SeedTime with Bob and Linda Lotich

In this episode, Bob and Linda unpack spiritual habits found in Scripture that quietly shape financial outcomes—habits that have nothing to do with spreadsheets or hustle culture, but everything to do with becoming the kind of person money can be trusted with.
 
These aren't the usual "Christian money tips." They're deeper.
 
And once you see them, you can't unsee them.
 
 
🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode
Bob and Linda walk through 7 overlooked spiritual disciplines that directly affect how we earn, spend, save, and steward money:
Why fasting trains your "no muscle"—and why self-control matters more than budgeting

How integrity in the small things (the ones no one sees) protects your finances long-term

The quiet power of choosing the right friends—and how the wrong voices shape your future

Why wasting time eventually leads to wasting money (Ephesians 5:16)

How rest, not grinding, invites God's provision (and why Chick-fil-A is a case study)

Why gratitude shifts you from scarcity to abundance (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

The biblical formula for prosperity and success most people skip (Joshua 1:8)

Along the way, they share personal stories—from fasting and spending fasts, to integrity decisions that cost them in the moment but paid off long-term—and explain why God's math often looks different than ours.
 
📖 Scriptures Referenced (NLT)
Matthew 6

2 Corinthians 9

Proverbs 13:20

Ephesians 5:16

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Joshua 1:8

 
📣 Share This Episode
Know someone who's frustrated with their finances and feels stuck?
Send them this episode—it might reframe everything.
 
Educational content only. This episode is not individualized financial advice.
 
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/lcpak8giDn4)!
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

Spiritual abuse around money almost made us stop giving altogether.
 
We've seen manipulation from the pulpit.
We've witnessed leaders mishandle funds.
We've felt the tension between honoring God and distrusting institutions.
 
And yet… we still tithe.
 
In this episode, Bob and Linda have an honest, nuanced conversation about why they chose not to let other people's failures steal something God wanted to use for their freedom.
This is not a legalistic defense of tithing.
 
It's a heart-level conversation about obedience, trust, healing, and separating God's command from human hypocrisy.
 
If you've ever thought:
"I don't trust where the money goes"

"I've seen too much abuse"

"Is tithing even for today?"

"I want to honor God, but I'm conflicted"

This episode is for you.
 


Key Scriptures (NLT)
Proverbs 3:9–10 — Honor the Lord with your wealth

Deuteronomy 8:18 — God gives the power to create wealth

Matthew 6:33 — Seek first the Kingdom

Luke 6:38 — Give, and it will be given to you

2 Corinthians 9 — Sowing and reaping with the right heart

Matthew 23:23 — Jesus affirms tithing without legalism

 
Action Item for This Week
Take 10 quiet minutes and pray this simple prayer:
"God, what does generosity look like for me right now?"
Write down what comes to mind.
Don't rush it. Don't rationalize it.
Just ask… and listen.
 
Don't let someone else's disobedience steal your opportunity to trust God.
👉If this episode helped you, share it with someone who's wrestling with giving—or spiritual hurt around money.
 
Gentle Disclaimer
This episode is for biblical and educational purposes only and is not personalized financial advice. Pray, seek wise counsel, and follow the Holy Spirit's leading in your own giving decisions.
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/0ECDgwsssrs)!
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

What if the clearest wisdom for living well only shows up at the end of life?
 
After spending 15 years in hospice care, one nurse noticed a haunting pattern: when people are dying, the masks come off—and they all say remarkably similar things. Regrets.
 
 Realizations. Truths they wish they'd acted on sooner.
 
In this episode, Bob & Linda unpack the 7 life lessons repeated again and again by people on their deathbeds—and how we can live differently now, without waiting for "someday."
This isn't about morbid curiosity. It's about clarity.
 
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." — Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
 
What You'll Learn
1. "I should have loved more—and differently"
Why winning arguments often costs us relationships—and how to choose kindness before it's too late.
2. Forgiveness brings freedom (even physical peace)
Stories of people who couldn't let go… until their final moments—and why forgiveness may be more urgent than we think.
📖 Matthew 6:14–15 (NLT)
3. Presence is the greatest gift you can give
Why distraction is the modern disease—and how being fully present matters more than anything you can buy.
4. "I saved my joy for later… and later never came"
The trap of someday living, money, and the tension between saving wisely and actually enjoying life.
5. The best things in life were free
Dying people didn't miss achievements or possessions—they missed ordinary moments they were too busy to notice.
6. Regret comes from what you never tried
Why people don't regret failure—they regret playing it safe and never starting the thing.
7. Peace comes when you stop pretending
What happens when image management finally falls away—and how to live with that freedom now.
 

"Don't wait until your last breath to live free—start today."
👉 If this episode helped you, share it with someone you love and leave a review—it helps more people find the show.
 
Educational Disclaimer
This episode is for biblical encouragement and general financial education—not personalized financial advice. Always seek wise counsel for your specific situation.
 
