LifeTalk Podcast
LifeTalk is the official podcast of LifeHouse Church MOT. Our heart for this podcast is to help our church grow and to go deeper here at LifeHouse. We’ll be interviewing staff members & hearing their testimonies. We’ll be discussing various topics such as parenting, marriage, day-to-day functions of the ministry and so much more from a biblical perspective. Our goal is to help equip our church to glorify JESUS in every area of life.
LifeTalk Podcast
God's Plan for Your Money Goes Beyond Retirement
Money talks—but what is it saying about your heart? In this eye-opening episode of Life Talk podcast, Nate sits down with Jonathan Bush, co-leader of LifeHouse Church's financial counseling ministry, to unpack what biblical investing truly means beyond portfolios and retirement accounts.
Jonathan shares his personal journey from receiving his first credit card as an Air Force lieutenant to discovering financial freedom that allowed him to transition from military service to teaching aviation. Through vulnerable stories and practical wisdom, he reveals how financial choices reflect our deepest values and either enable or restrict our ability to follow God's calling.
"It's not that we need more money," Jonathan explains, "it's that we need to be better with the money we've got." This powerful perspective shifts the conversation from acquisition to stewardship—challenging listeners to examine whether their financial habits align with Scripture or cultural expectations. The hosts tackle common misconceptions about debt, retirement, and financial success, offering a refreshingly countercultural view grounded in biblical principles.
New episodes every Monday
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Intro music by Joey Blair
What's up Life Talk family. Welcome back to the Life Talk podcast. This is Nate coming to you today and excited to be still continuing through the month of September. Our theme this month is we Invest, so investing. You heard last week from Jason Kreidler for those who are part of our Lifehouse campus here in Middletown and Townsend, odessa. He brought the word to us and really talking about the importance of investing. And so today, as we continue with that theme, I have a super special guest. We only bring special special people on the podcast, but I have my good friend and brother, jonathan Bush. Man, how's it going today?
Speaker 2:Well, good morning, thank you. It's a privilege to be on today.
Speaker 1:I'm glad you see it that way. We like to think it's a privilege, right? But so, for those who don't know, jonathan Bush is a very faithful part of LifeHouse. He and I both co-lead our financial piece financial counseling ministry here at LifeHouse. Some may not know we even had that, but Jonathan has a real heart and lots of knowledge when it comes to the finance, and so, since we are WeInvest, we thought it'd be a great idea to really focus an episode on finances like investing in the sense of what that looks like biblically, not just, as Jason said, stock markets and IRAs. That's a component of it, but what does it really mean biblically? But before we get all the way to that, jonathan, maybe you can just share a little bit about who Jonathan is, tell us a little bit about yourself and your walk, and just help the audience get to know you a little bit. Absolutely Well, thanks.
Speaker 2:Nate, yeah, I was just telling you know, when I share my testimony. A lot of times for me I was fortunate. I grew up in a Christian home with a strong mother and father who both shared Christ with me at an early age mother and father who both shared Christ with me at an early age and so kind of like some of our kids that have grown up from the beginning sharing God and who Jesus was, I knew from when I was at five my mom sat me down and we were at church. We were watching this end times apocalyptic video. I really didn't understand it, but what she said was is essentially, and what I understood was that we all were condemned and we needed Christ was salvation, and so made sense to me. That's, you know, that's the beauty of the gospel, it's, it's very simple. And so I understood that and accepted that. And then from there growing up, obviously, obviously you know, we got the process of sanctification. There's a lot of uh sin we still have to deal with in our lives. Uh, but in high school I uh really is when that relationship really kind of took off with me as Christ. Um, I, I, uh was very intentional at that point. Um, I had a, um, very intentional at that point. I had a ski retreat, that high school ski retreat, with another church and it was where God just became really real to me. That relationship wasn't just the knowledge of and that's in my head, but my heart knowledge, the desire to do and follow Christ, obviously when you leave for college.
