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Moving Mountains: One Christians Perspective on Faith, Building Wealth, Entrepreneurship, and Life

Updated: Jan 24


A man standing on the edge of a body of water staring across it to mountains on the other side of the body of water.

For quite some time, I’ve wrestled with how to begin this project—an essay, thesis, or perhaps a personal manifesto on faith, finances, and success. In many ways the thoughts and ideas I want to explore in whatever this is, was the original idea that started all my other essays and writings so far. In it, I aim to tie together many threads: my understanding of biblical faith, my views on entrepreneurship, having money or wanting to build wealth as a Christian, the rise and grind or hustle mentality, and an expansion on lessons I shared in my testimony blog post. This reflection will delve into how mountains are moved by faith, not always with a single dramatic miracle, but often through a steady, years-long commitment fueled by trust in God. In this work I speak on faith as a Christian and I want to make an important distinction before I begin. I think there are two different faiths and honestly I don't know how exactly to separate the two other than by how they feel. The first is the faith that someone needs to deal with a situation like an unexpected cancer diagnosis. They lived a “healthy” lifestyle and now they have found themselves in the middle of a situation that with human understanding there is no conceivable way to get out of that situation. That sort of situation requires one to firmly lean on God and if there is a way to be saved from that situation it requires them to solely rely on God. This might also look like an unexpected death or something else. This sort of faith is not what I am discussing in this essay. 


The second type of faith in my view is what I am discussing here. Perhaps it might make sense to use the word hope as a substitute for this type of faith. It is the type of faith that someone needs for a change in one's life, or for an improvement or for a desired outcome. This is the type of faith an entrepreneur must have when they are working towards their vision. This is the type of faith that I want to discuss. Again in my estimation, most situations and circumstances in life require this sort of faith over the first kind. I think many people in this life find themselves in a situation and they believe that they need the first kind when in reality they need this second type. I think the biggest difference is in the amount of influence you personally have over the outcome. I believe that many people abdicate their role and responsibility in how their lives play out and instead choose to put all the blame or the praise on God or on “life” and while God should be given all the glory, people have far more responsibility for the outcomes in their life than they want to admit or acknowledge. 


This second type of faith is what I want to explore in this writing. It touches most areas of our life, finances, vocation, family, friends, health, wealth, and everything else. I also believe that getting the second type of faith right and practicing it leads to a strong first type of faith. I also believe that it is a more challenging type of faith to have. So let's dive in and explore some of these claims. I speak mostly about finances, wealth, success and building a life you find fulfilling but this is something that pertains to everyone even if you think that you do not care about those things. 



Faith That Works Over Time


Many of us have heard the phrase “faith like a mustard seed,” taken from Matthew 17:20, where Jesus says that if our faith were only the size of a mustard seed, we could command a mountain to move, and it would. People often take this to mean that no one in this world has true faith because when was the last time a mountain just up and walked away? Or they misconstrue this to mean you can (or should) simply pray once and watch the impossible unfold overnight. Yet if you look around, “mountains” are moved more often than you think—just in ways less dramatic (or comedic) than an entire mountain picking up its skirts like a Victorian era lady in one of those giant hoop dresses and tiptoeing into the ocean.



A Modern-Day Mountain Mover


Have you ever heard of a man by the name of Dasrath Manjhi? If you don’t recall his name, you might have heard his story. It’s quite an impressive story. He literally moved a mountain. Now I know what you’re thinking—“did he get alongside it and just shove it out of the way?” No, that didn’t happen, but let me tell you what he did do and why it was so impressive.

Dasrath Manjhi was a poor farmer in India, and he requested the government to build a road through the mountain connecting two small towns. After multiple denials, he decided to do it himself. The man then spent the next 22 years of his life using a hammer, chisel, and shovel to move the mountain and build a road through it. All that time, he was ridiculed; the government never stepped in to help, and even after he died—shortly after the road was completed—he never received any rewards, accolades, or recognition.

In his last interview, he stated, “What I did is there for everyone to see. When God is with you, nothing can stop you.” He didn’t do it for fame or money; he did it because he knew it was important. Kids in the villages now have easier access to education, the people have better access to medical care, and supplies and necessities can be delivered to the village.

His story, I believe, perfectly illustrates a key point about faith. What requires more faith: a person who “needs” faith for a short time, or a man who requires faith for 22 long years? Does the length of time we remain faithful say something about the depth of our belief? It’s easy to have faith for a day, but what happens when we hit our first roadblock or obstacle—do we still persevere in faith? Dasrath Manjhi didn’t just face roadblocks; he had to create the road.



