Clare DeGraaf Michigan Word Investments Foundation Generosity 10 Second Obedience NCF Financial Finish Line Podcast
Finish Line Podcast Episode 194

Clare DeGraaf, Businessman, on Decisions that can Change Your Life

You may believe everything you have belongs to God, yet still wonder what that actually means for the way you spend, give, and make decisions about your wealth.

When financial success gives you more options than you need, how do you discern what is enough and live as a faithful steward rather than simply taking your cues from those around you?


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Meet your guide

Clare DeGraaf is a business leader, author, Bible teacher, and mentor whose pursuit of financial security led him to build and sell a successful manufacturing company. After experiencing a crisis of faith, he and his wife, Susan, began asking a deeper question about what it truly meant to follow Jesus with everything. That journey reshaped their view of money, success, and stewardship, leading them to set a financial finish line, launch a strategic family foundation, and pursue a life centered on God’s Kingdom.

In this conversation, Clare shares the lessons that transformed his approach to wealth, ambition, and obedience. He explains how generous living is less about financial formulas and more about surrendering ownership to God, cultivating eternal perspective, and faithfully investing resources in people and ministries that advance the gospel. His wisdom offers practical encouragement for anyone wrestling with how much is enough, the tension between success and contentment, or the desire to steward God’s blessings with greater purpose.

Listen to discover how asking one honest question about “enough” can reshape your view of money, calling, and faithful stewardship.

What you’ll gain

  • Defining what “enough” really means
  • Surrendering ownership of wealth to God
  • Aligning business success with Kingdom purpose
  • Practicing intentional lifestyle limits
  • Cultivating contentment over financial security
  • Investing generously for eternal impact
  • Discerning wise and effective giving opportunities
  • Growing through faithful stewardship and obedience
  • Mentoring others toward biblical generosity

Inspired? Take your next step

Financial Finish Line Pledge Step 1

Take the Finish Line Assessment

Take a brief assessment to see if you are ready for a financial finish line right now 

Financial Finish Line Pledge Step 2

Build a Finish Line from Scratch

Use the Finish Line Builder to identify the finish line that fits your season of life best

Financial Finish Line Pledge Step 3

Try a 90 Day Finish Line Experiment

Receive practical guidance and encouragement as you spend 90 days with a finish line.

Complete your first step right now in under 3 minutes.

Start Assessment

Play the Game of Life Simulator

Not ready for the assessment? Try a quick interactive simulator to see how you stack up in managing wealth.

play now →

Inspired? Take your next step

Try the Game of Life Simulator

Step into a four-minute interactive experience and see what unfolds as you decide how to manage your resources.

Start the Game
Game of Life Simulator Mobile Screenshot
Game of Life Simulator Mobile Screenshot

Inspired? Learn how to partner with ministries well.

A compelling ministry story can inspire you to respond. But wise partnership often begins with better questions.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Focus

What is the ministry really seeking to restore?

Learn to look beyond visible needs toward people, context, relationships, and flourishing.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Fruitfulness

How do you recognize meaningful impact?

Consider how ministries learn, evaluate their work, and pursue lasting change.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Faithfulness

What does genuine ministry partnership look like?

Explore how to foster trust, alignment, and shared mission in your giving.

In our Intervention Series on the Applied Generosity Podcast, we’ll help you become a more thoughtful, discerning, and faithful partner.

Start the Series

Quotes to Remember

  • “How much of what we own belongs to us, and how much belongs to God?”
  • “If everything you own belongs to you, then you can spend it the way you want. But if you actually claim it belongs to God, then you have to ask Him, ‘How much will You pay me to be Your steward?’”
  • “I wrote the book because, for me, it was a way to begin breaking the cycle of disobedience dozens of times a week in little things that kept me from really maturing in my faith.”
  • “Jesus would not accept the fact that nobody’s perfect. You can be better than you are. Start by training yourself to be obedient in little things.”
  • “People say to me all the time, ‘How do you know for certain that God’s actually telling you to do that thing?’ And I say, ‘Well, I don’t. Certainty is the enemy of obedience.’”
  • “We can explain the gospel and live the gospel, but it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convince people it’s true.”

Links from the Show

Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.

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Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.
Generosity Profile Image
Enter your information below and we’ll send you our free PDF guide to explore the specific adventure you were called into.
Generosity Profile Image

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