What if we told you there’s an investment opportunity out there with a guaranteed 10,000% return — and everybody qualifies? No loading fees, no commissions, no minimum balance required. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not — and it comes straight from the mouth of Jesus himself.
In this episode, Kimberly and John talk through what might be the most overlooked financial principle in the Bible: the heavenly bank account God opens for every single born-again believer. Inspired by a sermon from pastor Lon Solomon, Kimberly walks through the remarkably commercial language the Apostle Paul uses in Philippians 4:17 — words like karpos (profit), plionazomta (abounding interest), and logon (ledger account) — to show us that God’s investment system is more tangible and more generous than anything Wall Street has ever dreamed up.
This isn’t the prosperity gospel. Not even close. This is a biblical investment principle rooted in the condition of our hearts — and the return doesn’t just show up as a check in the mail. It shows up as peace, purpose, joy, wisdom, strength, answered prayers, and yes, sometimes finances too. God knows exactly what we can handle and when we can handle it.
They also talk honestly about what it looks like to bury your gifts — and how that retirement lifestyle of TV, golf, and vacations with no eternal purpose leaves people feeling exactly as empty as you’d expect.
Whether you’re chasing toddlers or you’re retired, whether you’re giving out of abundance or out of poverty like the widow with her two mites — your account is open, your deposits count, and nobody can rob your bank.
Key Takeaways:
Jacob Paul: Welcome to the Truth in Love podcast with your hosts Kimberly Faith and John Mac. The Truth in Love podcast seeks to present God’s timeless truth through the lens of his remarkable love.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah, dad. This is in a world of crazy markets right now. This is kind of a timely podcast about the most incredible investment opportunity in the world.
John McLarty: A good solid investment.
Kimberly Faith: Solid, like
John McLarty: Backed up by the creator of heaven and earth.
Kimberly Faith: 10000%. I mean, not 100%, 10000%. We’re going to talk about that. Of course, we all have our, as we get older, hopefully, we’ve got some 401k or IRA or whatever. A good solid investment in this world system is maybe 5% steady, right? And it was interesting. I was listening to a sermon by one of my favorite preachers, Lon Solomon. I think he’s retired now, but I went to Israel with him and his crew.
John McLarty: Oh, yeah.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. He calls himself a Messianic Jew because he’s Jewish, and he always pokes fun at himself as being Jewish.
John McLarty: And he believes in Jesus.
Kimberly Faith: He believes in Jesus. Yeah. He was actually on the board of the Jews for Jesus. Brilliant guy, though. Very well spoken and just really always enjoy his sermons. But so this podcast kind of stemmed from and I don’t remember the name of the sermon, but I heard it on Spotify from a sermon I heard by him. But he, you know, he made the point that the most incredible investment opportunity in the world is offered by God. And he also made the point, everybody can get it. Everybody can get in on it. He was talking about how we get and I’ve just, my commentary on it was the most we can ever make on our investment is on average is we’re doing really well for making 10%. Right?
John McLarty: True.
Kimberly Faith: And then there’s typically commissions, loading fees, that sort of thing. But God doesn’t have any of that. And we’re going to see the percentage of return that Jesus promises us is so far beyond what we can make in any world market. And we’re also going to see how this investment is not just here and now financial. That’s actually the smallest part of it. That’s actually the least beneficial, the most tenuous because we can’t take it with us.
John McLarty: Right.
Kimberly Faith: You know, the whole point of this devotional though is to basically give us some insight into the investment opportunity that God gives us because I know I was ignorant of this before I started studying God’s word. So the kind of the home base for this podcast comes out of Philippians 4:17. And this is a letter that Paul wrote to the Philippians while he was in jail. And he wasn’t asking for money. He was actually just pointing out to them how excited he was for them because, I didn’t know this, but the Philippian church was the only church that gave Paul money during this time period. Now I don’t, at least it’s recorded. And he was thanking the church for their support, but he wasn’t saying give me some more money because I’m sitting here in jail, come bail me out. He wasn’t saying any of that. He said he was very excited about their eternal investment opportunity. And he writes in Philippians 4:17, Not that I seek the gift.
John McLarty: So he wasn’t asking for more money.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. But I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Isn’t that interesting language?
John McLarty: I’m just amazed at Paul’s heart for the brethren in the churches that he was a part of.
Kimberly Faith: Yes.
John McLarty: He really had their best interests at heart.