The Length of Faith and Immediate Gratification


I believe that the length of time one devotes to a goal or outcome directly correlates to the depth of their faith. In today’s culture—and really, throughout history—humanity craves immediate gratification. We fantasize about praying that one “perfect” prayer, and suddenly all our problems vanish. But from my point of view, that wouldn’t require much faith. John 20:29 resonates here, for me: “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” Jesus is speaking to some of his disciples after he was resurrected and Thomas needed to see him in order to believe that he was risen. I wonder how many of us are like that, “I need that undeniable immediate proof or else I will doubt and fall into despair”. It’s one thing to believe in God when results are instant, but it’s another thing entirely to stay faithful year after year, pressing on even when people call you foolish or delusional or if the situation becomes challenging. 


Think of Noah, MY goodness, he had a journey now. How many years did it take for him to build the ark? People thought he was nuts. Now the bible doesn't specifically state how long it took him to build the ark, although because God basically gives a declaration that “Humans days will be a hundred and twenty years” Genesis 6:3, that it could have taken Noah up to 120 years to build the ark.That is insane! Imagine God saying “hey do this thing for me because it is important” and then spending potentially over 100 years on the project! That blows my mind to think about, I think that is one of the most faith filled stories in the bible. I think by perhaps year 5 I would have been questioning, “Did God actually tell me to build this?” David taking out Goliath with a stone after maybe a couple days of prayer and mulling over his decision doesn't have anything on spending a literal lifetime on something like building the ark for a flood that didn't come for 120 years. God didn't just tell him to do this thing and then Noah sat down and prayed for 120 years, he worked, he had to chop down trees, mill them, put the thing together, all the while taking care of his family and his other responsibilities. If there is a character in the bible that represents the desirable traits of faith that an entrepreneur should have it is Noah. In clarity Genesis 6:3 in some translations also could be referring to an age cap that God decided to put on humans. Regardless it still must have taken Noah quite a while to build the ark.


For anyone who has spent years of their lives working toward a goal with no reward and having to listen to people say things like they are foolish or they are just wishfully thinking. Those years are not fun, as one who has gone through periods like that many times, often the only way I was able to make it through those times was leaning on my belief that God was making the way. In every significant endeavor, I’ve always tried to pray something along these lines: “God, not my will but your’s be done, Lord. If it is to be, then you must be the one to put the path before me and the correct opportunities in my way, I will walk the path and do the work, but this only happens if you make the way.” Sometimes I word it differently, but that structure always remains:


  1. Acknowledge that I want to live and work toward His plan before my own.

  2. Trust Him to provide the way—opportunities, people, and open doors.

  3. Recognize that I must do the work. God is not a genie to grant wishes; I’ve got to get my hands dirty, actually show up and do the work.



Faith in Every Sphere of Life


It’s not just about business or grand projects—this principle of faith extends to every area of our lives. When I was competing in martial arts, I prayed similarly before each competition. “Guide my mind, my eyes, feet and hands.” But I still had to train, eat right, and hone my techniques. God wasn’t about to swoop down and implant Jason Bourne-level skills in me if I never practiced.


The same goes for finances, health, achieving a personal dream, earning back someone's lost trust in you, or even overcoming some sin problem. Whether you want that dream job, seek to get out of debt, or face a tough diagnosis, we often hope for a miracle. While I do believe God still does miracles through that first type of faith, I also believe He sees our hearts and knows what we’re capable of. If we can grow through the process—like a muscle being strengthened by ever-increasing resistance—then perhaps God chooses to let us discover our own capacity by partnering with Him over time and committing to do the work he has placed before us, this is where the second type of faith is required.



Faith In Friendship and Relationships


I also apply the same principle to my relationships. I ask God to bring good people into my life, but it’s on me to maintain those connections, invest time, and sometimes endure conflict to strengthen them. Faith that God can “move mountains” includes faith that He can reshape hearts—but we still need to communicate, forgive, and show up for people consistently. 

I spent years without friends, a life like the kind I have tried to live is often a lonely life. If you want to be an entrepreneur and grow as a person, expect to face periods of time where you feel alone. Consistently trying to improve your life means you often outgrow your comforts. Just like when you work out you might need to get new clothes. Growing in your faith, entrepreneurship, or just life in general, often means that you might outgrow some of your friends, or even where you're geographically located. For Krystal and I this began to happen to us in early 2020. We felt the call to move to an area that we felt we could expand our lives and find a more fulfilling life in.