Speaker 2:I was fortunate enough to go into the Air Force. I got selected to go in the Air Force Academy back in 1999. You know us older guys that seems like just yesterday, but obviously you know it was a while ago. But back then, like many young men, you have to kind of learn. What do you believe and is that? Are you going to stick to that? And so you know there were some battles there. I had to, had to work through. But you know, going being commissioned 99 as a Lieutenant in the AirM, uh, which is basically a mobility pilot, is what I ended up getting selected for.
Speaker 2:So I flew a C-130s uh, great opportunity to go all around the world. I'm stationed in Japan. I got to spend some time in Germany, um, I obviously back in the States. I was in Texas, florida, uh, but time I always tried to connect into a church. So I got a lot of opportunities to see a lot of different churches, but also during that time I also met in. Japan was where I met Christine, my wife, and so we over the years. Now we got married back in 2004. And Elijah was born our oldest back in 2010. We had Hannah a few years later and then, most recent, ezra, who's now going to be eight this year, which is just crazy.
Speaker 1:Like you say time flying.
Speaker 2:Yeah, about two years ago or just over two years ago, I guess, going on three years now, almost Wow. And about two years ago or just over two years ago, I guess, going on three years now, almost wow the time in the Air Force came to a close. I just felt that, you know, I always told my commanders that you know, I'd always wanted an opportunity kind of to continue to grow, to develop, and I just felt kind of like at that point, if I was staying in the Air Force, it was just to collect a paycheck, just to kind of put time in. It really didn't have a purpose of getting somewhere, it was just kind of, you know, hold in a flying world. We'll say, you know, in a holding pattern. So. So at that time we made the decision, and part of it too was for family and you know, kind of looking at the investment and what was Jason kind of talked about to some light is with our time and realizing time is precious. And so really my heart's desire, like here at Lifehouse, has been to be able to maximize the time in my kids, but then the kids here, you know, helping with LSM, um, but then also there's the other aspect is the practical practicality of investing, um, and, and money really is what it is, you know what it gets down to, which, uh, is a very revealing topic yeah, it's not a topic
Speaker 2:most people want to discuss or you know, especially if it's not going well right, um, but um, I was fortunate enough again. Um, a few of you may know Larry Burkett. He was a gentleman that started Crown Financial, okay, kind of before the Dave Ramsey era, if you will. He did pass but he kind of handed that baton. Or you could say Dave Ramsey kind of picked that up baton. Or you could say, uh, dave ramsey kind of picked that up, but under the I guess it was on the radio is really where I heard it was uh, listening to larry the the kind of the biblical principles of managing money, and so, um, I never, or I guess the first uh kind of foray into me being tested with that was my first credit card.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:And that was back in. I just graduated as a lieutenant and the banks basically USA was the bank at the time and there's a few others that came in, you know, pitching the as a lieutenant. Here's your brand new credit card you get. I think it was like $3,000 credit limit or something like that. It's going to help you get all the things you need. And so I did. I.
Speaker 1:I did get one um at the time, even though I knew I was like well, it's not good to borrow, it's kind of what, what I knew but um, and maybe just there you know kind of sharing in your faith story and and all that you know didn't get a lot of financial education or how did you kind of feel you know at that time, biblically, what was your kind of views? Like you say, you're getting to hear these voices, just kind of keeping this tied into our faith walk. You know, we start to really not something we immediately think about and, like you said, it's not something we always want to talk about, but maybe a little bit into like kind of just your thoughts at the time, you know, is that that was starting to impact you?
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, you have culture which tells you, and so culture, with the banks coming in and everything everybody's like, okay, sign me up. And it was just kind of a given that, um, this was another means of, uh, some resources that you could use to get whatever you wanted. Um, uh, if any of you really know me, or one of the things I like hobby wise is computers, and that started, you know, kind of like some guys, like cars, I love building computers, uh, software anything.
Speaker 1:Every time I see you, you get some little new gadget you're working on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, like right now, I got my ipad here and my phone and everything, but always kind of technology is just something I really enjoy. But at the time obviously, um, computers aren't cheap, right. And so, coming out of the military, in the military, we were given back then it was like a 486 desktop computer you know, for for the young guys that's. Uh, it was a big old behemoth thing that you, it was probably like 20 pounds and you know, had a CRT monitor et cetera. But uh, with that that was kind of the the oh well, this credit card, if I had that I could buy, I could upgrade or get something else for for for this hobby, if you will. And um, and I quickly what?