Kimberly Faith: He really did. And Paul also, we see throughout his writings, so he’s thanking people. He includes women in very specific ways, which I’m not trying to interject any kind of feminist viewpoint in here, but I think it’s in a culture, which I don’t think is a godly culture, that really denigrated women. I mean, a woman wasn’t even allowed to testify in court because her testimony wasn’t valued. It wasn’t believed to be credible. But Paul really valued all people, not just men, not just leaders, but the poor, the people who had done, like Mark, when Mark was kind of I don’t remember what Mark did, but it was something Paul got mad at Mark about. Do you remember what I’m talking about?
John McLarty: I do. Yeah.
Kimberly Faith: He really
John McLarty: They separated.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. They separated. They had the spat.
John McLarty: I think Paul went with Silas and Mark went with Barnabas.
Kimberly Faith: Maybe so. Yeah. So, Paul writes this letter to the Philippians, and he uses this word, the Greek word for fruit is karpos, which in a financial context means a profit or return that comes from an investment. And he pairs it with another word, I’m going to say it wrong, plionazomta, which means increasing or abounding.
John McLarty: We’ll call that good.
Kimberly Faith: Like interests, right? And then he uses the phrase to your account, which is translated from the Greek eis logon hymon, and logon is the word for account or ledger in bookkeeping.
John McLarty: Interesting.
Kimberly Faith: Very commercial terms he’s using from whatever their money markets look like.
John McLarty: Fruit abounding to your account.
Kimberly Faith: Right, right. But the idea is
John McLarty: So the idea is a very real thing.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. Tangible.
John McLarty: Not just this pie in the sky.
Kimberly Faith: Exactly.
John McLarty: You know, maybe the Lord will, you know,
Kimberly Faith: Reward you
John McLarty: Give blessings or something
Kimberly Faith: You’ll give an extra big cloud in heaven or something. Yeah. No, the idea is that the interest will excessively accrue to their bank account. And so I think it was really very encouraging to me as a child of God to understand, you know, like in the last podcast, we talked about God being fair. Right? And we talked about the only one that God is unfair to is himself.
Because not only does he give us eternal life, but then he gives all these opportunities to actually have things on top of that, good things, be blessed with the fruit of the spirit and eternal rewards. Well, Paul kind of, I mean, really just puts it out there that we can, when we passionately serve the Lord, God has so much for us and it does include things here on earth. It does include blessing our finances. And again, we always tell people we don’t preach the prosperity gospel. This is not about the prosperity gospel. This is about our heart and about what we want to do with what God gives us.
John McLarty: Yeah. Well, the parable about the sower and the sower that’s sowing seed for Christ, that God keeps the basket replenished.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. That’s right.
John McLarty: So, if you’re doing God’s work, he’s going to take care of you.
Kimberly Faith: Right. And that’s 100% true. So, let’s just kind of go through some of these points. And again, I very unashamedly say these points came directly from Lon Solomon’s sermon with my commentary and God’s wisdom, hopefully, a lot of God’s wisdom and less of my commentary. But the first point is that on the day we were born again, God opened a heavenly bank account for us. I thought that is a great illustration. That’s a great way we understand bank accounts. Right? And anytime we use any resource that we have, money, our time, anything that we have with a motivation to bring glory to God and not ourselves, we’re making a deposit. That’s just an amazing thought.
John McLarty: And that God’s keeping yeah, this idea that it’s kind of a ledger, that it’s almost the fruit abounds to our account. Out of Philippians 4:17.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. And what’s so interesting, I didn’t think about this till just now when you were talking, but this is another one of those proofs that our good works are not for salvation. God doesn’t open a bank account for people who don’t belong to him.
John McLarty: You don’t earn your salvation.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right.
John McLarty: But by grace through faith.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah.
John McLarty: But you know, you earn clearly, and we’ve covered this in the past podcasts, the crowns. And we’ll touch here in a second on the judgment seat of Christ. But in this life and the life to come, there are rewards. And some of those are crowns.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. And some of those are right now. You know?
John McLarty: Yeah.
Kimberly Faith: You know, Jesus told us not in Matthew 6:19-21, don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and dust destroys and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor dust destroys and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For you’re where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And, you know, when
John McLarty: And that’s really profound when you truly understand we’re saved by grace through faith, not of works. So this is not talking about earning salvation.
Kimberly Faith: Right. Right.
