The Finish Line Podcast Finish Line Q&A with John Cortines: Expensive Cities, Growing Families, Managing Windfalls, and Giving Out of Savings (Ep. 38)
For this episode, we’re taking a break from our typical interviews to cover a number of questions that have come in to the podcast. We’re lucky enough to be joined by repeat guest John Cortines to help us explore some of these ideas. John is the Director of Generosity for the Maclellan Foundation and past Chief Operating Officer of Generous Giving. He is also coauthor of the books God and Money and True Riches, along with another of our past guests, Greg Baumer. If you want to hear John’s full story, you can find it back on episode 13.
The questions we covered in this episode are:
- [6:45] I live in an expensive part of the country. How would you account for this in setting a financial finish line?
- [16:56] If I set a finish line, how do I account for things like inflation, growing family, kids getting older (and more expensive), etc?
- [25:19] I recently received a large inheritance, although I am already in a decent financial position with a mortgage but no other debt. How would you handle that situation with a finish line in place?
- [33:47] God has really stretched me in giving out of my income, and that process has been very rewarding. My husband and I want to start giving out of our savings too. Do you have any advice?
- [38:36] Do you think that everyone should have a finish line?
If you have a question of your own, there are a number of ways you can jump into the conversation. First, you can join our facebook group to find other likeminded people discussing all aspects of generosity and impactful giving. You can also check out the Finish Line Forum. If you’d prefer to send in your questions directly, you can reach us via our contract page.
QUOTES TO REMEMBER- “There’s nothing right or wrong about living in a high cost area.”
- “This is a matter of walking the adventure with the Lord, seeing what he’s called us to, and yeah, sometimes making tradeoffs.”
- “Your finish line will need some continuous tweaking. It’s not meant to be set in stone for the rest of your life.”
- “What are those dollars doing in an investment account that you don’t need versus what could those dollars do if they were injected into the kingdom?”
- “There’s a real pride in thinking you can out-invest God.”
- “I can figure out how much is enough income, but how much is enough security?”
- “Nobody stumbles into enough.”
- God and Mammon by Andy Crouch at the Faith Driven Investor's Conference
- Larry Burkett's list of the 2300 Bible verses on money
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
Acts 5:1-6 | Ananias and Sapphira
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.