God And Finance: Are You Ruled By God or By Money?
A conversation between Rebecca Olson, guest; and Devaughn Williamson, host.
This is a real story about God and finance - how one single mother went from homelessness and fear about money to becoming a Christian entrepreneur who is trusting God with finances in every season. It asks a hard question that many believers face at some point: Is money an idol, or is God truly in control of your heart and money?
From Hard Knock Life to Encountering God
Rebecca Olson knew what it was to have nothing! She spent her teenage years homeless , at some points, and in the foster care system. Stability was a foreign concept to her and the idea of God and money working together for good seemed impossible.
By the time she hit her 20’s, she was a single mom, living on government assistance and aid. This was the definition of “hard knock life”. But life began to change for Rebecca when she had an encounter with God when she was 21 years old. She went from not having an identity to being transformed into a Child of God, beginning to learn about God and finance and what it really means to live as a Christian entrepreneur.
Her biggest test was trusting God with money. Rebecca admitted that money had a strong emotional grip on her. And this test was the “litmus test” as to if she truly trusted God or not.
A Widow’s Mite Moment: Surrendering Money to God
There came a point where she gave her entire check - $232 as an offering while having two young kids. She refers to that seed as her “widow’s mite” because she gave all she had believing God would honor his Word to her.
And He did.
From that act of obedience, God opened tremendous doors for Rebecca. That was the moment High Tower Tax and Accounting was created. It was not just a business but God’s path for Rebecca’s life, a clear picture of God and money working together when a heart is truly surrendered to Him.
There were a lot of moments when Rebecca wrestled with doubt, and decision making, but she relied on her mentors to provide Godly counsel. They encouraged her to just move when God says to move even though she didn’t know all the answers - just fully trust Him.
Building a Kingdom Business as a Christian Entrepreneur
High Tower Accounting & Tax began at Rebecca’s dining room table. It has now expanded to serve over 1,200 clients. From there, Rebecca went on to start youth scholarships, nonprofit advocacy, special-needs programs in schools, living out what it looks like to be a generous Christian entrepreneur.
Rebecca credits a lot of her success to utilizing one simple principle - sowing and reaping. She found herself giving when it didn’t make sense because she understood that you can’t outgive God. Because of that simple principle, Rebecca witnessed God open doors no man could.
Rebecca is very adamant of allowing her faith and business to be one in the same. She can’t separate them because her faith in God is what built the business.
Rebecca mentions that she takes God with her into every boardroom, and client meeting. She understands that High Tower is not just a company but an expansion of the Kingdom of God, a living example of God and money being stewarded for His purposes.
When Money Becomes an Idol
Rebecca shares how deeply personal this journey is for her. As a tax resolution expert, she works with clients who are facing financial devastation. She sees their panic, their fear—and she knows it well. She’s been there. She’s bounced checks, mismanaged money, and panicked over bills.
But through it all, she’s learned to pause and ask God for wisdom. And without fail, He provides the roadmap, showing what trusting God with your finances looks like day by day.
Through her experience, Rebecca noticed that money can still be a “god” in your life if you are controlled by it, emotionally. Those emotions can appear when you lose it or express extreme excitement when you get it. Those emotional responses are your litmus test and force you to ask, is money an idol in my heart, or is God on the throne?
And the antidote? Not just faith, but perfect love that is born from a deeper trust in God’s love and timing. When your heart is aligned with Him, peace begins to replace panic, and your view of God and finance shifts from fear and control to stewardship and trust.
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Matthew 6:24 helps us examine whether money is competing with God for first place in our hearts. Jesus teaches that we can’t serve both God and money.
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2 Corinthians 9:8 shows that God is able to bless us abundantly for the purpose of not only having what you need, but to be generous to others modeling
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Jesus honors a poor widow who gave two mites saying that she gave more than all the others because she gave all she had out of the little that she had in Mark 12:41.
If Rebecca’s story inspired you, consider sharing it with someone who needs encouragement. And I encourage you to partner with Faith Ignite to help bring more stories of hope to the world. Together, we can spread messages of God's faithfulness to those who need it most.
Devaughn Williamson President, Faith Ignite Inc