Speaker 2:What I quickly realized is, uh, what Dave Ramsey talks about is about how the borrower is slave to the lender. Because what happened was back then it wasn't as easy to do the payment process because you basically were doing it through the mail and a check, and so my first deployment basically is I had thought that the check had gone through, I guess I had missed the address or something, and I was TDY for like two weeks or so and basically defaulted on that first payment and realized the interest and what I was really paying and the risk associated when you borrow, and so that it was more of a life lesson than just necessarily the teachings. You know, like my probably my parents were most instrumental in the teaching I had with finances. School I really didn't have much but it was just, you know, balancing the money you have and being responsible with what you have.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can. For me, like you say, we kind of have those experiences that maybe wake us up a little bit. And for me, like you mentioned, the parents of have those experiences that maybe wake us up a little bit. And for me, like you mentioned, to parents, for me it was a little bit the opposite. My stepdad, who I love to death. He was a huge figure in my life but one thing I learned not to do was run up credit cards Like he almost again. It was second marriage after my parents divorced and I mean he would run up credit card bills multiple times and mom would have to bail him out and it would cause all kinds of stress.
Speaker 1:You know, in the marriage. I know we could spend time on the financial aspects just in marriage how that impacts, you know, for those who are in married life, if you're not on the same page. But, and like you said, we don't get a lot of education in our society, society, frankly, you mentioned the word culture, which is super important and part of our we invest. You know journey is how we're to be different from our culture, that our culture is going to tell us things that aren't biblical and I think, when it comes to money, we're getting a lot of that. So maybe you can kind of talk a little bit more how that worked out. You know your heart for, for you know kind of doing that in your own life and then segue a little bit how you've come to want to teach that to others here at life house yeah, so um, like nate was saying um, and or like you were saying, I guess, like we're teaching class for those who don't know, we uh, we co-teach and we're talking like we're uh teaching class you.
Speaker 2:I guess the principles was founded upon kind of in the class itself. And so when in 2004, when Christy and I were getting married, one of the things not just the marriage counseling we also went through a financial peace class together. I had kind of done one on my own. I'd kind of hit or miss a little bit. I didn't quite make everything, but so we were both. You know, that was when we both were on the same page working on it.
Speaker 2:And uh, and after the class, I just kind of realized as well, this is a very practical way and and it also, um, you know, like the Bible says that, you know, money itself isn't evil, but it reveals the heart, and how we use money or whatnot, really shows and enables us more of what our heart is right to to help others, be generous with what you can, to, uh, you know, impact the world for for christ, then then that is what that will enable you to do. But vice versa, if you're just doing it to, you know, selfishly, build up your own wealth, own net worth, etc. Um, then that, that, that you know the darkness.
Speaker 1:You know like we're learning this last. You know jason was. Know the darkness.
Speaker 2:You know, like we're learning this last, you know Jason was pointing out the darkness is great.
Speaker 1:I think, like you say and we teach this in class, you know, if you come to our class we'll share a little bit more at the end. On that, we'd love to have people maybe hear this feel the need. We do a nine week course based on already mentioned Dave Ramsey. But one of the things we teach is money's not going to solve your problems.
Speaker 1:It's going to make you more of who you are. It's going to reveal idols in your life or it's going to reveal sin. You know a lot of the. You know a lot of lottery winners. A lot of professional athletes go broke, you know, very quickly because their heart's not right, you know. So your heart has to be able to handle that money, and in a faithful way. And you know, if you you get lots of money dumped on you then and you're an angry person, it'll probably just make you angrier, you know. And if you're a good person, it'll be something used to bless others. You know, if your heart's in the right place, like we talked about you mentioned Jason, it's the eye. In Matthew six, jesus talking about the eye being lighter darkness. You know.
Speaker 1:So how do we do it?