John McLarty: These treasures, these heavenly treasures. They’re not talking about salvation.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right.
John McLarty: It’s talking about, in addition to, or as part of your salvation, kind of your benefit package.
Kimberly Faith: Right. Exactly. Your benefit package. So, we’ve talked about the judgment seat of Christ. Dad, would you read, what are those verses about the judgment seat of Christ?
John McLarty: Yeah. It’s in First Corinthians Chapter Three. And I’ll just read this whole thing. It goes pretty quick. But it’s saying three verse 11, for other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So there’s no other foundation for this account.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: You know, to open the account
Kimberly Faith: We have to be in Christ.
John McLarty: You have to be in Christ.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: That’s the foundation. But, verse 12, If any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stone, or wood, hay, and stubble, every man’s work shall be made manifest. For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work for what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved yet as by fire.
Kimberly Faith: That’s incredible.
John McLarty: So the soul is not in balance here. He himself shall be saved, but so by as by fire.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: So that saved soul that, you know, is still in heaven.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John Mclarty: But all their works, they were burned up.
Kimberly Faith: Right. What a terrible loss.
John McLarty: They just didn’t live their life for Christ.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: They’re going to know they’ve been through the fire.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. Yeah. It’s, you know, I think it’s so interesting that when Jesus said these words about not laying up treasures on earth
John McLarty: These two correlate, these two verses.
Kimberly Faith: They absolutely do because, you know, we I mean, we can even lose everything we have here on earth. But if everything we have has been used for God’s glory, then we don’t lose anything because we still have Jesus, and we are saved. We’re always saved. We talked about our spiritual genetics.
John McLarty: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Yeah, we can lose everything here on earth. And still have treasures in heaven.
Kimberly Faith: And the point of this, number one is that God set up a heavenly bank account for us and we’re the only ones who make investments in this bank account. We’re the only one. So if we stand before the judgment seat of Christ,you know, first of all, our body is deceased, that’s it. We don’t get to make any more deposits. But if we stand before the judgment seat of Christ and everything we’ve done goes up in flames, we only have ourselves to blame. And because no one else can make a deposit in our account. And we can’t deposit anybody else’s account either. We can’t he’s, oh, my son or my daughter is. I need to.
John McLarty: And how about this? No one can come into our account and take from it.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. No one can rob our bank.
John McLarty: Yeah. I mean, you know, the whole kind of victimology thing. My life went so sour because this happened.
Kimberly Faith: I love that.
John McLarty: This person did this to me, and therefore my life is not useful to Christ anymore. No, that won’t fly.
Kimberly Faith: Where would we be if Jesus used that excuse? Paul, of course, again in Philippians, he makes the statement that for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
John McLarty: Well, how many times have you heard, Well, I don’t go to church anymore because so and so goes to that church and they did this.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: Or they scowled at, they’re, not being facetious, but they hurt my feelings.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: Or they did something terrible, but then that person blames the other. And so that’s why I don’t serve God anymore. Because of something somebody else did.
Kimberly Faith: I’m robbing my own bank account because somebody else did something to me.
And that’s a really great point. You are accountable for your own account. And you make a choice. I make a choice every day. Am I going to do things with a motivation out of loving obedience to God, or am I going to do something, quote, for God, because somebody’s watching or whatever, you know? Or am I not going to do something for God because somebody’s watching? Both of those choices are legitimate things we face sometimes.
John McLarty: And this has nothing to do with the amount of funding or resources that we have.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. That’s right. You bring up a point. It’s not how God grows our account here on earth, how we grow our account, to a large extent, it depends on how much we’ve put in it. But God’s economy is much different. And we know this because of the widow’s mite.
John McLarty: The widow’s mite.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. And you want to read that out of Luke?
John McLarty: Yeah. That’s out of Luke 21:1-4. And he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. That was probably, you know, 2 pennies or something.
Kimberly Faith: It’s an amount, I looked it up. It’s the amount you can it will buy a small amount of food. That’s all it would buy.
John McLarty: So he said, truly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all, for all of these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God. But she, out of her poverty, put in all the livelihood that she had. What a great perspective.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. It’s so encouraging.
John McLarty: That’s the God perspective.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. That’s right. If you give all you have, irrespective of how much you have, God is going to give you a return that’s all he has. It’s amazing.
John McLarty: Reflection of the heart.