We made the decision to leave our family, our friends, sell all of our businesses, and move 1000 miles away to a place where we knew no one. It was a struggle for sure, and very lonely. While we still had our friends in Missouri, for the first two years in Florida we felt very isolated and alone. Eventually we found new friends and began to thrive not just in our entrepreneurial endeavors but also in our friendships, our relationship with our church, I even think we have a better relationship with our family now even though they are still so far away. During these periods of loneliness it is important to realize you are never truly alone. God is there with you and he can use these periods to strengthen your relationship with him, if you allow him. 


Some people will read the part above where I state that sometimes growing means outgrowing your old friends and think that is super negative or pessimistic. I'm not saying that those people are not our friends but the goals we have in our lives are no longer in alignment with those old friends or not attainable with where we were located and if we want to continue improving we will end up finding other people to look towards or people who have similar level of goals as us will naturally find their way to us. It’s natural that you would be drawn to people who are, who we want to be. I believe this is similar to how Jesus called his disciple to act, he called them to leave their families and their old lives to follow him. I am sure that those disciples had friends but because they were called to more, they ended up getting new friends. Jesus calls us to grow and to not stay stagnant in our lives. Many will read this and think that this would be too tough to do or a too callus action to be taken by them. Perhaps it is, like I have stated many times before. I do not know if my way is the best way and I am not a bible scholar, it is but one way and I am just one man trying to make sense of what I read from the bible and how I see the world. 


I think it depends on your goals in this life. If your goal is to stay where you are and not grow as a person then you should be fine. If you feel there is something more that you are called to, whether it's entrepreneurship, a career change, being a missionary, fixing your finances so you can be a better giver, being a better spouse, getting out of a pattern of sin or any other number of things. This is likely something that you will have to face.

A popular slogan in modern Christianity goes, “God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.” This is not a Bible verse, but it’s sometimes linked to James 1:2-4, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.


I see faith as a muscle. I want it to grow, so I often put myself in situations where I need to trust God more deeply. That might mean starting a new business, taking calculated risks, or even something more simple like tithing. For me, tithing is no simple act, as someone who aspires to create businesses and have means and wealth, how could I be faithful and trust in the lord to help me through that journey and to become that version of myself that I want to be if I can't even trust him with the money he has already given me. I don't think it necessarily needs to be given to your home church but I do think that as a simple way to exercise your faith, around at least money, you should find some way to give the lord back a tenth of what he has graciously given you. This essay or blog post or whatever this is, is not about the benefits of tithing. Perhaps I will write another blog post about that but I wanted to mention it as a practical way of developing your faith since it has been such an impact on Krystal and I’s life. It has nothing to do with my church, Tithing for us, is for us, we are the ones who get the benefit from tithing.



Another Perspective on Moving Mountains


Before I move on, let’s consider another “mountain-moving” phenomenon: the people who invented heavy machinery—bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks—engineered to literally move mountains. Think of feats like the Panama Canal or massive mining operations for granite or limestone. These weren’t overnight miracles; they were the result of years (sometimes decades) of research, design, refinement, hard work and sometimes even the loss of life.


Yes, we should be wise stewards of the environment, and no, we’re not God. But I can’t help but see faith in the relentless pursuit of building something that seems impossible at first. They had a vision, and they wouldn’t let “impossible” stop them. Whether you’re chiseling a road with hand tools or designing giant excavators, faith is often demonstrated in the sustained work behind the scenes.


I think I have sufficiently discussed how the depth of our faith can be measured by our commitment to a promise over time. In the following sections I want to discuss some other of the ancillary aspects that tie into this concept of trusting God and how that trust is demonstrated in our lives and in different situations.



Peace and Contentment in Faith


Philippians 4:11-13Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.


Part of this faith equation is living in peace and content at all times—even when everyone around you calls you crazy for the massive risks you’re taking. I’ve learned to stay calm in the middle of uncertainty, trusting that God will provide a way. Sure, things get challenging, but I don’t worry about whether we’ll have enough money for the bills or enough food to eat. I’ve discovered that no person or circumstance can steal my peace from me if I truly believe God’s in control. I see peace and faith as two sides of the same coin: once your faith is firmly established, it’s far easier to rest in peace, regardless of your situation. When you’re secure in your place and purpose with God, it becomes natural to lean back, trust Him, and let Him make a way.