Speaker 1:Why do we do it? And you know I already mentioned debtor being slave to the lender, and when we're in debt, you know that's because we've had a self-centered like you said with the computers kind of thing, like if we're running up debt. I had a big problem with not that I loved muscle cars, but I was terrified of driving an old car and being broken down the side of the road. So I made really dumb decisions where I would buy brand new every time I got to have a brand new car because I want the warranty, and then, as soon as it started to get a little old, I traded in, which we know financially is the dumbest thing you can do because you're losing so much equity. You're financing this. You constantly have car payments just being examples. So I don't know if you have other examples. You know that you would share. But I think what we want especially the audience to hear you know again what we're focused on with investing is that how we manage our money, how we view our money biblically, is super critical.
Speaker 2:I think you know, if you're listening with um, a lot of times it's until you reach that point to realize you got a problem.
Speaker 2:You know like the first step of salvation is to acknowledge that I'm a sinner, Um, like with money, is to realize, wow, maybe the way I'm like where I'm at right now it's not working and um, and you know, again, kind of going back with the financial peace class, when one of the things that's brought up is, you know, being sick and tired of being sick and tired with not having that financial peace. It's not that the money is the peace, but it's that you're utilizing it in a way that honors God and that allows for the way God intended money to be used, which is for his kingdom, to build his kingdom, and the peace is really from Christ. And what he gives.
Speaker 2:But I would say, at least if you are having kind of like, we all acknowledge we're all sinners and so that is a very humbling thing for anybody to realize that I'm saved by grace, through faith. But but when I, when I have that rock, you know of salvation. You know, similarly, when it comes to finances, is is that you know, kind of what we're doing now is trying to help others and share in. You know this time that we can invest if you come. You know kind of what we're doing now is trying to help others and share in. You know this time that we can invest If you come.
Speaker 2:You know to, like the financial peace classes, kind of step out with what that looks like. You know we talk about baby steps. You know the practicality of what needs to be done. We talk about, um, how to put a budget together, um, really, even you know, like for couples, a lot of times it's not the money, it's the communication and it's getting on the same page and being able to have similar goals and understand, okay, this is what we need to do to get there, Because, honestly, it's not that we need more money, it's we need to be better with the money that we got.
Speaker 1:That's right. So more doesn't necessarily mean better. It doesn't mean if anything. I think a really good book that I read it's not necessarily biblical but it had a lot of biblical principles called the psychology of money by Morgan House. You'll definitely recommend that. You know, you have to realize what's enough. You know, and so he's speaking more from a secular standpoint. But biblically, is Christ enough? I think if you know that God, your Redeemer, your salvation, that's enough, you view money totally different, because now I always have enough, I have exactly what I need when I need it and I need to be a faithful. We can bring in the word stewardship. That's definitely something Christ teaches us. We are given, some might be given given one talent, some might be given 10, but maybe kind of we can play that forward to investing. So how do we look at that? You know, financially? How would you say biblically we should view investing when it comes to our finances? You know, if we're kind of building on this, you know, in those ways finances.
Speaker 2:you know, if we're kind of building on this, you know, in those ways, well, yeah, and like uh kind of was brought up this last week that Jason mentioned with investing. You know, I thought it was pretty cool to have that little uh discussion, you know amongst ourselves.
Speaker 1:You know what, what is, what is investing, you know?
Speaker 2:Um and uh. You know I was talking with Christine, my wife. Uh, you know it's um. You know I was talking with Christine, my wife. You know it's. You know time, our resources and our time, essentially, and what we're so what we're talking about is our resources and I think part of that with investing is having an intentional plan and a goal, that end goal of over time. This is why and where we want to end up, Um, you can.
Speaker 2:You know there's a lot of applications when it comes to, like, sports, physical activity. You know um, you know anybody that's had like a goal of um, you know, getting better in a sport or uh, maintaining weight or those types of things. You, you don't just wake up and go, okay, I'm going to be 10 pounds lighter today or I'm going to be able to lift 20 more pounds. You have to. You realize, okay, to get there. This is the work I have to put in, this is what I have to do, um and so it's a process and um, and in that process, uh, so, so the first, the beginning of the process is and kind of what we, you know.