Kimberly Faith: Yes, yes. I think that you know, Jesus also said, just to drive this point home, to whom much is given, much is required. So, if you are, I feel like I’m maybe middle class. I don’t know for real. I don’t even know what it even looks like anymore. But I feel like that’s compared to maybe Eastern Africa, I’m wealthy, right? But if they’re giving all they have, Christians who are living under oppression and risking it all, their reward, their bank account is accruing much faster than mine is. And I think, I don’t know, I mean,
John McLarty: Just think about that. Only God knows the heart.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: So only God can figure that out.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. And that’s not to discourage anybody.
John McLarty:Yeah.
Kimberly Faith: More than anything, it motivates me to think, okay, wait a minute. Let me check myself and see, am I using, I like to say my time is my most valuable resource because you can’t get it back. But am I using the money God’s given me, the real estate God’s given me, whatever I have, my time, my relationships, my job, all those things, are those actually now his and not mine? Which is the best way I think to define your giving.
John McLarty: Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah, that’s perfect because if we treasure something that we are going to use for our own selfish desires, then it’s not going to earn us anything in our bank account. If we treasure it because it belongs to God and it’s used for his glory, that’s completely a perspective changer.
John McLarty: I just love God’s perspective. It’s so different than humans.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. So, if you’re listening to this and you say, Well, I hardly have any money. I work at Walmart or whatever. You have the same opportunity as somebody who, like Elon Musk, or somebody who has millions or billions of dollars.
John McLarty: God is not a respecter of persons.
Kimberly Faith: That’s exactly right. And so this is very exciting.
John McLarty: All may apply.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. All may apply. Right. The first criteria is that you must be born again.
John McLarty: Exactly.
Kimberly Faith: And so then the second point is what we deposit in our heavenly account accrues interest even here on earth. And we talked about all those financial terms that Paul used and their accounting terms in Philippians. And, you know, so according to the text, the Greek text, the interest that God pays is exorbitantly high. And it’s not just in heaven, but it’s also here on earth. And the way we know that is from looking at other places in the Bible, right?
John McLarty: Amen.
Kimberly Faith: And so let’s read a couple verses in the Bible that say, you know, we’re not just talking about, like you said earlier, pie in the sky by and by or rewards that we can’t lay our eyes on now. We’re looking at what God says and his word happens when we use the resources he’s given us for his glory. So why don’t we read a verse out of the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.
John McLarty: This is a great verse out of Malachi 3:10. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts. So he said, go ahead and put this to the test. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessings that there will not be room enough to receive it.
Kimberly Faith: That’s great.That’s just so I mean, each word has such deep I will open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing, you won’t even have enough room to store it, basically. That’s like a fire hose. And then Jesus said in Luke 6:38, give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. You know, I mean, think about that. If all you’re giving God is a teaspoon, then expect a teaspoon.
John McLarty: Expect a teaspoon.
Kimberly Faith: I think we should get the dump truck out, personally. I mean, seriously, I mean, why wouldn’t we? If God is who he says he is and his promises are what he says they are, and again, it goes back to our heart. If we’re giving with a mercenary heart to get something in return, that’s not what he’s talking about here. But if we’re giving because we want to glorify God with our resources, then what we receive is so much that we can’t even contain it. And I think just to be clear, we are not talking about the prosperity gospel. This is a biblical investment principle. The prosperity gospel is not a biblical principle because it teaches, it treats God like a cosmic vending machine, first of all. The prosperity gospel teaches, I hate to even use the word gospel because I don’t think it’s even appropriate, but the prosperity doctrine teaches if you give money to God for any reason, he is obligated to make you rich, healthy, successful, all those things, right?
John McLarty: What a terrible burden to live under. So you do it for that motivation, and then you have a health problem.
Kimberly Faith: Or you’re bankrupt.
John McLarty: What have you done wrong? It’s a terrible trap.
Kimberly Faith: We always talk about human religions created by
John McLarty: It is a human religion.
Kimberly Faith: And human religions are all about control and fear. And this is exactly, you know, you’re creating a pressure on yourself that’s completely unnecessary. Because what the Bible is teaching us is that this is an investment principle based on how we give, what is our motivation. And we give with the motivation not to benefit ourselves financially, but to give glory to God, then God promises a tangible return. And, you know, we’re going to move on to the third point, which is the interest that God pays being exorbitant. But we’re going to come back to the second point also in the fourth point. So just keep that in mind that what we deposit in our heavenly account accrues interest even here on earth. Well, we’ll talk about what that looks like. But let’s talk about the interest that God, and this comes right out of the mouth of Jesus in Matthew 19:29.