I speak on this in my testimony. So much of my testimony is founded on this one principle. I tell the story of the time that we purchased a historic building and the building collapsed. While yes there was some part of me that “worried” about what the financial impact of that was going to be, I didn't worry, I slept easy, I kept working and I didn't allow my fears in that situation to control my actions or my thoughts. In the end it all worked out and I believe that God did work a genuine miracle for us behind the scenes that no amount of my work could have made possible. Some that knew us during that time called us lucky. While I believe in “luck” I don't call it luck, God blesses us and we are willing to trust him and most importantly we are willing to do the work to realize those blessings. 


Fear, I believe, is an inevitable part of this life. I'm not talking about being scared of spiders or clowns. I'm talking about the fear of some possible future outcome. I believe the best way to describe this version of fear is through the acronym “False Events Appearing Real”. It is our human nature for self preservation and this includes our subconscious inclination to fear potential threats, whether it is from internal or external factors that may present themselves in the future. 


Peace then is being able to acknowledge that while yes I am “worried” about that fear I also recognize that it is just one potential possibility and my faith allows me to continue to work towards a positive outcome. God will work the miracles behind the scenes but I still need to do my part in this equation. If I don't, did I have faith to begin with? The other half of this peace is contentment, so let's discuss that.


1 Timothy 6:6Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

This ties in so well with Philippians 4:11-13. Can you be content in your current life while still striving for more? I think most people would say you can't. I don't believe this is true though. I think contentment is a state of internal being. The peace that I discuss in the section above about Philippians 4:11-13 is part of this. But it goes beyond just that state of having internal peace. It takes that and combines it with the ability to truly focus on the present. 

Have you ever been in a situation where perhaps you had an important meeting or something coming up and you're at a coffee shop or something and you want to work or just sit and think about what is coming up. Someone you know perhaps has come up to talk with you and while you have time to talk and perhaps you exchange a little bit of dialogue the entire time you're focused on that important thing that is coming up? Or perhaps you're a parent and after a long day or you are thinking about what you need to do next to keep the ball rolling your realize that you have been “playing” with your kid for a half hour but you don't remember anything they have said or you realize that they have been trying to tell you something that is so important to them but because you were focused on your work or whatever it is, that you missed that moment. Perhaps you're a spouse and it's the same thing. You were so focused on some problem or an email you wanted to send that you missed something your wife wanted to tell you about. She was trying to tell you something that was important to her and you missed the opportunity to be present with her because of your desire to continue striving for that goal.


In many situations in life you might find yourself like this, perhaps you are an entrepreneur or an executive or something entirely different. While yes it is our job to work toward this goal, part of that peace that is required for faith is living in contentment and being present for what is going on around you. This ties into that state of worry that I just talked about. The fear that if we're not constantly working on that thing that we are not doing enough is a fear and is robbing us of relying and trusting in God to deliver his promise. In another subject I talk about this concept but I want to mention it here as well. If I believe that God wants something to happen he can make it happen in 40 hours a week. My wife and I have an agreement in our marriage and with God, that we can build whatever life we want to build but we only work 40 hours a week. This leaves us time to be present with each other, our children, our friends, our church and for the random opportunities that God puts before us. God multiplies our efforts, but we have to trust in him in order for that multiplication to work in our lives. So if you find yourself in this situation I would ask, are you allowing God to multiply your efforts or are you relying on your own strength and work to reach your dreams or goals?


People often wonder, “How can you focus on God if you’re focused on making money?” But for me, it’s not an either-or situation. I already focus on God first and foremost—He’s my foundation and the center of my life. So what do I do with my spare time? I use it to improve my life in ways that could bless and help others.


I’m already saved, and I believe Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is the Son of God who came to earth to live perfectly and then die a sinner’s death so that I could have a restored relationship with God. Once that belief took root, I realized there are many paths I could follow in this life. I could just work a 9–5, be stuck in a job I despise, and barely see my kids. Or, I could build a life I truly love, doing what I believe God has called me to do, and in turn be in a position to bless other people. Neither path is inherently wrong—both can honor God—but for some reason, when Christians say they want to be entrepreneurs or make life-changing money, they often face shame or criticism, most often by other christians.

