What I Got Wrong About Money and God

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. In today's video, I want to talk about something that I think every entrepreneur runs into sooner or later, because most of you watching this, you're not beginners. You're already building. You're already making money. Maybe you're making 10, 20,000amonth, maybe 50 or 100. And some of you even more than that. And I've been there. I've chased the numbers, I've chased the lifestyle, and I've chased the upgrades, whether it's the fancy cars, the penthouses, the watches. And I'm grateful for that journey because it really taught me a lot. But what I realized is this is the part people don't really talk about, is you can hit the goals you thought you were going to do, and then you still feel that missing void. And it's confusing because externally, everything looks successful, but internally, you're like, why do I still feel unsettled? Why does it still feel like there's something deeper I'm meant to be doing? And for me, that was the crossroads where I started to realize my higher purpose wasn't just in business. It was with God. It was alignment, it was meaning. And if you don't find that, you can keep chasing more and more and more, and it'll never really land. So I wanted to share this with you because some of you are already at that point right now, and some of you are maybe a couple of steps away from it. And one of the biggest mistakes many people make is assuming that fulfillment will automatically come with more success, more money, or more achievement. And we live in this world where we're obsessed with talent, results, and this outward success. Modern culture tells us that some people just have something special. And once you reach a certain level, then you've made it. But even when you do reach that level, something really interesting happens. Like you realize that hitting these goals doesn't automatically bring peace, whether it's 1 million, 5 million, 10 million. And there's a parable that Jesus tells in the Bible In Matthew 25, the parable of talents. And this completely reframes what we should think about success, your own ability and responsibility. So he talks about a master gives three servants different amounts of money before going away for a while. So one layer, get five bags, another two bags, and the last one, one. So when the master returns, the servants who invested what they were given are rewarded. The one who buried his money out of fear was punished. So the key point that I learned there was the servant with the least wasn't punished for having less. He was punished for doing nothing with what he had. So it wasn't about how much they were given, it was about what they actually did with it. So in today's world, a lot of people misunderstand this because some chase more and more and more success, thinking that is the answer. And then others compare themselves constantly because they feel left behind, that these people are way more successful than them. But the real message is about, like, stewardship. God gives each of us different abilities, opportunities, and platforms, and we are responsible for how we use them. Now, fear is what causes people to misuse or waste what they've actually been given. Not just fear of failure, but fear of, like, stepping into something bigger than just comfort and money. Now, the modern world is obsessed with appearances, not actual substance within people. And I've seen many people. Like, I've lived in Dubai for nearly five years. You see a lot of people that think they've got it figured out, but I see them behind the scenes. I. I've known many people who lie on social media, not because they enjoy lying, but because they feel like they have to. And when you actually see that every day, it's going to put pressure on you. So you need to stop measuring your progress against highlighted reels. Even when you're doing well, it can make you feel like you're just never enough. But the truth is, no one has their life fully figured out. Everyone has doubts. I have doubts. Everyone has anxieties. Everyone has different areas that they'd rather hide or feel uncomfortable about. But yet, online, people, like, only show you what makes them look good. And that creates this cycle where you're constantly chasing the next level, thinking that it's eventually going to bring fulfillment. But there's always this little voice in your head trying to make you think smaller or telling you that you need more to finally feel complete. And that voice gets louder and louder and. And your mind is constantly filled with all this noise, phones, social media, endless information, AI content, podcasts. If you don't deliberately work on your mindset and your spiritual life, you will start measuring yourself by standards that were never meant to define you. Now you might be thinking, okay, James, well, I'll set back from social media. I'll limit distractions. Well, that is a good start, and that definitely helps. But your immediate environment plays a big part, too. Like, your surroundings will also always shape what you think is normal. So this is the people you hang around with and spend time with, the standards you're exposed to day to day, and what success looks like around you. Because if you're in an environment where everything revolves around money, status and upgrades. Naturally, I