When most Christians hear "treasure," they think money. But treasure is bigger than the offering plate.

In this episode, David opens up about the private equity buyout he had on the table in August 2024 — "commas in it I'd never imagined" — and why he said no. He shares the "is this it?" moment that hit him on a Tuesday afternoon golf course, the 60–70% of organic growth his firm has lost since openly becoming a Christian wealth company, and why he'd still make the same decision today.

The conversation widens into patterns David sees as a CFP: why entrepreneurs are calculated in their businesses but reckless with personal finances, the "house money" trap that lands when income grows, the Billy Graham line that keeps getting more accurate, and the sobering data behind the Kerux mission — Christians control roughly 30% of global wealth and give half as much as the generation before us.

The episode takes a turn most listeners won't expect when David names the other treasure he didn't realize he'd been worshipping: reputation. He shares the personal cost of openly rebranding as a Christian firm — going from well-regarded to being seen as a clown by some he respected — and the fearlessness that has shown up on the other side of that surrender.

We close with King David, a man of significant wealth who gave significantly to build a temple he never got to see, and the closing challenge: what's off-limits to God in your life — and is that the very thing keeping Him from taking you to the next chapter?

Chapters:

00:00 — Treasure Is Bigger Than Money
02:30 — Directions, Not Rules: How God Talks About Money
05:00 — Philippians 4:19 — Needs vs. Wants
08:00 — The Exit I Didn't Take
13:00 — Calculated in Business, Reckless Personally
18:30 — The House Money Trap
23:00 — The Billy Graham Test
26:00 — The 30% Problem (Kerux Origin)
29:00 — Can Christians Be Wealthy?
33:00 — Reputation: The Idol I Didn't See
38:00 — A Man After God's Own Heart
42:00 — What's Off-Limits to God?

Soundbites:

"The prize was never money. The prize was Jesus, present with you."
"It's not house money. It's His money."
"Reputation might be your biggest idol — and you don't even know it."

Bible Verses Referenced:

Philippians 4:19 • 1 Timothy 6:17–19 • Matthew 6:21 • Colossians 1:27 • Philippians 4:11–13 • Romans 8:28

KERUX:

Kerux (Greek for "messenger / herald") exists to help Christian entrepreneurs and leaders steward the time, talent, and treasure they've been given — and take hold of the "life that is truly life" 1 Timothy 6 describes.

The monthly Kerux newsletter is the best on-ramp. We cover markets, stewardship, and what whole-life generosity looks like in practice.

→ Sign up at KERUXHQ.com

If this episode resonated, share it with one entrepreneur or leader wrestling with the gap between their faith and their finances. That single share is how the message travels.

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