I suspect this might be partially due to how churches handle the topic of money. In a typical Sunday sermon, pastors have limited time and need to paint with broad strokes to reach a wide audience. (I’ll discuss this in more depth in another essay about how Pareto’s Principle shows up in church culture.) By focusing on the “20%” of the Bible that covers the most universal truths—like salvation, grace, and repentance—preachers fulfill their mission to introduce the majority of people to Jesus and bring 80% of them into a relationship with him. But that broad approach often leaves little room for nuanced discussions on things like pursuing wealth in a way that honors God.


Yet the truth remains: as long as you’re following a God-honoring lifestyle, there’s no reason you can’t pursue endeavors that genuinely fulfill you and allow you to bless more people. In fact, that can be a wonderful way to live out the Great Commission—using your resources and talents to reach others, help them, and ultimately point them toward Christ. 

One of my favorite sermons on the topic of money was just given by my Pastor at our church just a month or two back. In it he said this line that I had never heard or even thought about even though I have spent so much time thinking about this subject. He mentioned the common saying about money “that you cant take it with you beyond the grave” and for that matter the common belief is that you can't take anything in this life with you into eternity and then he said something I will never forget, he said that thinking is wrong. We do take something to heaven with us, all of the disciples we helped make in this life. Using our gifts, our talents and yes our money in order to make more disciples of Christ and believers is the only thing we take into the next life. I thought this was so impactful and actually here is a link to that sermon. It is by far the greatest sermon on money I've ever heard and I don't think I heard a single thing I disagreed with how he phrased things. Back to the nuanced conversations and Pareto’s Principle, Most sermons on this subject, the way pastors often phrase things, is laced with implications and meaning regardless of whether they meant to or not and people pick up on those implications and because so many christians dont ever do any more research or study than what they get on sunday mornings they often hear the wrong things and come to the wrong conclusions.



Faith, Entrepreneurship, and the Pursuit of Success


Entrepreneurship and wealth can be tricky subjects in Christian circles. Verses like 1 Timothy 6:10—“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil…”—are frequently misunderstood as saying “money is evil.” THIS VERSE DOES NOT STATE THAT MONEY IS EVIL! As I said above about Pareto’s Principle in the church, the way churches often have discussed the subject in the past has given casual christians this belief, but this is not the case. Like anything in this life, when something takes your focus off of serving God and living a life that honors him you have wandered from the true essence of faith. This could be money, it could be women, it could be video games, it could be alcohol or drugs, it could be your favorite sports team, it could be any number of things.


Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Once we settle that Christ is our ultimate Master, building a business or creating financial stability can become an act of worship—fueling generosity, creating jobs, supporting families, creating opportunities to disciple, and so on.


Hebrews 11:1: “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” This verse is like the biblical version of the statement “put your money where your mouth is.” This too points to the idea that faith requires dedication and action. Can we truly say that we have faith if we are unwilling to put any effort into making it a reality? Look at what Mark 9:23: says: “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Back to a point I stated earlier, if you are unwilling to work or put effort and time into a desired outcome, do you have faith at all? I believe working and putting the time in is one of the biggest proof points that we do have faith in whatever desired outcome we have, I also believe that God sees this and he understands what we are capable of, he made us after all. 


But this too like any other behavior can be taken too far. If we only do the hard working part, 24/7 we minimize the time we spend with our family, friends, church, with our God. Are we not then relying on our own strength and work to reach that desired end goal? This is where peace and contentment must come into play. A man that neglects his other responsibilities by trying to work solely towards that desired end result is missing the point of all of this. Yes work, but you must rely on God to make the way. Do you truly have faith that God can make, whatever that desired end result for you is, a reality if you believe you have to work every second you are awake and sacrifice your relationships in order to make it happen?  If you believe in the same God that I do then you believe in a limitless God, He can make your desires a reality whether you work 40 hours a week or 400. 



Money Stewardship and Building Wealth As a Christian


A critical aspect of “mountain-moving” faith is stewardship. Proverbs 3:9-10 instructs us to honor the Lord with our wealth, promising God will fill our barns in return. When you feel led to earn more, plan how you’ll give more. Start before you become “rich,” so that generosity isn’t an afterthought—it’s part of who you are.


Jesus warns in Matthew 6:19-21 not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven, for where our treasure is, our hearts will be also. The famous line about a camel going through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24, also in Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25) underscores that we can’t rely on wealth to secure heaven. Salvation is a gift of grace through faith, needed equally by the poorest beggar and the wealthiest CEO.