John McLarty: Yeah. That’s an amazing verse.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. Why don’t you read that?
John McLarty: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name’s sake shall receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.
Kimberly Faith: Oh my goodness.
John McLarty: A hundredfold.
Kimberly Faith: So I’m not good with numbers, but I didn’t know this. But a hundredfold means you get back 100 times what you invested. So I think that’s called a 10,000% return, isn’t it? Does that make sense? Or am I missing that?
John McLarty: No. Because it’s 100 times yeah, 100 times your investment.
Kimberly Faith: It’s 10,000% return.
John McLarty: So $1 would become $100.
Kimberly Faith: I mean, I just have a question for you. Has anyone offered you that kind of return on any investment?
John McLarty: Only God here in the word.
Kimberly Faith: I mean, any investment company on earth that would offer that would go broke, you know? And so back to the dump truck. Why wouldn’t we just be saying, God, I don’t want to hold on to anything. If I knew about a 10,000% investment here on earth, like, let’s say Merrill Lynch said, hey, if you invest in this, you can get a 10,000 percent return. I would take every penny I had and invest it in that.
John McLarty: Right.
Kimberly Faith: Because that’s unheard of.
John McLarty: Yeah. I’m just thinking this through. Because a one dollar investment, a 100% return is $1 becomes $2. So yeah, this is
Kimberly Faith: 10,000%.
John McLarty: Yeah, it’s just a 100 times the original investment.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah, it’s crazy. And so, again, this was super encouraging to me. It kind of made me reset. I mean, I love to give, but I’ve never thought about it in terms of, I love to give because there’s a lot of, I guess, psychologically and I mean, it’s an obedience thing, but it’s kind of like, makes you feel good, right, to give. There’s this other part that is like, wow, this is kind of stupid not to. I mean, who would pass up a 10,000% investment?
John McLarty: Well, you think just in this life, and our missionaries, giving to missionaries is a good example of this. To give finances to a missionary, say just down in Panama, because we’re really familiar with that. And then they’re spreading the gospel. So, you hear about people being saved and orphanages and children. And so, that’s a blessing in this life, and it’s a blessing to those people. But then this is teaching us that there’s heavenly implications to that.
Kimberly Faith: Right. Right. Well, and I think that
John McLarty: Of course it is for them. And we don’t do this, you don’t do it for, if you do it for selfish reasons, you’re not going to get it.
Kimberly Faith: Well, right. If you’re mercenary, then you’re getting a very small reward because you’re missing the point.
John McLarty: But it’s amazing the language God uses, that it’s like an account. He’s got some record keeping going on.
Kimberly Faith: Well, I think, again, this third point, just what kind of interest is God paying? And we’re going to look at, in the fourth point, we’re going to look at what this return actually looks like here and what it will look like in heaven. But I want to camp out on this third point for just a minute because I really want to emphasize what, this really struck me. I had not really read those words of Jesus and thought about it being a 10,000% increase. Okay? And as I kind of zoomed out of this and thought, okay, Lord, you know what? I thought about the parable of the talents, you know, the one with not very many buried it, right? And I was thinking about, okay, Lord, what area of my life have I buried, have I kept for myself and not entrusted into your care, not 100% given, because that’s the part that’s going to burn up, right?
John McLarty: Right.
Kimberly Faith: I don’t want any part of my life to be burned up. I want it all to shine throughout eternity and be multiplied times 10,000%.
John McLarty: Yeah, and we can think about that. It’s interesting to use your talent, which I know means a denomination of money. But think about we have gifts. And we can reach certain people groups because of our gifts. Somebody might be kind of a professor type or be able to teach creation science. And somebody else might just be a really good mechanic. I’m going to help people or feed people. So, we have different talents. If we bury those talents, we get no return.
Kimberly Faith: And sometimes burying, that’s a valid point. Sometimes burying our talents are just
John McLarty: Our literal talents, gifts.
Kimberly Faith: Sometimes that means we just don’t get up off our keister and use them.
John McLarty: Exactly.
