The Yellow Balloons Podcast Tim Dunn

The Book of Romans is designed with all the elements of a great narrative. In episode one, we talked about the tension of the plot. In this episode, we look at the heroes and the villains of the story. Paul and his friends are on one side and the Jewish leaders on another. The Jewish leaders are making accusations against Paul, which he addresses head on. In the middle of the two sides are the Gentile believers in Rome, yearning to discern the truth.

In this episode, we begin our series on what it means to be rich. Our starting point is a distinction between getting rich and being rich. As a case study, we look at the wealth of America - how did this British outpost become the richest country in the world? At the founding of America as we know it, the Declaration of Independence was a necessary communication to Europe. It let them know we were going to try to do things differently. These early American communications help set the stage for the way we view wealth and riches in our modern world.

In this episode, we continue our discussion on American history and how it affects Western psychology and modern institutions. Then we turn to the origins and value of self-governance, in particular, how Israel qualified as a self-governing nation. That is, until they found it too challenging and asked for a King. We close with an exhortation to embrace self-stewardship, to focus on the few things you can control and make the best of the resources and opportunities available. This is the foundation of true success.

In this episode, we take a look at the way Scripture talks about money. We start by discussing the spiritual truth that money cannot buy happiness. Three parables about money help us see the way God thinks about money is distinct from the world’s view. The parables of the lost sheep, the lost money, and the prodigal son invite us into Jesus’ view of what it means to be rich in the Kingdom of God.

In this episode, we explore two more New Testament parables about money: the unjust steward and the rich man and Lazarus. Much of these parables deal with the issue of time, immediate gratification versus delayed gratification. Giving without expectation does not pay now, but it will pay later. There are four ways to bless others using money: creating jobs, experiences, partnerships, and hospitality. The Bible implores us to serve God, not money. When we serve God, money is downgraded to a resource that can be used toward greater ends.

In this episode, we continue our series on how to be rich. Our society is preoccupied with control and taking charge. The great sin of humanity is when we think we are god rather than vessels to serve God. To become truly rich requires listening to the Lord. There are two ways to improve our experience in hearing what God has to say: read the bible and listen to godly people. Doing this builds a foundation of truth, humility, and spiritual wealth.