“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, and Luke 18:25


This saying shows up three times in the new testament so clearly it was considered important. Some christians will use this as a saying against people who want to pursue money or wealth. However they seem to forget the next two verses in each of those books. The following verse shows us that the disciples Jesus was speaking to were amazed and they asked “then who, who could possibly make it to heaven”. Jesus responds in the following verse “That no man can make it to heaven on his own accord but that through God all things are possible.” Christians that state one of these verses as a way to justify not pursuing a life of means or to condemn those that do want that sort of life, seem to act that as though just because someone is poor or they struggle through life that they are somehow automatically more righteous than those with money or those who have a perceived “easier” life. This is just wrong. 


Everyone needs God, regardless of their situation in life. Through God and through hard work and faith anyone can improve their situation in life. Because a few don't view themselves as victims and they decide to improve their lives does not mean that they are not going to heaven. You can absolutely have money and still go to heaven, it takes the exact same faith that is required by the poor urchin in the gutter to get there. It’s also just as easy for a camel to go through an eye of need than it is for an average Joe who works all day and barely comes home in a state of vegetation because he hates his job and ignores his children, and just wants to turn on the football game, because he doesn't want to think about not having enough money and hating his job and how much he resents his life choices, instead of simply owning up to the choices that he made in this life that put him in this position. That man still needs God to get to heaven, just because he chooses his average lifestyle choices does not make him more holy or righteous. It’s also easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than it is for the lady who rushes through her day job she can't stand, comes home exhausted, ignores her children, snaps at her husband, and then sits on the couch scrolling through social media for hours so she doesn't have to face her financial problems. That lady too needs God to get to heaven.


I do not believe that the person who has found himself homeless because he has a drinking problem which led to him verbally abusing his children and wife to the point where they abandoned him to his life. That person still needs Jesus and just because he is “poor” does not mean he is righteous or he gets a “get to heaven for free” monopoly card. 


I have seen a far greater percentage of the “normal” 9-5 worker becoming a “slave” to money that I have seen entrepreneurs. That regular weekly paycheck becomes something that people come to rely on and the thought of doing something that might put that paycheck in danger often becomes a fear. During covid and the last four years I saw many christians refuse to stand up for what they believe in or to fight for what is right because they feared losing their job and their “security”. While unprecedented times like what we experienced in Covid do not happen very often, I still see it, just in less noticeable ways in regular times. Christians won't speak up, they don't try to disciple, they don't stand up for what is right or they refuse to make the choice that God is calling them too because they are so fearful of losing that oh so precious paycheck. They shape their lives around it, they argue with their spouse when things are tight, they stress about how they make it to the next paycheck. Their financial situation becomes an all consuming point of contention for their focus. But because I choose to try and build a life within boundaries that my wife and I have built together and agreed upon, and that I have prayed upon and continuously bring to God to ensure it is his will, I am often the one and other like me are often looked at with disdain because we have become a “slave” to money. 


If you are not an entrepreneur or you do not know a self employed person well enough to see their struggle you have no idea the amount of faith they must have. Being an entrepreneur is an incredible opportunity to rely on God and grow your faith. Every pay check is a blessing from God especially in those early days. When we first started out we would often go months without ever receiving any income and we had to rely and trust in God that he would somehow make a way and guess what, he always did and he still does. He would make those paychecks last months and every time we needed something he would deliver. It was such a blessing to have gone through that in our early years of marriage. It strengthened our resolve to trust in God with all our finances then and into today. I know that foundation is something that will last the rest of our lifetimes and hopefully we will have the ability to help our children also learn those lessons. 


So many couples fight about money, Money is often attributed as the number one reason why couples get divorced. In nearly ten years of being together, Krystal and I have thankfully never once argued about money. We budget together, we discuss it, and above all, we trust with our finances. 



Hard Work vs. Hustle Culture


I do not buy into the hustle culture that causes some founders to disregard their duties to family, friends, their relationship with Christ or his church. There is a fine line that everyone must walk in this life, it is not easy and I do not believe that I get it right every day, but everyday I try to walk that line to the best of my abilities.


If you read my essay on Free will vs. Pre-destination then you know that I do not believe there is ONE right path for us in life. God can use whatever we choose to do for good, if we allow him. That doesn't mean we should go and pave our own way, but rather this life is a partnership between us and him. I can, want to do his will and ask him to allow me to build a life that is fulfilling to me as well. If believing that only one of those two things is possible, is that not limiting him? My God is a limitless God, all powerful and capable of allowing me to build a life with his help that I find fulfilling, that is honoring him and that fulfills his plans. 

