Let me say something that might sound strange coming from a guy who's spent the last few weeks talking about building a business.

Money is not the goal.

I know. You need it. I need it. We all need it to build, invest, acquire, grow, and provide for our families. Scripture is full of men who had plenty and used it well. Paul funded entire missionary journeys, hired crews, and ran what was essentially a traveling enterprise that turned employees into disciples. Abraham, Solomon, and Joseph were all men of God who had more than enough and were able to provide for their household and others as well.

So this isn't about avoiding wealth. It's about what happens when wealth becomes the thing you're building toward.

Because there's a version of this that goes sideways fast.

When I left my 9-to-5 and launched my business, something happened that I wasn't ready for was going from making $50K/yr to $100,000 in less than eight months. Then I helped my wife launch hers and she hit that same number in under four months. People started asking how we did it. Telling us how impressive it was. How proud they were. How they wanted to do what we did.

And I'll be honest with you. That can go to your head real quick.

The same drive that builds a business can quietly shift from building for God to building for the applause. The same focus that gets results can slowly transfer from faithfulness to figures. And before you know it you're checking your revenue more than you're checking your heart.

1 Timothy 6:10 is one of the most misquoted verses in Scripture. People say money is the root of all evil. That's not what it says.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

The love of money. The craving for it. The obsession with it. That's what does the damage. It's no different than any other addiction. It starts as a tool and ends as a master.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 backs this up hard.

"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income. This is also vanity."

You can build a 7-figure business and still feel empty if money is what you built it for. The hunger doesn't go away. It just grows.

So if money isn't the goal, what is?

Impact. Leadership. Legacy.

Proverbs 22:1 says a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. Proverbs 22:4 says the reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Notice the order. Humility and fear of the Lord come first. Everything else gets added.

1. Your business is a witness.

How you treat your clients, your employees, your vendors, the people who follow you online, the young entrepreneur who reaches out for advice — all of it is either pointing people toward Christ or away from Him. The fruits of the Spirit aren't just for Sunday morning. They're your operating system. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That's your brand. That's your culture. That's what makes your business worth building.

2. Your platform is not yours.

Every award you win, every recognition you receive, every person who looks up to you and says I want to do what you did — that is God giving you stewardship over influence. You don't own it. You manage it. And how you manage it determines how much more He'll trust you with.

3. Your legacy outlasts your revenue.

Ten years from now the numbers won't matter as much as the men you helped raise up. The employees you led well. The clients you served with integrity. The family that watched you build something without losing your soul in the process.

Paul got to a point in his life where he could look the people in his sphere in the eye and say imitate me as I imitate Christ. That is one of the most powerful things a man can say. Follow how I'm doing this. Follow how I'm building this. Follow how I'm leading this as I follow the Lord.

That's the goal.

Not the revenue. Not the recognition. Not the lifestyle. The ability to look at the men around you and say follow me as I follow Him and know that you mean it.

Build toward that. Structure your business around that. Make decisions through that lens. And watch what God does with a man who builds for legacy instead of money.

Write down the answer to this question:

If the answer is yes, you're building for the right reason. If it gave you pause, that's worth sitting with before you make another move.

Proverbs 30:8-9 says it best.

"Remove far from me falsehood and lying. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God."

Just enough to be faithful. Just enough to be fruitful. Build from there.

Amazing convo between Wesley Huff and Stephen Bartlett on the fact you will go to hell if you don’t believe in Christ.

Even when you are disagreeing, treat each other with dignity and respect. If you are saying your prayers aren’t being answered, maybe it starts with how you’re treating your wife.

Claude AI has officially replaced ChatGPT as my go-to AI tool. This connected with Lovable.dev is a complete hack for building and prototyping ideas. In fact if you use this link you’ll get a week free to see what you can build with Claude. I’m so obsessed with this that I’m offering a full one-hour AI consultation with clients on how to use tools like this to get your ideas onto paper and start iterating to a better product. I personally made an extra $9,000 last month on 3 small projects using Claude.

Remember, we are building lives, families, and legacies that last. Don’t fret on the future, be faithful with what’s in your hand today.

Rooting for you always,

Joshua Brown
Chief Firestarter at Soulfire

Most retirement plans underestimate two things: how long your savings need to last, and how quietly inflation erodes them along the way.

The 15-Minutes Retirement Plan helps you close both gaps with practical guidance on longevity risk, purchasing power, and building a financial plan that doesn't run out before you do.

If you have $1,000,000 or more saved, download your free guide to start.

Download Your Free Guide.