Kimberly Faith: And I have, thinking of a couple of people that I’ve met who literally are retired and do nothing, watch TV, play golf, spend money, go on vacation. They don’t, those are not missionary golf players. And I know this because they’ve expressed how empty their life feels and how little purpose they feel like they have. And so, this idea that it doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in, whether you’re chasing toddlers or you’re retired, if you’re born again, you have a bank account. Only you can add to it. And Jesus will pay you 10,000%. And so it’s unprecedented. It’s an unprecedented investment opportunity to every single follower of Jesus Christ. Don’t miss this.
John McLarty: This is a real turn on the light bulb moment.
Kimberly Faith: It’s the real deal. I mean, and so that kind of brings us to point four, what does this return look like on earth and what does it look like in heaven? You know, because maybe you’re listening to this and you say, well, I gave $10 in the offering plate and I haven’t seen a 10,000% return. Here’s the thing. We limit ourselves. We’re very shortsighted and I’m just as guilty of this. We always think in terms of money is proof of God’s goodness. That’s like the smallest denominator. You can’t, if you’ve got cancer, what’s money going to do for you? You know? If you’ve got a child that’s dying, what’s money going to do for you? No. The really valuable things, we don’t even realize it. We get so hyper focused on things, things we can’t take with us, things that don’t comfort us and give us peace and give us actually more anxiety. We get so deluded into thinking that’s where we need to have our aim. Towards getting more money, getting more land, getting more friends, whatever. We miss the best. We miss the best blessings, which are the things money can’t buy, which are joy, peace, goodness
John McLarty: Fruits of the spirit.
Kimberly Faith: Salvation, wisdom, strength that is unbelievable, you know. And it’s not to say I mean, it was very clear, the verses we read, doesn’t mean, God definitely does give us the finances that we can handle in order, meaning that they won’t own us, won’t divert us from his glory to and blesses us that way, for sure. But, you know, there’s I think it’s out of Proverbs, there’s a verse that says I think it was a prayer actually. It says, Lord, don’t give me more or so much that I forget you, but not too little that I curse you. I’m paraphrasing. And God knows what that amount is. And do you really want to have so much that you forget God? No. No. Because then your life becomes meaningless. Do you want to have so little that you wonder where God is? God’s got that balance, so he knows that balance. My point is God has all kinds of ways of showing us what the return here on earth looks like in ways that are far more valuable than money. You know, think about you know, I think about the verse that says, There’s no greater joy than to see our children serving God. You can’t buy joy.
John McLarty: Yeah. And the sense of just a peaceful life, an abundant life, life with purpose.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. But think about that
John McLarty: In fact isn’t there a book, The Purpose Driven Life or something. But it’s not about money and things, but people want to have a purpose.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: And they feel like there’s something, doing something bigger than themselves. And God offers that.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. And the money thing is, what’s interesting is the money thing kind of becomes less consequential. Like, I mean, I have, you think about the fact that where I came from fifteen years ago and where I am today, you and mom have told me over and over and over again what joy it gives you to see the work the Lord is doing. But if you had $5,000,000 in your bank account, that wouldn’t have helped me get there. That would not have had, the reason I am where I am today is because of prayer. And that $5,000,000 bank account would not have given you the satisfaction.
John McLarty: Right. Wouldn’t have given us more joy.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right.
John McLarty: Probably would have taken away our joy.
Kimberly Faith: It may have. You may have ended up in
John McLarty: All worried about the stock market falling.
Kimberly Faith: Exactly. I mean, and that’s the thing. God doesn’t give us blessings that will control us and divert us from our glorious purpose, which is to glorify him. And so, when we think about this it isn’t hard to understand. Look, when I do estate planning for people, and let’s say I have a client that has a $5,000,000 estate and they have an 18 year old child. Well, we always plan for that 18 year old child not to have all that money at age 18 because they’ll buy five Lambos with it. And so, God does the same thing for us. So, this totally makes sense. But then when that 18 year old kid is 40 and has three kids, he can handle that money. That’s, again, I don’t mean to keep zoning it on money, but we get so disproportionately honed in on
John McLarty: The point is that God knows our needs.
Kimberly Faith: He does. He does.
John McLarty: And he blesses us according to his wisdom. And it’s really more about people. It’s investing in people’s lives
Kimberly Faith: It is.
John McLarty: If that involves needing money, God will give us money.
Kimberly Faith: And he always comes through.
John McLarty: And he’s just given time, he gives us the time.