Speaker 2:Again, getting back to the classes you, you have a budget and so the investing is a piece of that. And and looking intentionally out into the future, to say, okay, some of my goals are and then, and then, what does that require? Like for me, just to kind of squirrel trail here uh, is um, I, I know a lot of times, investment, or you look at like wealth management, it's like, oh well, how much money do I need to retire and to to um, to be financially secure, if you will? And for me, that's not my end goal, right? Uh, I, I don't ever plan not to work.
Speaker 2:I think Christ or God, when he created us, he created us to work.
Speaker 2:That doesn't.
Speaker 2:But but what that work looks like is, I think, will change over time, in that you know when, early on, I just needed a job because I needed the resources for to support my family, that type of stuff, because I needed the resources for to support my family, that type of stuff.
Speaker 2:But, as you, part of what I invest in is that my ability. Now that I don't, I don't need just any job or I don't. There's not a a level of income per se, because now I can invest in work that more or less aligns with, you know, the ministry and the work I wanted to do, and so, for instance, like my current job, if I was financially in debt and living paycheck to paycheck, I couldn't do this job that I'm currently doing. But I can, and so you know, I'm, you know and I'm, so I'm blessed to be able to work at. You know, I currently work at Dell State University in the aviation department, and so teaching students how to fly and, um, yeah, so Because you were, like you said, financially responsible over time allows us God to use us in big ways, you know.
Speaker 1:It allows a lot of freedom, a lot of flexibility. We don't use peace for nothing. We have peace because we have been faithful, we have been living within our means what God has provided. We're not trying to get what we want in our time and the reason, like you talk about doing it is so we can invest. So we can invest Maybe it's more time. You mentioned retirement. We talk a lot about that.
Speaker 1:We're kind of, in this culture and society, sort of obsessed with retiring so that we can go sit on a beach somewhere, which really lovingly not biblical, you know like being a Christian is a lifelong walk. It doesn't mean that you have to be working 80 hours a week, blah, blah, blah. But there's a real emphasis when you retire, it's you're retiring from something, but what are you retiring to? And if you have a relationship with the Lord, I would lovingly say, like, what is God calling you to? So for your case, now you get to pour into students. You know it's a next step.
Speaker 1:You know for me it was a blessing being able to step into ministry because of being able to budget and have made good decisions to where I didn't have to keep working a job that I didn't, you know, feel God calling me to any longer just to pay my bills. You know, so, like when we do those things, it allows us to invest, like you said, time, talent, resources and so being faithful. So, you know, what would you kind of counsel people who may be struggling with that, struggling with being in a place where maybe they've made some bad decisions, maybe they want to invest, but they kind of need to turn that around? What would be some of your kind of number one things we would want to share Absolutely?
Speaker 2:yeah, the. I think one of the things most people realize is that time's always a factor, and so, but I would caution you to be careful not to feel, though, that you have to just all of a sudden oh, I got to plus up my 401k or whatnot Because really, you got to first take care of what the issue is, and the issue, if you're in debt, is that you've been spending more than you're making, and so you have to get your spending under control, because you can.
Speaker 2:you know there's a lot of tools or resources out there to try to help, you know, curb that. But if you don't change that problem of overspending, you're going to be right back in the same boat that you're in. It's why people that if they get a bunch of wealth why a lot of times you know the win, the lottery or something like that uh inherit something. If they don't manage well then, uh, then it's going to disappear. And so the first is, uh, making that change and figuring out okay, why is it that you know my family or I am in debt, and then what needs to change? And so, and then being able and that's where like a financial peace class can help it's also good to have, you know, a mentor or someone that can hold you accountable. If you're married, a lot of times, your spouse is a great person to be able to. Together.
Speaker 1:You usually are good balances for each other, although that is also where stress sometimes can crop up, but if you have a sense of humor, he usually puts the spender and the saver together to balance each other out.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep, yeah, it's not uncommon to have a spender and a saver, and um cause you definitely both of those extremes aren't healthy.
