SOW Blog

Walking in God’s Favor: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

Trust Takes Years to Build, Seconds to Destroy, and Forever to Repair

In our society people will take advantage of your trust. They will scheme, swindle and fraudulently go after your wealth. People like Bernard Madoff, who perpetrated over a 50-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme have made money their God. They have no problem ripping you off, if it puts money into their pockets. They knowingly take advantage of their influence, power, and wealth.

Mistakes Are Forgivable If One Has the Courage to Admit Them

Level 4 Stewards practice the spiritual principle of forgiveness.  They have personally experienced the transformational power of forgiveness in their own lives and extend that kind of forgiveness to others.  When someone takes advantage of you, your faith can restore your loss in many ways.

Forgiveness Does Not Change the Past, But it Does Enlarge the Future

Forgiveness is not an option for the Level 4 Steward. They extend grace to others, learn from the experience and move on with their life’s mission. You can only experience this kind of forgiveness when you are connected to the Source of forgiveness. We will close this post with a quote from Billy Graham “Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.”

Save the date. You are personally invited to our live stream with our SOW Team as we share online financial tools, community resources and tips to avoid financial scams.

Prayer of Blessings: Lord teach us to forgive.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency  Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the International Pathfinder Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vance’s have been married well over 4 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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Walking in God’s Favor: I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. Psalms 32:8 TLB

Reaching Your Highest Potential

What a powerful bible promise to know that God says he will show us how to get to the next level. God promises to watch over us, to teach us and advise us.

The truth is, we all have areas in our lives that we need to grow in. Your area of growth is probably different from my area of growth. You must truthfully acknowledge your area of weakness and face it.

Be Intentional With Your Time

My personal truth (Michael) is I consume far too much time watching TV and on the internet.  After reading Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Drive Life ” I was motivated to initiate 3 immediate changes in my life.

1. I  would begin to limit the amount of television and internet media I consume.

2. I would spend the best time of my day in prayer.

3. I would release my spiritual side.

My purpose was to seek the highest potential for my life. It has made an incredible difference. After making these 3 seemingly small changes I have been motivated to write this blog and several other books with Ardella. Our purpose is to share the goodness of God in our lives with family, meaningful others and our community.  I now choose to invest my time and develop my talents wisely.

Make Excellence Your Goal

Level 4 Stewards are willing to do whatever it takes reach their highest potential. Are you willing to do your part. Yes you have an extremely important role in your spiritual discovery.  You are called for a moment like this in time. You are given unique gifts to develop over your lifetime and you have a  purpose that you have the potential to fulfill.

Prayer of Blessings: Lord, help us defeat temptations that consume our time.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of a podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency   Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the Pathfinder Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married four decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

Walking In God’s Favor: Romans 13:8 Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. (MSG)

It’s better to go to bed in peace, than to wake up in debt & broke.

We believe overcoming financial bondage is one of the greatest struggles for anyone seeking financial freedom. Many of you only dream of saving money. In many instances you do not experience financial health because you are trying to borrow yourself into wealth. You want to look rich to cover your raggedness. You desire to appear prosperous to hide your poverty. You feel that wealth can heal your wounded-ness.

Many of you do not see anything wrong with living in debt. The more I can borrow the better. I didn’t either at first; just like the story of the frog. I’m told if you put a frog in a pot of water on a stove with no lid, and gradually turn up the heat, the frog will remain in the pot until it is cooked alive, even though the frog has the ability to easily jump out of the pot at any time.

We Believe Freedom From Debt Is Worth Any Amount You Can Earn

Initially I felt debt was a good thing; just a financial tool. It allowed me to obtain things I felt I needed  now and I could pay for it later….WOW! That sounded like a good deal… Just like when the serpent lied to Eve in the Garden of Eden. He told Eve if she ate of the tree of good and evil she would not “surely die”. Listen to me people, if you play with snakes you will get bitten.

Debt has been successfully marketed by banks and financial institutions in the United States as your pathway to prosperity. As a result, many of you have found yourselves in financial bondage with little or no hope of ever experiencing financial freedom again.