Kimberly Faith: Right. And even health. I mean, I actually remember a time in my life in the last fifteen years where money became less important. I thought, well, I could lose all my money, but I really would hate to lose my health. And I’ve suffered through some health issues in the last fifteen years, and God’s used that, that suffering, to actually help me put my health in its proper place. It’s not become a source of worry, anxiety, and focus. It’s a side gig. It’s not a primary focus. There’s probably a way better way to say that than side gig.
John McLarty: That’s good. Yeah. Side gig works.
Kimberly Faith: So anyway, because lots of people have healthy lifestyles but don’t have good health. One doesn’t guarantee the other. So God fulfills this 10,000% promise in many, many ways besides sending us a check. And this whole thing reminds me of James 1:17. Do you want to read that?
John McLarty: Sure. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. So, yeah, good gifts from God.
Kimberly Faith: You know, that kind of reminds
John McLarty: And He gives perfect gifts.
Kimberly Faith: Perfect.
John McLarty: He knows just what we need.
Kimberly Faith: I was thinking
John McLarty: When we need it.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. I was thinking about, we were in the park yesterday with perfect little Emma. And this is a baby that was sent from God to our family, to our cousins.
John McLarty: Absolutely.
Kimberly Faith: And I don’t think I’ve ever seen, my children may not like me saying this, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more perfect little baby. She’s angelic. She’s beautiful.
John McLarty: She’s absolutely angelic.
Kimberly Faith: And a month ago, they had no idea they were going to get this baby. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights.
John McLarty: And God, not to get into that whole story, but God so perfectly provided that gift to them.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. Yeah. And even all the circumstances are, which we won’t go into. It’s just a God thing.
John McLarty: It’s totally of God.
Kimberly Faith: Well, and not to tell the whole story, but I will say this, because this was what Tina told me. She said, we only you know, we didn’t even, when we couldn’t have children, we really didn’t expect to get a baby, and then they got the first baby, right? And that was a whole God story. Then she said, and then suddenly somebody gave us another child. And then we had two. She goes, my cup was overflowing. Then a month or two ago, I got a phone call, and the mother of the second child is having a third child and she wants to give the baby to me, to us.
And this is this perfect baby. And I just think money couldn’t, I mean, I don’t care who you are. You can’t buy that kind of thing. Just it’s first of all, it’s illegal, and at least in this country it is. But God said you know, of course, when I think of them, I think there’s not a more loving couple I’ve ever met. They’re just the kindest people. So, of course, God’s going to give this to you.
John McLarty: And that’s a perfect example, Kim, of what we’re talking about, that this can involve a gift of money.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: That God can give us money and we’re to distribute it to others.
Kimberly Fait: Yeah.
John McLarty: But what a perfect gift this little baby is.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. And I think the more that we are tuned in to seeing God for who he says he and what he does, the more we become aware of the 10,000% he is already paying us. Like yesterday, we were just
John McLarty: Well, little Emma’s the ten thousand percent.
Kimberly Faith: Well, we were in the park talking and I’m just looking at her, I held her, I was just like in awe, just like, this child is just so beautiful. And I don’t know if it was you or somebody else that said yes. Like, she just like a little angel, you know, sent down, just so perfect. But we become aware of so many things that have not gone wrong in our life. We become more aware that God is doing so many things right and this awareness, it awakens our desire for God more and more, and we want to give him glory more generously and as often as we can because we’re just so grateful that we get to be part of his plan, you know? And that kind of knowledge, see, the difference is the reason we can’t invest $1, and expect $100.00 cash in return is because that’s mercenary. When God gives us, when we become aware of how generous God already is to us, we don’t, that doesn’t mean, we don’t turn mercenary. We don’t desire to treat him like a cosmic vending machine.
John McLarty: No. An understanding of this produces a cheerful giving.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right.
John McLarty: Generous and cheerful.
Kimberly Faith: Yes.
John McLarty: Like it’s a blessing to give. Have to have something to give, even time.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: Use good health.
Kimberly Faith: Right.
John McLarty: Or use bad health. Paul the apostle and the thorn in the flesh.
Kimberly Faith: Right. Minister to your doctor.
John McLarty: Yeah. You can use bad health and like, oh, what doctor and assistants and nurses do I need to be ministering to?
Kimberly Faith: Exactly. You bring up cheerful, generous giving. And that’s a commandment in the Bible. Why don’t you read Second Corinthians 9:6-8?
John McLarty: I mean, it fits the study podcast just perfectly. But yeah, But this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, but for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you that ye always having sufficiency in all things may have an abundance for every good work.
