Yahweh’s Money®️: The Crossroads of Religion & Money

The True Cost of Comparison: Social Media, Status & Stewardship with Dr. Johnetta Thurston

• Crusaders for Change, LLC • Season 4 • Episode 84

Share episode

In this episode of Yahweh’s Money, we’re getting candid about something that affects all of us: comparison. Shay Cook welcomes powerhouse entrepreneur and coach Dr. Johnetta Thurston for a soul-stirring conversation about identity, finances, and faith in the age of the algorithm.

Shay and Dr. Johnetta open up about the silent weight of social pressure, how spiritual alignment helps resist financial distraction, and what true contentment looks like in a world obsessed with more.

If you’ve ever scrolled through social media and felt like you’re behind—or wondered why your blessings feel delayed—this episode will remind you that God’s timing is never late, and your path is yours alone.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

  • Why comparison is the enemy of stewardship—and how to break free from it.
  • The hidden financial and emotional cost of “keeping up.”
  • Biblical truths about success, obedience, and God’s timing.
  • Real talk on solopreneurship, burnout, and defining your own version of success.
  • How contentment and legacy are more powerful than luxury.

Featured Scripture:

  • Galatians 6:4-5 – “Each one should test their own actions... without comparing themselves to someone else.”
  • Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
  • Philippians 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing…”
  • Luke 14:28 – “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost…”

Action Step:

Audit your digital space this week.

  1. Unfollow or mute three accounts that spark comparison or discontent.
  2. Then follow three accounts that nourish your faith, finances, and well-being.

Final Word:

Comparison can bankrupt your peace. But when you stay rooted in your purpose and focused on your own lane, God can do the work of multiplying your seed in due season. Trust His timeline. Your breakthrough doesn’t need a filter—it needs faith.

Connect with Dr. Johnetta here:

Website: https://www.jdamanagementandconsulting.com/

Send us a text

💸⛪🕍📿💵

Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!

Schedule a Free 15-minute Clarity Call Today!

Comments, questions, or suggestions on topics? Email yahweh@crusaders4change.org

And, follow us on:
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Music by: Lamonte Silver - Owner of essentialmusicclub.com | Previously by ROA - roa-music.com

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

It was really interesting because I was looking for someone to help me with my books, my accounting and bookkeeping, and there was a girl in my particular group. That was really good. But you know what I think I hesitated to get her because I was embarrassed because everybody else had these big revenues and I said you know, if I open this up, she's going to see that my revenue. But I'm saying that's a comparison.

Shay Cook:

Oh, and that's why I'm shaking my head because I've been there, done that. I understand completely what you're talking about.

Shay Cook:

Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money come up? You're not alone. Welcome to Yahweh's Money, the podcast where we tackle the crossroads of faith and finance. I'm Shay Cook, an Accredited Financial Counselor and the CEO and Founder of Crusaders for Change, LLC. Join us on our journey as we discuss topics like tithing, saving and conquering debt through religious perspectives. Let's get started. Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Yahweh's Money.

Shay Cook:

Today, we're going to talk about the true cost of comparison, social media status and stewardship. So, as we may know, social media can inspire us, but it can also trap us in cycles of envy, overspending and discontent. Today we're exploring how comparison culture impacts our finances and our relationship with God. I know it's impacted mine. I can't wait to get into it with my guests. But before we go there, let's talk about our main scripture today Galatians 6, 4 through 5, which states each one should test their own action. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. So this verse reminds us that God calls us to stay focused on our own lane, our unique path of stewardship and purpose, not someone else's highlight reel. Oh my God, that's good, because sometimes I get stuck on those stories and stuff on social media.

Shay Cook:

I am so excited today to have Dr Johnetta Thurston. She is the CEO of JDA Management, but she is so much more. She is a woman of Christ. She is a mother, a grandmother, a wife, a friend, a sister, an aunt and, I'm sure, a niece. She's just everything. She's amazing. We met during Central Maryland Chamber years ago Shout out to the Central Maryland Chamber. We were in BCN Group, business Connection Networks, and since then she has just been the amazing friend and I'm so glad to have her on here. Hey, dr Johnnetta.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Hi, hi, thank you. I am honored to be here with you because you are doing amazing things in the area of finance and I love the fact that it has that spiritual hookup, that spiritual connection.

Shay Cook:

Oh.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

I love that.

Shay Cook:

Well, tell us some more about you. Dr Johnetta, I know I gave just a little spill and we'll share your bio on our website, but I want to hear more about you Well you know what?

