episode honestly challenged both of us deeply. It's one of those conversations where you feel the tension between what feels fair… and what faith actually calls us to do. We're not trying to debate headlines. We're just asking—what does it look like to follow Jesus when it really costs something? Episode Takeaway: It's easy to pray for victims. It's supernatural to pray for the ones who caused the pain. But that's exactly what Jesus modeled—and when we do, we invite heaven into places the world wants to keep dark. Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel! (https://youtu.be/-wbON8CU8gU) BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime). If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books."

Money advice is everywhere. But not all of it sticks. In this episode, Linda and I unpack seven pieces of financial wisdom a friend of mine shared that literally changed his life. Some came from mentors, some from experience, some from mistakes—but all of them can save you years of stress and struggle. By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with practical steps and timeless wisdom to reframe how you see money—so you can stop stressing and start stewarding. Resources & Mentions: Joshua Becker's blog: https://www.becomingminimalist.com The Real Money Method course: https://seedtime.com/rmm Mission Driven Millionaire program (for students): https://seedtime.com/mission-driven-millionaire 👉 Now it's your turn: what's the best piece of financial advice you've ever received? Drop it in the comments—we'd love to hear! Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/KpOeTnM25fg)! BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime). If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.