Kimberly Faith: That’s such a good, those are good, such great verses. In other words, you know, I think about this. You know, you can never outgive God, and God will never be your debtor. You give with a right heart, he’s going to out give you every time. And I love the idea that God is never our debtor.
John McLarty: God is able to make all grace abound toward you.
Kimberly Faith: Right. Right. So, I mean, just kind of to wrap this up, if you’re wondering how to get there, how do we get into this place where we’re receiving that 10,000%? First of all, purify your desires. The Bible tells us to purify our desires. And one of the prayers that I like, first of all, you have to be born again. That’s when the bank account opens, right?
John McLarty: That’s when the bank account opens.
Kimberly Faith: You need to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It can’t start
John McLarty: By grace through faith.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. By grace through faith. But then, you know, sometimes I just pray, Lord, make my desires only you. Because when my desire is to glorify God, everything else falls into place. And, you know, this study on, you know, the best investment is the one God offers us is so on point for every area of our life. Whether that’s our, maybe it’s our kitchen. I have this great kitchen. I’ve actually built the house because I wanted to be able to have people come in and cook with them because that’s such a first century Christian thing, right? They always got together and ate. But I could say, yeah, I’m tired of the hassle, right? That’s a silly example, but it’s just right where the rubber meets the road. You know? If God gave me a great kitchen and I choose to bury that gift, then I like to cook and enjoy it, I enjoy feeding people. But if I’m just too lazy or just, oh, I’m just tired of dealing with people and their problems, well, I’m burying an opportunity to earn 10,000%.
John McLarty: I like this idea that you can never out give God.
Kimberly Faith: And God will never be your debtor.
John McLarty: Yeah.
Kimberly Faith: He’s not your debtor. We think God owes us something. God owes me this because I did this. Man, the reason that you’re thinking that way is because you’ve stopped understanding God for who he is and just how thankful we should already be if we’re, just for salvation.
John McLarty: Anything we get is more than we deserve.
Kimberly Faith: Yes.
John McLarty: Another interesting idea is there are so many ways this can manifest itself. It can be earthly blessings. It can be spiritual fruit here on earth. And then there’s this whole world of eternal rewards at the judgment seat of Christ.
Kimberly Faith: Right. Which are probably more glorious than we even know.
John McLarty: We can’t really grasp those, but that kind of deals with those crowns.
Kimberly Faith: Right. But you think of the best
John McLarty: The thousand year reign of Christ and
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. I think of the best things you’ve ever possessed in your life, and then take it to a level you can’t even imagine. And that’s probably a little bit of an inkling of what we are going to have as our eternal rewards. I think the best eternal reward that I can fathom right now with my little pea brain is seeing someone in heaven that I got to lead to Christ.
John McLarty: Lead to the Lord.
Kimberly Faith: Yeah. That’s, I mean, because that’s an eternal gift. I know that God’s got, he’s got stuff that blows our mind, a plan for us, or will blow our mind anyway. It’s so interesting John the Revelator was, when he was writing the book of Revelation, I think it was, correct me if I’m wrong, but he saw things that he couldn’t write down, he wasn’t allowed to write down. And I wonder sometimes if that’s not because God was hiding the ball, but because maybe he also couldn’t figure out words to describe it. I mean, I don’t know.
John McLarty: Heavenly blessings in heavenly places.
Kimberly Faith: Yes, yes.
John McLarty: God wants to, I think out of Ephesians, his exceeding loving kindness toward us throughout all ages.
Kimberly Faith: Yes. Yes, the exceeding greatness of his abundance toward us. Yeah. And so, again, this was such an inspiration to me and I’m truly grateful for Lon Solomon and he has preached so many great messages and this was kind of our repackaging of this message he gave probably twenty years ago. But I’m so grateful that I know this at my age that I don’t want to, we’ve talked about running the negative split, right? Which is the way distance runners say, I’m going to run the last half of the race faster than the first part. That’s what I feel like. I’ve been given this gift. This message is, Okay, Kim, now go run that negative split and collect your 10,000%.
John McLarty: Well, how about this? No matter what you and I or anybody has done with the past part of our life, we have all of our future. And it can start today.
Kimberly Faith: That’s right. That’s a great way to end that. Because you know, the only money we’re taking to heaven is the money we transfer to our heavenly account here and now. I don’t want to get to heaven and regret that I didn’t transfer more. Do you?
John McLarty: Amen.
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