The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode #249: "How Wise Spending Turns Christmas Into Real Life"

Date: December 15, 2025

Overview

In this Christmas-themed episode, Pastor Joby Martin focuses on how Christians can “win at Christmas” by spending wisely. Drawing from 1 Timothy 6, Joby challenges listeners to pursue godly contentment over consumerism, providing ten biblically-rooted principles for wise financial stewardship during the holiday season. The episode is direct, practical, and urges listeners to reflect on their priorities, both with their money and their hearts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Trap of Holiday Consumerism

• [00:20] Pastor Joby sets the frame: "I want you to win at Christmas... It's not about the lights. It's not about the presents. It's not even about the traditions."
• Christmas can be difficult, not just celebratory, as cultural and financial traps lead many astray.
• The enemy’s bait: overspending in pursuit of happiness or status.

Biblical Foundation: 1 Timothy 6

• [01:00] Joby reads and expounds on 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19, emphasizing:
  • Godliness paired with contentment is “great gain.”
  • The transient nature of material goods.
  • The dangers of craving wealth and loving money.
  • The call for the rich to put hope in God, not “the uncertainty of riches.”

Memorable Quote

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil... some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (Joby quoting Paul, [01:30])

10 Ways to Spend Wisely This Christmas

Joby offers highly practical steps derived from the text:

1. Pursue Contentment

• [02:17] "Are you content? Because you will not find your contentment in stuff."
• Teaching Moment: Are you raising kids to be content, or to be consumers?
• Presents are fine, “as long as you don’t put your hope in them.”

2. Cultivate Gratitude

• “Be grateful for what you do have instead of focusing... on what you don’t have.”
• Promises a deeper dive on this topic in another episode.

3. Recognize the Snare of Stuff

• "Money is a trick, money is a trap... Don’t buy into the trap."
• Culture is spending billions to get you to believe you need more.

4. Examine Your Relationship with Money

• “Do you love money? Because the Bible says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
• Jesus taught that money is “the number one competitor of the heart.”

5. Acknowledge Your Wealth

• “You probably are rich. If your household makes over $35,000 a year, you’re in the top 2% globally.” ([03:30])

6. Be Humble About Resources

• “Don’t think the reason that you have all that you have is because of you. But it is a blood bought grace gift from God.”

7. Enjoy God’s Good Gifts—Rightly Ordered

• “God gives us everything to enjoy. So enjoy it; get you some presents.”
• “The only way... is if your finances are rightly ordered.” Don’t spend what belongs to God.

8. Be Rich in Good Works

• “Don’t just buy stuff... Be rich in good works.”
• Concrete suggestions: “Volunteer at your church, at local ministries—do good things for people.”

9. Practice Generosity

• “Be generous. You need plan, priority, percentage, progressive giving...”
• “What you do with your money leads and directs where your heart goes.” ("Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.")

10. Seek True Life

• "True life is not found in presents and traditions and lights and parties. True life is only found in Jesus Christ." ([04:45])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pastor Joby Martin [02:40]:

  “Let me ask you another question. This Christmas season, are you teaching your children contentment or consumerism?”

• [03:12]:

  “Don’t use stolen money—money that belongs to the Lord—to buy some stuff for people to impress them.”

• [04:50]:

  “Are you being rich toward God with your money this Christmas, or are you just being rich towards you?”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 — Framing the Christmas challenge: moving past holiday consumerism
• 01:00 — Reading & unpacking 1 Timothy 6
• 02:17 — The start of the 10 spending principles
• 03:30 — “You probably are rich” — global perspective on income
• 04:45 — The capstone: true life is only found in Jesus

Conclusion

Joby Martin uses this concise, scripture-packed episode to call Christians to wise financial stewardship during Christmas. His message is clear: winning at Christmas isn’t measured by gifts or extravagance, but by contentment, gratitude, generosity, and keeping Jesus at the center. The practical “10 ways to spend wisely” can serve as a daily challenge—not just for the holidays, but for life.

“True life is only found in Jesus Christ. Come back tomorrow and I’ll give you another tip on how to win this Christmas.” — Joby Martin ([04:57])