Every time you borrow money, you’re robbing your future legacy

If you are in bondage because of debt, your first step into financial freedom is to admit your finances are out of control. If you continue to live in denial, you won’t seek help and you won’t break free.  The Bible says that “the borrower is slave to the lender”. Ask God, in prayer, for the power  to break break free of  debt. With God, and a made up mind, you can experience financial freedom.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord, help me to become wise with money.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of a podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency   Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the Pathfinder Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married four decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

Walking in God’s Favor: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth and be in health. III John 1:2 KJ

Finding Your “Why”

In his book titled The Reallionaire , Farah Gray, a young African-American man who went from public assistance to become a millionaire by the age of 14, says a reallionaire (a word he created) is someone who has discovered that there is more to money than having money. Understanding that stewardship of wealth is not just about being rich in your pocket-book, but realizing you have to be rich inside too.

I believe and agree with Farah Gray that wealth starts on the inside with a certain way of thinking. It begins with the belief system that governs how we relate to money. There are certain ways of thinking that can help you increase your financial wealth.

Three Steps to Financial Wealth

The first way of thinking is to stop trying to act rich. ” Live Within Your Means.” Living to impress others will only cost you. In the long run trying to keep up with the Jones will eventually result in financial pain and bring you down. Some people who appear to be living prosperous lives, in many instances are in debt up to their eyes balls and have mortgaged their future.

The second way of thinking is to start living on a budget. Spend your money on paper and on purpose before the month begins. Give your money a mission. If you dream of becoming wealthy, create a financial plan to get there. Write it down and look at it often. Remember a dream without a plan is just a hallucination.

The third and final way of thinking that can help you increase your financial wealth is to start counting your blessings. You are wonderfully made in God’s image. If you have life and health, you are blessed. If you have a family and friends, you are blessed. If you have a personal relationship with Christ, you truly are blessed. Learn to be thankful for what you have right now.

Until You Give Your Best, You Will Never Know Your Potential

How we plan for our future, take advantage of opportunities and how we spend our money all begin inside with our thinking. What do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to obtain? Remember, our thoughts direct our actions or inaction. You have the ability to become a better steward of your wealth.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord help us to become wise stewards of our time, talents & money.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of Better Husband Father Man Podcast and the financial & benefits risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates. Ardella Vance is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the Pathfinders Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vance’s have been married four decades and share their lives with four adult children and 10 grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog weekly from their financial workbook” The Stewardship of Wealth “.

Walking In God’s Favor: Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect. Romans 12:2 NCV

Continuous Optimization, Always Keep Learning

We are so happy to celebrate Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency Internship Initiative. We provides resources to college and high school students to help them succeed in their education and career journey. www.battsandassoc.com

Those Who Keep Learning, Will Keep Growing In Life 

Ardella and I have posted the wisdom and insights we have learned from our journey of becoming the best version of ourselves in 2023. Our Stewardshipofwealth.com team is committed to playing a significant role in encouraging you to grow in areas of your life that need confirmation and clarity.

Here are some suggested readings to empower you in that process of becoming a better steward of your wealth and the best version of yourself.

1. Go Do Your Something – Lamont Dupree

2. Family Prayer: Your Fortune Is In Your Faith – Michael& Ardella Vance

3.  Wealth – It’s in Your Worship Not Your Works – Roland J. Hill

4.  Spiritual Game Plans For A Successful Life – Preston Brown

5. Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey

6. Stewardship Of Wealth – Changing Your Family Tree – Michael & Ardella Vance

7. 80 Proven Ways to Become a Millionaire – Paul  S. Damazo

8. Taking Care of Business – Lee Jenkins

9. Debt Free  Degree – Anthony O’Neil

10. 12 Week Year – Brian Moran

11.  Power to Get Wealth: No Money Required – Keith Douglas

12.  5am With God – Keaires Roberson

Prayer of Blessing:  Lord, we thank You for the desire to grow.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the Better Husband Father Man Podcast  a hub for all things parenting, marriage, and self improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager for Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency   Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 30 years and share their lives with four adult children and ten grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog weekly from their financial workbook ” The Stewardship of Wealth“.