Speaker 2:Uh and so that can bring balance there. Um, but once you have that, once you understand and you're you're able to save, and you have and you're able to manage, well, then it's looking at well, what is it? You know, for me I was looking at well, god, what, what is the plan? Five, 10 years from now, because you know, probably I may or may not be in this current job, years from now, because you know, probably I may or may not be in this current job. And so you know there's some of the tactical pieces of that.
Speaker 2:You know we like to say in the class it's like 15% or so of your income. So again, it's not a end number per se, but it's just your routinely setting aside a set percentage. But to go along with that, I would also say, is you can invest now, just with your tithe and your support of opportunities that pop up, so needs that arise in the church and things like that. So it's kind of this dual process that's ongoing, at least when I look at my budget every month is I have, right at the top, is taking out that tithe for the church to be able to minister. Um.
Speaker 2:I have other ministries that we give to as well. That that um, I'm able to support directly, which which is a blessing, and then um, and then set aside some so for to be less relied upon.
Speaker 1:you know the, the job I currently have and um, and so a little more financial you financial when it gets back to that financial freedom and, like we talked about, you can't lay up a lot of treasure in heaven if you haven't been faithful with your finances, your time. We talk about it's more than money. We are focusing on finances in this episode because it is a big thing, it's a big deal and why it's talked about so much in the Bible. But when we are faithful with it, we're able to then use that, we're able to put that forward and really, I'd say a big theme from our conversation is like why, why are we doing this? Why are we laying this aside? And it's to be able to be generous. You know this is the number one. You know we don't want to spoil our class. You know I hope any of you might want to come take it.
Speaker 1:We've had a lot of good classes, a lot of good experiences, but the end goal is to be generous. You know, outrageously generous. And so when you are super faithful, you know you've worked hard, you have money set aside that's earning interest, you know. So you've got all this. But we would, you know, if we wanted to use the cultural, you know economic, like passive income where, like I, don't even have to work, but I've saved money and so I can just give it away. You know like I'm just able to. You know, help people. I'm able to help my church and you know we've talked about our work. Now I've got so much flexibility and peace because I have time, because I don't feel that pressure. So when we are faithful in these ways, when we do order our lives to our wants and finding our satisfaction in Christ, it just makes a huge difference when it comes to our money.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and and that's, I mean, one of the fun classes I think of the nine week course is that last generosity class, and it's, it's just, it's that um, because the most fun you'll have with money I agree with what Dave says, uh is is when you give it away and you're able to enable just um, blessings and and, to some level, that you can tie it in it.
Speaker 2:Usually it'll tie in with hey, I'm doing this because God has blessed me and is allowing to bless you, and so it's just fun to see how God shows up, sometimes in a very practical way, to meet a need that's very in the face, if you will, of whoever currently has that need. And that is what I think, for the church is a strong testimony in general. And so one of the things I'll challenge you is that if you aren't able to do that, you aren't fully realizing what God has called you to do. And it doesn't mean that you have to have a big job. It just means that financial peace all comes down to is managing our resources well and really being satisfied with what we have, Cause I think culturally that's the biggest undercurrent is just, you know, never being satisfied. I have to have the next, whatever.
Speaker 1:Well, jonathan, I know we could talk for we love this stuff If the audience hadn't figured that out. We just want that for other people. We want to see financial peace and we know it makes a huge difference in our homes and our marriages and, like you said, our opportunity as the church to be the church, to be generous, to do what God called us to do. So we would encourage you depending on when you're listening to this, we're recording it in early September, here at Lifehouse Church, we offer financial peace at least twice a year. Jonathan and I both have a huge heart to help those who may be struggling in this area. So, as with many of our ministries, we want you to be walking, as Christ calls us to walk, and be faithful. So be faithfully different. That's our continued theme for the year and so, jonathan, thanks so much for your time today Again for the audience hopefully this was helpful.
Speaker 1:As always, reach out to us, hope to see you in one of our classes and in church too Awesome. Thanks, Nate Yep. Appreciate it, Audience. We'll see you next time. See you later. Thanks for tuning in to the Life Talk podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please be sure to like, comment, subscribe and leave a review so others can find this content as well, and we'll look forward to seeing you next Monday for another great episode.