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/J43rtDyLzEs)!
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

In today's episode, Bob & Linda explore one of the most overlooked spiritual tests in the Christian life: how to stay dependent on God in the midst of blessings.
Drawing from Joshua 11, they unpack the strange moment where God tells Israel to hamstring the horses and burn the enemy's chariots—the ancient equivalent of destroying tanks after a battle. Why would God command that? Because victories can be just as spiritually dangerous as trials.
Through personal stories—from unexpected financial provision, to early blogging years, to painful seasons of health challenges—Bob & Linda reflect on how easy it is to place trust in the "chariots" of modern life: savings accounts, credit cards, systems, friendships, therapy, comfort, or even spiritual routines.
This episode is an invitation to ask the Holy Spirit: "What chariot in my life have I started to rely on more than God?"
It's a vulnerable, practical conversation about dependence, provision, and the subtle ways our security can shift from the Lord to the blessings He provides.
(Scripture from NLT.)
 
Big Takeaways
God sometimes blesses us with success—but the real test comes after the victory.
"Chariots" today can be anything we lean on before we lean on God—money, strategies, credit cards, relationships, even good systems.
Joshua's obedience protected Israel's dependence; Solomon's disobedience eroded his.
Trusting God doesn't mean rejecting tools—it means refusing to let tools replace Him.
Obedience may feel costly, but it leaves room for God's provision to be unmistakable.
 
Key Scriptures (NLT)
Joshua 11 — God commands Israel to cripple the horses and burn the chariots.
Psalm 20:7 — "Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God."
Deuteronomy 17:16 — Instruction to future kings not to store up horses.
Matthew 14 (referenced) — Jesus' exhausting day of grief, ministry, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, and praying through the night.
 
Highlighted Quotes from the Episode
"Getting the blessing is one thing—keeping God at the center is another."
"Some victories make you feel strong. God wants you to stay dependent."
"You can have a blessed life and still miss what God is trying to form in you."
"You're not called to trust the tool—only the One who provides it."
"Ask the Holy Spirit: What chariot am I still holding onto?"
 
Timestamps
00:00 — The surprising test after a breakthrough
02:00 — Why did God tell Joshua to burn chariots?
04:15 — Dependence vs. self-reliance when life is going well
06:30 — Modern "chariots": money, comfort, systems, relationships
10:00 — A real inheritance story: when provision can become a trap
11:00 — Bob's personal story: the blog, losing his job, and losing their "income lifeline"
13:30 — How challenges can strengthen faith more than comfort
15:00 — Jesus' exhausting day: grief, ministry, storm
17:00 — Joshua vs. Solomon: a tale of two responses
20:00 — Is God asking you to lay something down?
25:00 — Guided prayer: "Lord, show me my chariots"
26:30 — Final verse + encouragement
 
Weekly Action Item
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal ONE "chariot" in your life—a place where you've subtly shifted trust from God to a tool, resource, or comfort.
Write it down and pray:
"Lord, show me how to surrender this and depend on You again."
 
CTA
If you want help building money systems that support your trust in God rather than replace it, visit our SeedTime Money Resources Page for our latest guides and tools.
 
 
BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime).
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/4bPH1z_soAs!
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

Jesus said, "Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
 
But does that really mean Christians should never talk about giving?
 
In this episode, Bob and Linda tackle one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible—and why misreading it has quietly hurt generosity, discipleship, and spiritual growth in the church.
 
Sparked by a viral clip referencing Matthew 6, they walk through what Jesus was actually addressing (motive, not visibility), why public generosity shows up all over Scripture, and how sharing testimonies—when done with the right heart—can inspire radical obedience in others.
This isn't about bragging.
 
It's about obedience, clarity, and letting God get the glory.
 
 
 
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Why Matthew 6 is about motive, not secrecy

How applying "give in secret" consistently would silence prayer and testimony too

The difference between generosity that inspires vs generosity that performs

Why public generosity is everywhere in Scripture (Barnabas, the Macedonian church, Zacchaeus, the widow's mite, Mary anointing Jesus)

How generosity becomes contagious when stories are shared

Practical ways to check your heart before sharing a testimony

When God says "share it" — and when He says "keep it quiet"

 
Key Scriptures Mentioned (NLT)
Matthew 6:1–4 — Giving with the right motive

Acts 4–5 — Barnabas vs. Ananias & Sapphira

Luke 19:8–9 — Zacchaeus' public repentance and generosity

2 Corinthians 8–9 — The Macedonian church & contagious generosity

 
A Key Takeaway
God isn't after secrecy for secrecy's sake.
He's after hearts that give for His glory, not human applause.
Some generosity should be quiet.
Some testimonies are meant to be shared.
The wisdom is knowing the difference—and having the courage to obey either way.
 
 
Action Item for This Week
Ask God one simple question in prayer:
"Is there a generosity story You want me to share—or one You want me to keep private?"
Then obey, even if it feels uncomfortable.
 
 
Generosity isn't about being seen—it's about letting God be seen.
👉 If this episode helped clarify something you've wrestled with, share it with a friend who needs this conversation.
 
 
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational and spiritual encouragement only and is not individualized financial advice. Always pray and seek wise counsel as you apply biblical principles to your own life.
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/en12Gf9uDCU)!
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.