Tag Archives: finance

Do you borrow money to maintain a lifestyle above your means?

Posted on September 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath  fulfilled the law. Roman 13:8 KJV

Creating Wealth Starts By Eliminating All Possible Debts

We believe overcoming financial bondage is one of the greatest struggles for those of you 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 yourselves 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 wounds.

Some People Go Into Debt, Just To Keep Up With People Already In Debt

Many of you do not see anything wrong with living in debt. The more you can borrow the better. We 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 anytime.

Initially we felt debt was a good thing; just a financial tool. It allowed us to obtain things we felt we needed  now and we 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.

The Borrower Is A Slave To The Lender

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.

You are invited to listen with our SOW Community to our Facebook LIVE Stream Sunday 3pm November 16th 2025. Our empowerment session will center a round life lessons for saving money, creating wealth, and developing financial discipline.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord, give us the desire to live debt-free.

Michael J. Vance is the founder of Stewardship Of Wealth.com and 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 Pathfinders Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vance’s have been married over 4 decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten grandchildren. They currently reside in one of fast growing economies in the United States the “Rocket City” Huntsville Alabama, and blog from their Stewardship Of Wealth financial guide “Changing Your Family Tree”.

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Have You Made Saving A Priority?

Posted on July 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. Proverbs 21:20 TLB

 The Struggle to Save

Many of you only dream of saving money. Here’s a quick snapshot of America’s finances. The Wall Street Journal indicates that 70% of all Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. The Oprah Winfrey Show indicated on an online survey that 70% of responders has no savings anywhere. You almost have to pull a gun on Americans to get them to save.

Preparing For The Storms of Life

We have learned in Financial Peace University (3) key reasons to save money; for emergencies, for purchases and to build wealth. With Ardella and I having careers in the academic and risk management arena for over 25 years, we label emergencies in 5 categories we call the 5 storms of life or the 5D’s.

1Disasters – Car accidents, weather related perils, any unexpected incidents.

2Disability – Any physical condition that prevents your daily living activities.

3Downsized – Loss of employment, bankruptcy or divorce.

4Death – The loss of a person who contributes to your financial well being

5Deployment- Active& reserve military called to serve 6 or more months away

If you want to become a faithful steward you must begin the process of saving money. Moving to a higher level of stewardship requires dedication, discipline and diligence. Living the life of surplus and overflow takes wisdom.

If You Are Saving, You Are Succeeding.

Many of you have struggled so long in your financial lives you get comfortable with a life of stability. Now is not the time to rest, keep moving. There is so much God have for you to learn, experience and become. You must choose to make saving a top priority. The choice can change your family tree.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord, help us to become savers.

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  and co-founder of Stewardshipofwealth.com  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 Vance’s have been married well over 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”.

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Do You Borrow Money To Maintain A Lifestyle Above Your Means?

Posted on March 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

Walking In God’s Favor: 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. Romans 13:8 (MSG)

Debt is the slavery of the free

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 anytime.

Every debt paid is an automatic pay raise

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 ourselves in financial bondage with little or no hope of ever experiencing financial freedom again.

Freedom from debt is worth any amount you can earn.

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 us to be wise with money.

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 four decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren and two sweet great grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville “The Rocket CIty” and blog from their workbook “Stewardship of Wealth”.

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How Do You Define Wealth?

Posted on September 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor:  And, of course, it is very good if a man has received wealth from the Lord and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and to accept your lot in life—that is indeed a gift from God. Ecclesiastes 5:19 TLB

Wealth is having more then you need, and wanting less than you have.

Our definition of wealth is holistic and different than most people. We define wealth as certain things money cannot buy such as good health, loving relationships, peace of mind, creative abilities, wisdom, freedom and a spirit-led life.

Having a fat bank account,  strong investment portfolio, or family trust fund, doesn’t necessary mean you are truly wealthy. If you have a million dollars net worth and you are always worrying about losing it or someone trying to scam your money, you aren’t truly wealthy.  You have a scarcity mentality.

You can truly only enjoy your wealth, if you are in good health.

The first truly wealthy person I was able to observe up close and personal over the years was Ardella’s father the late Howard T. Williams. This barrel chest, quick to laugh man was always willing to share a smile and words of wisdom with anyone who crossed his path.

Mr. Williams was a loyal employee for  Chrysler Corporation for 32 years and valued long-term relationships. He was married to the same woman for 42 years. He gave back to his community by serving as a member of the Detroit School Board for 13 years.

Mr. Williams saved money in a college fund for all (5) of his children.  Paid off his home mortgage early, avoided debt & credit cards, and had an emergency fund for the unexpected. On the day of his death Mr. Williams had a will and his burial arrangements in place. He was a man ahead of his times and a great example to me of personal stewardship.

Wealth is like health, you only learn it’s true value when you lose it.

In the world’s economy it says wealth is measured primary by material possessions and the things money can buy. In God’s economy true wealth is measure by certain things you cannot necessarily see and by certain things you cannot necessarily buy.

Prayer of Blessings: Lord, give us health to obtain true wealth.

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 the 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 Pathfinders Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married over 40 years 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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Are You Planning Your Future With Godly Wisdom?

Posted on July 15, 2024 | Leave a comment

Walking in God’s Favor: But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if he has enough money to pay the bills? Otherwise he might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh! Luke 14:28-29 TLB

Begin Saving For the Storms of Life And Your Retirment Years

You must begin with the end in mind. If you plan to become faithful stewards of your wealth in this life you must be willing to pay the price. You are going to have to develop the habit of saving.

Years ago, Ardella and I began planning to save a certain amount of money from our income so that we could have the flexibility to follow our dreams,  passions and opportunities in life during our golden years.

One of our passions is sharing real life experiences with newly married and engaged couples. We share practical tips we have learned in our own marriage and from other married couples like Les and Leslie Parrott.

The Pursuit of Happiness – Work Hard, Have Fun, Save Your Money

Let’s face it, as you gracefully age, you generally have less energy and your health slowly begins to decline. As a result, you need to manage the amount of physical activity and maximize the results, so you don’t injure or prematurely kill yourself.  In other words, you have to work smarter not harder.

While you are young and healthy you must develop the practice of planning for your golden years. Otherwise, your golden years will not be so golden.  Many employers are no longer contributing or providing retirement plans for their employees. Therefore you must become  personally proactive  in saving and investing money for your golden years.

With that in mind, what is your plan? Do you have an emergency fund for the storms of life that are sure to come if you live long enough? Have you begun setting aside money for your golden years?

Practicing The Joseph Principle of Saving For the Storms of Life

The Joseph principle is the ability to look around the corner and anticipate life’s challenges you may or may not face one day.  In the Bible, Joseph wisely counseled Pharaoh in the book of Genesis to plan and prepare for the future.

” And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of  Pharaoh  and let them keep food in the cities. Then the food shall be as a reserve for the land for seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt that the land may not perish during the famine.” Genesis 41:35,36  (NKJV)

Joseph was divinely given the principle of saving for the storms of life, and saved the entire Egyptian nation and his family.   There are many lessons you can learn and practice in your life from the Joseph principle. Most importantly; begin with the end in mind.

We invite you to prepare for your golden years https://tinyurl.com/bdhpxejh as your transition into this new season of life. Discover how you can become a better steward of your wealth in your retirement years.

Prayer of Blessing: Lord help us to plan and save wisely for a successful future.

Michael J. Vance is the co-host for the Better Husband Father Man Podcast  a hub for all things; parenting, marriage, and self-improvement. He is the 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 Pathfinders Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married well over 30 years 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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