Matt Bell

Apr 19

12 min read ⭑

“One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned about the Holy Spirit is that through the most beautiful experiences in this world, the Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse of heaven. That was a stunning realization. When I started to understand that, it opened up a whole new level of understanding about money for me.”

For author, speaker, and financial expert Matt Bell, the story of the prodigal son is especially meaningful. In his younger years, after receiving an inheritance and watching it dwindle to nothing, Matt was forced to start over. It was in this place of humility that God met him in a life-changing way. Today, Matt is passionate about helping others understand the freedom that comes from handling money in ways that honor God. He spends his time as managing editor at Sound Mind Investing, writing books, and speaking at events around the nation geared toward helping others grow in biblical wisdom in money matters. Keep reading to learn how God used money to get Matt’s attention, how golf played a role in his journey to faith, and how he sees gratitude as an indispensable resource.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to a meal than palate and preference. How does your go-to order at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

We live in Louisville now, but I will always think of Chicago as home. That's where I met my wife, Jude. It's where our three kids were born. I just love all things Chicago—the family and friends we still have there, the city's history, the architecture, the grittiness and beauty. We were there recently for a quick visit and one night ordered pizza to be delivered to our hotel. Of course, it was Chicago-style deep-dish pizza (Lou Malnati's). That's the way God intended pizza to be made. It was a simple night—the five of us sitting on beds enjoying some amazing pizza and good conversation.

Life is changing. Our oldest is in college now. The other two aren't far behind, so the times when we're all together are especially sweet. To be together in the city I love with the people I love, enjoying a simple but incredible meal that is uniquely Chicago—well, it doesn't get much better for me.

Shortly after we moved to Louisville in 2012, I was in Chicago for a brief visit. I'll never forget the day I had to leave. As I was soaking in my surroundings, so enjoying being there, I was shocked by the sudden realization that I didn’t live there anymore. In an instant, I went from joy to sadness. But as I drove out of town, I sensed God gently reminding me that whether I live in Chicago, Louisville, or Timbuktu, this is not my home. I felt him encouraging me that He has good plans for my family and me in Louisville.

The move has helped me on my journey of holding more and more of life with open hands. Still, I'll always love Chicago. Being there with my family recently, enjoying a simple meal of Chicago-style pizza in our hotel room, left me deeply satisfied and grateful.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests, but we tend to hide them. What do you love doing that might surprise (or shock) people?

I used to play a ton of golf and still love the game even though I don't have the time to play very much right now. The summer after high school is when I peaked. I worked at a nine-hole public course and tied the course record that summer, shooting a 31 on a par 36 course. I know. Cue up Springsteen's "Glory Days," right?

Golf even factors into my story of coming to faith. In my mid-20s I inherited $60,000 from an uncle who passed away. I used the money to create my dream job, a newsletter for people who take golf vacations, which combined my passions for golf and travel. It was a great excuse to go play Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and some of the great courses in Florida, Puerto Rico, and along Spain's Costa del Sol. It was everything I hoped it would be—except profitable.

I was so blind to what was happening with the inherited money and so acclimated to the life I was living that when the money ran out, I kept funding that life on credit cards. When I finally woke up to the reality of my situation—$20,000 of credit card debt—I took my parents up on their kind offer to move home with them for a bit. It was humbling to say the least. I went from living the life to living in my parents' basement in the small town where I grew up. That's when a friend from college got back in touch. He had become a Christian and was eager to talk about matters of faith. That put me on a path toward becoming a Christian at age 29.

A few years ago, I read an article that made me realize how much I still love golf. It was about David Duval. He was the number one golfer in the world in 1999, but not long after, his game fell off a cliff. The article was about how he tried to find his game again, and it mentioned a shot he hit in a practice round that was so perfect it made him cry. To a non-golfer, that probably sounds ridiculous, but it completely resonated with me.

Golf is a maddening, mysterious, incredibly beautiful game. Today, just putting my clubs in the trunk of my car and arriving at a course where I can hear shots being hit on the range and smell the freshly cut grass sends an indescribable joy coursing through my veins. To play on a beautiful course with people I enjoy is one of life's great pleasures. And on those rare occasions when I hit a really good shot, well, it's hard to explain, but there's something transcendent about that.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We're just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

I have a tendency to move through life as if I'm sitting in first class with the sense that, at any moment, a flight attendant is going to tell me a mistake was made—that my seat is in coach. I imagine having to gather up my things and walk back to where I belong while all the other passengers watch and shake their heads. I think the fancy term for that is the imposter syndrome.