was in that environment. That becomes your primary motivator. And that is good to a point. And that was me for a long time. I wanted more money. I wanted the better cars. The Rolls Royces, the Lamborghinis, the Ferraris, the best clothes always like, and I do like my clothes like the lifestyle. So traveling on private jets, like staying in the best places, driving all of the fancy cars, like going from business class to first class, these are all great. And that cycle really pushed me forward. That was my driving force, that gave me the momentum. But eventually I realized something. Once you've tasted that world, it stops satisfying in the same way. So you'll hear from people before talking about when they get a car or watch that they get bored of it. After six months, I buy a car and after, honestly, three or four days, I'm bored of it. I bought Ferraris recently, new Bentleys. And it's a blessing. It's a blessing from God and I'm so thankful for it. But it's not what really drives me now. And then since finding my faith, like my motivation has evolved. So now it's about gratitude, giving thanks to God for what I've achieved. So I still enjoy the success and I still enjoy the finer things, but because none of it would have been possible without him. So today it's about sharing, helping others, using whatever talents I've been given for good to spread the word. And that's what really drives me now. So the key point is, is we all need motivation, we all chase something. And success isn't bad, money isn't bad. But success on its own was never meant to be the end goal. It's meant to be a tool. So what practical steps can you take to stop chasing fulfillment in the wrong places and start using that for what God has given you properly? Now, the first investment is always in yourself. So in mindset, your discipline, your character, and your spiritual life, that is the most important part. You still need to work hard, you still need systems in your business, you still need to build, you still need to grind. But now it's about like, stewardship rather than ego. So if you lean into what you're good at, protect your strengths and develop your skills, like, always focus on what you're strong at. And then most importantly, surround yourself with the right people. Because if you put yourself in environments that really push you forward in that right direction, that's going to really help. And, and above all, you need to take Responsibility. Because God has given you all talents, opportunities and influence in the world. And they aren't meant to be wasted or used purely for personal gain. They're meant to be multiplied. So the parable of talents that you can read here In Matthew, verse 25 isn't just about money or productivity. It's about responsibility before God. Because one day I will stand before God and give an account for my life. And on that day, success will not be measured by comparison to others or how much I've earned. It will be measured by whether I did everything possible with what I was given. I don't do what I do for ego anymore. I don't do it now for status. And I don't do it just for the money. I do it so that on that day I can honestly say I use my opportunities well. I believe the more that you are given by God, the greater responsibility you carry from God to give more. So for everyone who has been given much, much more is required of them. And God will guide each of us to our calling, whether it seems big or small. I also believe it's possible to have more than one calling. So as long as they complement each other. So mine is business and then God. In my case, I believe my calling is to bring others to faith by spreading the word of God and creating wealth and business kingdom in my own life and helping others to do that. Because I. I see money as energy to do good for others. I want a strong marriage, I want a strong family. I have a life built on Christian values. These are things I work towards now because your calling might be the same or it might be slightly different, but one thing certain is you are here for a purpose. No matter how successful you already are, God has given you enough to fulfill it. So just remember, burying your talent out of fear or comfort has a cost, and that cost is regret. It's better to try and fail than to never step into what you were called to do at all. So what I would say with that is like, even if you are just 10 or 20, came on right now and you're thinking, well, once I get to a certain landmark, then I can give back. The point of this parable is that you can always do more. Like God has given you opportunities in life, don't just hold your money now and think, that's it, I've made it, get my feet up, there is always more. You do not want to die on the deathbed knowing that you've left something on the table. Because God has given you so much wisdom and opportunity in life that you can make a bigger impact. And then for all of you that are out there at different levels of your entrepreneurial journey, there is still more to give. There is still more burdens that you can take on your shoulder. Like Jesus carried the cross on his back for all of us, for all of our sins. You've got more to give in your life. And hopefully that passage has inspired some of you to go out and give more and to give back more and to know that you can achieve more in your life.