The 5 Pillars of Financial Discipleship with Brian Holtz

"Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours." - 1 Chronicles 29:11If God owns it all, what does that mean for the way we manage money? Brian Holtz is here to unpack the Five Pillars of Financial Discipleship—principles that, when embraced by families, bring freedom and joy to their finances.Brian Holtz is the CEO of Compass Financial Ministry and the author of Financial Discipleship for Families: Intentionally Raising Faithful Children.More Than Money ManagementWhen it comes to managing money as followers of Christ, the Bible calls us to more than financial freedom or peace of mind. It calls us to financial discipleship—a life of stewardship, surrender, and multiplication for God’s Kingdom. Here are five key pillars that shape this journey.Pillar One: OwnershipEverything begins with recognizing who truly owns it all. Scripture reminds us in Psalm 24:1, Haggai 2:8, and 1 Chronicles 29:11 that God is the Creator and ultimate Owner of everything. Our role is not ownership but stewardship. This mindset shift—from “mine” to “His”—brings both relief and challenge. It’s freeing to know the responsibility doesn’t all rest on us, but humbling to realize our lives and resources are not ultimately ours to control.Pillar Two: SurrenderAcknowledging God’s ownership requires surrender. Luke 14:33 makes this clear: discipleship means yielding everything back to God, not just intellectually but in our hearts. This surrender extends beyond giving—it includes how we spend, save, and plan. Trusting God’s plan over our own is an act of daily obedience.Pillar Three: ChoiceIn 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: MultiplicationDiscipleship 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 FocusFinally, 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 DiffersIt’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.Compass Financial Ministry exists to equip believers to live this way. Through resources, training, and community, they help people break free from the love of money and serve God more fully. Financial discipleship is really about helping others learn, apply, and multiply everything for God’s glory, rather than for our own. To learn more, visit CompassFinancialMinistry.org.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 MinistryFinancial Discipleship for Families: Intentionally Raising Faithful Children by Brian C. HoltzMoney and Marriage God's Way by Howard DaytonChristian Community Credit Union (CCCU)Bankrate.comMovement MortgageWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.