I suppose it keeps me humble, but I think it has also held me back. I've told our kids that the ideal is to give your best in whatever you do and strive to do a great job, but to always walk humbly. To be confident in your abilities—bold and unapologetic in using them to do some good in the world—but not to be full of yourself. Humble confidence is the goal. I can't think of many examples of people like that—people who are incredibly good at what they do, but down to earth. I'm not talking about false humility here. It's hard to define, but "humble confidence" seems to be the best descriptor.

I can also be really hard on myself. I obsess over details, try to make the absolute best decisions, and blame myself if something goes wrong. I could stand to lighten up a little.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

I didn't start learning how to manage money until I had mismanaged a lot of money. And now, helping people apply biblical teachings about money to their lives in very practical ways is my life's work.

While I've written and taught on a lot of biblical money-management topics, I'm especially passionate about helping young people get on a good, God-honoring path with money as early as possible. That's what my new book, Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management, is all about. I'm doing all that I can to encourage every parent with kids at home to read it.

There's so much at stake here. It isn't that if we don't teach our kids about money, they won't learn. They will learn, but the consumer culture—with its messages of "you don't have enough" and "you’re not enough"—will be their teacher. It is far better for parents to be their teachers.

There's also so much incredible potential here. Compounding is a concept that's normally applied to investing. It's the idea that over a long period of time, money invested in a way that earns a return can grow into a lot of money. I like thinking about that in all areas. Think about a young person who develops a heart of compassion for some of the world's great needs and cultivates some generous financial habits. Imagine how God could multiply that over her lifetime—not just in the tangible investments she makes in God-honoring causes, but also in how her generous heart will ripple out into all of her relationships. Think about a young person who gets his relationship with God and money sorted out early in life. Imagine how God could multiply that in his relationship with his future spouse and think about the freedom he will have to make the difference his life was designed to make.

Kids have an invaluable asset. They have time. If we as parents will help foster within them biblical financial perspectives and practices, there's no telling how much good God could bring about in them and through them.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it's God when it happens?

It's incredible to think that God actually lives within each of His followers, including me! I can't actually fully understand it, but I know it's true. I'm learning to lean into that power, to begin each day asking God to help me be attentive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit and to give me the courage and wisdom to be responsive to those leadings.

This is an area where I'm growing. It's becoming clearer to me when I'm being observant and obedient and when I'm not. It shows up in little ways, like when I'm tempted to rush into the start of a day and I feel a nudge to stop and spend time in prayer first. And it's showing up in bigger ways, like when I'm tempted to be irritated with someone and I feel a nudge to be compassionate, to remember that we all, including that person I'm feeling irritated with, have something going on beneath the surface of our lives. Again, I'm certainly not perfect at this. There are still times when I rush on or get irritated. But I think God is growing me in this area. I can feel the emptiness in the rushing on and getting irritated, and I can sense the peace and satisfaction when I stop and when I am compassionate.

One of the most powerful lessons I've learned about the Holy Spirit is that through the most beautiful experiences in this world, the Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse of heaven. That was a stunning realization. When I started to understand that, it opened up a whole new level of understanding about money for me. When we think of the greatest things of this world as "it," as the ultimate source of happiness, we can get into all sorts of financial trouble chasing after and trying to hang on to those things. But when we see them as wonderful gifts from God, and even little glimpses of heaven, we can hold them with open hands, appreciating them with a deep sense of gratitude toward God, all the while knowing there is something even greater that is yet to come.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Some people divide things sacred and things secular. But you know, God can surprise us in unlikely places. How do you find spiritual renewal in so-called "nonspiritual" activities?

Over the past year, I've been feeling like my faith has plateaued. I've been wanting to grow more, to know God's Word better, to know God better! Oh, I serve and I'm part of a couple of small groups, but I've been feeling stagnant. So when I heard about a new men's group that was opening up—one that came with a lot of rigor and would be led by a pastor I deeply respected—I jumped at the chance to join.

