Brackets, Breakthroughs & Better Money Choices

Spring brings the excitement of March Madness. Brackets get filled out and office pools are started. Sixty-eight college basketball teams battle for a national championship. If you’re a sports fan, it’s one of the most exciting times of the year.

But today I want to talk about a different kind of 'madness'  - the kind that happens when we keep doing the same thing financially while expecting different results.

And to explain what I mean, let me share a quick story.

A Saturday Strategy

I grew up as one of five boys on a farm. My dad traveled a lot during the week and when Saturday came, he loved getting outside to work. And it was real work. We built fences and gates, loaded hay, cut wood, and helped with cattle and horses. My dad loved it.

But as a young boy…let’s just say I didn’t always share his enthusiasm.

As a teenager, I noticed something. My dad loved watching the Tar Heels play basketball. So...during basketball season, I started checking the schedule onn Saturday mornings.

Before we headed out to get to work, I would casually mention: “Hey Dad…looks like Carolina is playing today.” Every now and then, my strategy worked. Instead of being out all day on the farm, we ended up on the couch watching the game together. Sometimes he even drifted off for nap between plays. It was perfect.

Now, I wasn’t fooling my dad. He knew exactly what I was doing and he enjoyed those moments just as much as I did. But those Saturdays taught me something important:

A new perspective followed by new action can change your results.

The Lesson in March

As you watch the NCAA Tournament unfold, you’ll see this principle again and again. Teams that stubbornly stick with a game plan that isn’t working usually lose. But the teams that adjust—who change their perspective and take new action—are the teams that advance.

The same principle applies to your financial life. If you feel stuck financially, moving forward may require a new perspective and a new action.

Scripture speaks clearly about this - James 2:17 says:

     “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

I like to think of prayer and action as God’s one-two punch—or as James describes it, faith and deeds. This is the heart of faithful stewardship. So what might that look like in your financial life?

When you're struggling

- If you’re living paycheck to paycheck…

- If debt feels overwhelming…

- If you can’t seem to break a financial cycle…

It may be time to consider a new perspective and a new action. Because if our situation is the result of our financial choices, continuing those same choices will likely produce the same results.

That isn’t faith.

That’s wishful thinking.

It’s like entering a March Madness bracket contest and expecting to win without filling out your bracket.

When You’re Comfortable

But this principle isn’t only for seasons of struggle.

- Maybe your income is strong.

- Your net worth is growing.

- Life feels financially strong.

Yet sometimes comfort can slowly shift our focus away from God and toward money itself. In those moments, we may also need a new perspective and a new action.

A Picture in Action

The Old Testament gives us a powerful picture. As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, many became ill. With little medical knowledge, the situation looked dire. But God gave Moses clear instructions. Moses lifted a bronze snake on a pole, and those who looked upon it were healed.

This moment later pointed to something even greater. In John 3:14, Jesus says:

     “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.”

The healing in the wilderness foreshadowed the ultimate healing that would come through Christ. And that truth shapes all aspects of our lives, including we faithfully use the resources which we are entrusted.

Every financial decision becomes holy in the shadow of the cross.

When our money decisions honor Christ, our priorities align, our choices become clearer and we begin to experience what Scripture calls true riches.

Your Financial Game Plan

So here’s a challenge for you during this March Madness season. As you watch teams adjust their strategies on the court, take a moment to reflect on your own financial game plan.

Identify one area where you feel stuck.

Maybe it’s:

• Creating a budget you’ve been putting off
• Having a conversation about money with your spouse
• Increasing your generosity
• Cutting up a credit card
• Seeking wise counsel from a mentor or advisor

Then ask yourself two simple questions:

1- What new perspective do I need?

2 - What new action should follow?

Breakthrough Starts with a Shift

Championship teams rarely win by accident. They win because they adjust their perspective, change their strategy, and play the new plan with courage.

Your financial breakthrough may be waiting on the other side of the same kind of shift. A new perspective, followed by a new action.

Because when those two come together, they can change your financial direction and move you closer to God and the plans He has just for you.

Next Steps

If this message encouraged you, consider sharing it with a friend who might need a fresh financial perspective.

Listen to Money Made Faithful podcast Episode #216: Brackets, Breakthroughs & Better Money Choices (12 minutes) 

Apple: #216 -  Brackets, Breakthroughs & Better Money Choices

Spotify: #216 -  Brackets, Breakthroughs & Better Money Choices