In startup culture, some believe you have to “grind 24/7,” neglecting family, rest, and even time with God. But if God can split the Red Sea, flood the earth, and raise the dead, I think He can help me build a successful business in 40 hours a week—so I still have room for worship, relationships, being a great dad and husband along with all the rest. That doesn’t mean laziness is okay. You still have to put in the hours, develop the skills, and show up prepared. However the hustle mindset that leaves no margin for God or relationships, I believe, reflects a lack of trust that God can move mountains.


As Christian business owners we know that God is capable of so much but we often refuse to allow God to do miracles in our business. Now I don't want you to hear what I'm not saying. I work hard, and I am very effective in my work. If you expect to just be lazy and let god do all the work, you are severely mistaken. Remember faith takes work and action on your part.


Remember the earlier verse Colossians 3:23-24 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”  If you are “working” but you're not really, then you're not only stealing from your boss but you're also not working willingly like we are called to. When I say that God can help me build a successful business in 40 hours a week it is because I actually work in those 40 hours. My work time is an act of worship for me, I get to be creative, I get to build, I get to live out God's purpose for my life. I look forward to working which often leads me to struggling with the contentment and peace portions of faith that I mention above. 


Faith is doing the work that God has put before me but it is also knowing that God is bigger than any algorithm or situation and allowing him to do his work. If I am doing my part and then allowing God the space to do his part he can make a way and do what only he can do. He does not need us to work ourselves to the point where we abandon every other aspect of life for him to build the life we want. If we do the work before us and trust him, he can multiply our work far beyond what we can do on our own.


Proverbs 12:11 (NLT) says, “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.” This verse at first glance seems like it could be a counter point to what I have said about having faith in and trying to move mountains in your life and your work. But this interpretation of the verse is from the NLT version of the bible, if you look at the KJV version the verse is translated to say "He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding". I don't think this verse is talking about how if you chase after a dream for your life and are actually working hard while taking care of the things that need to be taken care of, means you are a fool, rather I think it is discussing the state of the day dreamer or the one looking to escape their current reality. 

This is demonstrated in many ways, perhaps, by the man that spends his days at his job that he hates day dreaming of living a fulfilling life but never does anything to achieve it, or the alcoholic using a state of drunkenness to ease the pains of his life or someone using weed or other drugs to find an escape. This could also be the person that plays video games all the time or the person who spends hours watching the “glamorous” lives of social media influencers and yes even the man who already has money and hoards it because they are terrified of some future state where they may not have enough. There are countless examples of how this could play out. Living in these false realities or states of being is the foolish act I believe Proverbs 12:11 is actually speaking about.



Conclusion: Faith That Moves Mountains


Mountains do move—even if they don’t hurl themselves into the ocean in a single moment. More often, faith moves them steadily, chisel blow by chisel blow, or innovation by innovation, as we partner with God to do the work. From the determination of Dasrath Manjhi in India to the faith-driven efforts of entrepreneurs around the globe, the lesson is clear: with grit, perseverance, and unwavering trust in God, what once seemed immovable can be transformed.


Faith isn’t just about believing in the miraculous; it’s about committing to the process. Whether you’re seeking wealth, fulfilling work, stronger relationships, or deeper ministry, remember that faith is more than a quick fix. It’s a way of life—a consistent partnership with God that requires trusting His guidance, stepping out in action, and enduring through challenges.


As Christians, we’re called to embrace faith as both a spiritual and practical discipline. We pray, trust, and move forward, knowing that God’s provision is both sufficient and transformative. It’s not about working harder to earn His blessings but about aligning our efforts with His will and relying on His strength to multiply what we bring to the table.


Through steadfast faith—backed by diligent action—we discover that the seemingly impossible can become reality. It happens one prayer at a time, one faithful step, and one miracle of grace after another. Whether your “mountain” is financial stability, personal growth, or a God-inspired dream, the key lies in your willingness to trust Him, do the work, and let Him handle the rest.


As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 17:20:“You don’t have enough faith,” He told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed… Nothing would be impossible.”


This is the essence of moving mountains: living with a faith that works, trusting in a God who provides, and stepping boldly into the life He’s called us to build.


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