Walking in God’s Favor: Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:17,18 NKJV

Good Leaders Must Become Good Servants

To think like a Level 4 steward requires a change of heart. A Level 4 steward thinks more of how you can serve others rather than yourself. Once you have acquired a servant’s heart, you no longer focus so much on your own needs, but turn your heart to the needs of others.

I clearly remember walking into my office years ago, as a young insurance agent in my twenties, disappointed for not obtaining the sales goals I had planned for the week. I knocked on Mr. Hundley Batts’  door and asked if I could speak to him for a moment. “Mr.  Batts”, I said, “I have been out selling all day long and  cannot find anyone to sell insurance to.”

Hundley Batts replied, “That’s your problem, Son.  Find people you can serve.” Those five words ” Find people you can serve” changed my whole entire paradigm on how I operate my business battsandassoc.com . These days, eighty percent of my business comes from referral business of people who value my time, integrity, insurance intelligence, and the services we offer.

Service to Others Lead To Greatness

Level 4 Stewardship is one of the best ways to describe the heart of a servant. Many faithful stewards begin their spiritual discovery as servants, however they end up as  celebrities. They become addicted to the spotlight, unaware that constantly being in the lime light can blind you.

There are four areas of life the Level 4 Steward will primarily focus:

#1 How you care for your body(temple)

#2 How you invest your time

#3 How you develop your talents or gifts

#4 How you manage your treasure (financial assets)

Follow link to Facebook LIVE Interview featuring Michael J Vance: https://tinyurl.com/ds5967xv

Servant Leadership The Better Way To Lead

This is a holistic approach to serving. God wants all of you – not just little pieces of you.  Level 4 Stewards accept the truth that God owns it all, and we are only caretakers, managers, and apprentices . They think like servants, not like owners.

Can you be trusted with wealth, power, and social capital? The heart of the Level 4 Steward is in giving service to God. Level 4 Stewards make sure their lives honor God, and their life work leaves the planet a much better place to live.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord, empower us to serve others.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the Better Husband Father Man Podcast  a hub for all things parenting, marriage, and self improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager for Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency   Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 30 years and share their lives with four adult children and ten grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama

What You See Is What You Get

I enjoy listening and playing 70′s R&B soul music. One of my favorite R&B groups, The Dramatics, performed one of their many hit songs entitled; What You See is What You Get. We believe through the power of the God’s Spirit inside you, you can become committed to being a person of integrity. You must become a “What You See Is What You Get” person.

I heard one spiritual leader Pastor Benjamin Jones say “Your career ends when you die, but your character goes on for eternity”. Gods truly wants to develop your character. He sent his son Jesus Christ to be your earthly example of true integrity.

It Takes Commitment & Character

Level 4  stewards are people of integrity. They follow through with what they say they’re going to do. Level 4  stewards are people whose word is their bond. Level 4  stewards are good examples and good leaders. They are an extremely positive witness to those who are in their circle of influence.

How you spend and relate to money has more to say about your character than anything else. Have you ever spent money you don’t have, for something you don’t need, to impress people you don’t know? Many times, money will reveal our inner selves, our true hearts. My financial coach Dave Ramsey says” Marriage is a partnership, couples can’t win with money unless they budget as a team.

Meaningful Relationships Are Built On Trust

You are either a faithful steward or an unfaithful steward, a good example or a poor example. There is no in between. I clearly remember speaking at a community of faith empowerment session on the topic of financial stewardship. When I completed my presentation, I sat down next to Ardella and whispered “How did I do Honey?

Ardella looked dead into my eyes and asked, “Why are you talking about something you are not doing yourself?” Ouch! Yeah, that hurts, but I made up my mind that day not to stand in front of people and talk about something I was not practicing in my own life. I heard a still small voice in my spirit say that I would become a husband, father, and man of integrity.

When Jesus Christ returned to heaven to be with his father, he sent you a Comforter to empower you to become generous, truthful, honest, transparent, and benevolent so you can walk in His love, freedom, and favor. You can become a person of integrity.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord help us to live authentically.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host of the podcast Better Husband Father Man hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency.  Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the International Pathfinder Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married well over 4 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.