There are 10 guys in the group, and we meet each Wednesday morning at 6:15. There's a fair amount of work to be done between sessions—a lot of Scripture to take in and some to memorize. With the help of the skilled leader, we gather weekly to unpack it, reflect on its application in our lives, and get on our knees in prayer. Then we stay connected throughout the week. It's been so good, so rich. I know God is using this group to jump-start my spiritual growth. I'm more deeply in the Word. The Scripture memorization is writing God's Word on my heart. And spending time with these men has encouraged and challenged me to be a better husband, father, provider, friend, and Christ-follower.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith. But you know about some really great stuff too. What are three of your favorite resources?

I can only pick three? It's tough to narrow the list, but I'll give it a shot.

The book The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge. I read this book early in my Christian journey, and it ministered to my soul. Curtis and Eldredge write powerfully about the heart—the arrows we've all taken, what our hearts truly long for, the temptations we all feel to fall for lesser gods, and God's wild redemptiveness. It's a powerful read.

The book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. It's about seeing life through the filter of story. Miller writes with heart and humor. I loved reading about his fascinating and hilarious pursuit of finding out what elements are essential to every good story, the examples he gives of what happens when we pursue a story that's not big enough, and the stories of people who are living big, adventurous, God-led lives.

The song "Everything is a Gift" by Michael Olson. I heard Olson perform this song at a church in Phoenix, and it blew me away. I like to turn it up loud and just meditate on the words: "When it's quiet and still and I count each blessing, it is overwhelming." Yes, it is! Everything truly is a gift. I want to always remember that and live from that perspective.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it's done for you.

What comes to mind is gratitude. (I hope that counts as a resource!) I can get cranky and impatient with the best of them, but I don't have to look far to see so many things to be grateful for around me. When I stop to consider that, it makes all the difference.

I went through a season when I was doing way too much complaining and even criticizing. As you might imagine, that didn't exactly do wonders for my relationships with the people I love most. Those tendencies can still flare up from time to time, but I'm trying to be much more intentional about recognizing and giving thanks for all that's good. And there's so much good. My beautiful wife, our three awesome kids, the work I get to do, the beauty of God's creation, our sweet dog.

Life really is a gift, and it's short. I'm trying to stop wasting time complaining and criticizing; instead, I’m trying to draw much more frequently on this amazing, good-for-the-soul resource called gratitude.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So, give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

I was recently a guest on a podcast targeted toward Christian men, and the host asked a wonderful question he asks of all of his guests: "What's the biggest challenge men face today, and how do we overcome it?" I had time to think about it in advance, and the answer I felt God putting on my heart was this: The biggest challenge men face today is resisting the temptation to live an easy, comfortable life.

That really resonates with me. Life is short. Incredibly, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, and Scripture tells us we were made for lives of good deeds that God prepared in advance for us to do. One translation of the Bible says we've all been given something to do that shows who God is. We need to get off the stands and onto the field. There's a place for rest and relaxation, but, for the most part, I want to be thoroughly used up for God's purposes by the time He calls me home.

We've each been given gifts and talents and passions. I want to spend my entire life putting all of that to productive use for God's glory. I don't want to get to the end of my life and say, "Whew, I made it." I don't want to survive or get by or endure or play it too safe. I want to daily, passionately, and tirelessly seek out and do God's will.

God used money to get my attention and draw me into a relationship with Him. To my dying day, I want to help others use money in joyful, God-glorifying ways. I especially want to help young people get on a good, God-honoring path with money as early as possible. There's just so much good that could come about.

Matt Bell has learned that searching for happiness in what the world has to offer can lead to financial ruin. When we believe that our ultimate contentment is wrapped up in what we can acquire or achieve for ourselves in life, we are set up to chase after things that can never satisfy us.

Thankfully, God offers us a different way. He knows that true joy and satisfaction can only be found in Him and invites us to partner with him in all areas of life, including finances. How can you surrender your finances in new ways to God? What would it look like to be financially free to do the work God has set you apart to do?

Matt Bell is Managing Editor at Sound Mind Investing, a Christian company that helps people invest well. He is the author of the new book, Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management. Bell also writes the Matt About Money blog, has spoken at events throughout the U.S., and offers video training through RightNow Media.

Bell's unintentional reenactment of the Bible’s parable of the prodigal son completely changed his life, opened his eyes to a whole new way of managing money, and introduced him to his life's work. He lives with his wife, Jude, and their three children near Louisville.

Justin Camp