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

I'm just a little country girl, originally from North Carolina, but I moved to this area over 40 years ago with my husband, who was an employee of NSA his entire career, so I've been in this area for quite some time. But my background is I went to school at UNC, chapel Hill, and then I got another degree at the University of Maryland and then I got my doctorate at Regent University in Virginia Beach and that, which was an experience in itself, because actually my daughter and I we did our doctorate together. It was really, really exciting what my company does. We have four different areas that we concentrate in. The first one is we do performance coaching for individuals and teams. Love, love, love doing that. The second thing, we do human resources, we do project management and we do training and development. My motto is that we help you solve your people, project and performance issues. So any of those areas and we help small businesses and we've helped a lot of large businesses, even some of the federal agencies, so it's been really pretty exciting and she's an amazing trainer y'all.

Shay Cook:

She's done some HR and different kind of trainings through the chamber. I've seen her in action. She is amazing, an amazing facilitator. She's so humble but everybody around here knows her Okay, so she is a superstar. I mean just the love that you see when somebody sees Jonetta is just amazing.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Oh, thank you so much. I love people and I think that it may perhaps come through. It does, and I have like you and I heard you say it during the introduction I struggled with comparison, but it's going to be really interesting, as we talk, to see how we got out of it. Yeah, now Exactly.

Shay Cook:

I love that and you have your daughter and have them shout out to your daughter and your granddaughter. I mean two beautiful souls that are just you know, loving on you, and they're amazing, Thank God.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Thank God, they really inspire me. They really do Thank God. Thank God for them. They really inspire me.

Shay Cook:

They really do All right. So now we're going to get into our rapid fire questions.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Take your seat. Let the wisdom inherit.

Shay Cook:

Hit the rapid fire questions. Say what's on your spirit.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Take your seat. Let the wisdom inherit. Hit the rapid fire. Questions Say what's on your spirit.

Shay Cook:

So we got three quick questions Just going to fire at you. Just come at me with the answer and then we'll get into the main discussion. So you ready, I'm ready. What's your first memory of struggling with comparison?

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

My first memory think about it may have been in school and I don't even think it came from me. I think it came from others. When they start comparing you to other peer leaders, other band members, other this and that.

Shay Cook:

And I think that that's my first memory. I think I had a similar one. I was in band and yeah, it was always that comparison of whatever Are you the best? You know? I played the clarinet, I was in basketball, oh you did.

Shay Cook:

I didn't know that I was in volleyball. That's actually, I think, was the main one always, because I just thought I was the ish when I was playing volleyball. I was always being compared to somebody and I'm like I'm two feet taller than this person and they got the awards and all of that. So to me that was a struggle, not people not seeing my potential, in my opinion, because they were looking at somebody else and comparing me to them. So that's good, all right. What's one myth about success that social media tends to promote?

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

I think social media tends to promote that what you see and what you hear is real and that is a fact. You know it's almost. If you see it on social media you can believe it. That's not true. I was talking to someone real, real quick and they were talking about oh, so-and-so was going to this place and they're traveling, and have you seen this? And the child was in her house down the street. Oh man, so I'm just saying but society makes you feel like you've got to do something for other people to accept you.

Shay Cook:

Instead of just being a good human? How about we try to do that first? We don't have to be promoting all of the success and stuff, and if you want to, that's your thing. And I'm not trying to judge anybody, but I know. For me it's about the integrity, the credit, the values of who you are. That matters more than any trip, any shoes, any clothes, whatever that you're out there promoting.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Absolutely. It doesn't matter what you drive, it doesn't matter where you live, who are you touching who? It doesn't matter what you drive, it doesn't matter where you live, who are you touching, who are you helping, but you know what you have to describe and know and define what success looks like for you, because if you see others winning online, First of all, I do something that I think everybody should do, and that is take social media breaks.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Yes, get into the scripture, read, and one thing that is powerful is surround yourself with your tribe. Let those people that believe in you build you up up, hold you up, because that's really that's the only people you have, people that care and love you, care about you and love you.

Shay Cook:

Yeah, so that's, that's what I do, and I would say I would add to that tribe.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

I agree with the positive tribe, not them negative people.

Shay Cook:

The negative, nancy's negative. You know people that you know you want to be around, a positive group of tribe. Tribe that's going to push you forward, motivate you, encourage you, be there when times of need, and not the ones that are begging and trying to abuse you and taking advantage of you. We don't need those people in our lives.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And you also have to realize that there's some people that are in your life for a season they might be in there for a reason, a season or a reason and even your family members. You have to be able to separate them and know in your spirit what your purpose is, what you're called to do, and you have to keep that focus. I always tell people know what your why is, Know your why and stay laser focused.

Shay Cook:

Yep, know your why and know your worth. And that's not divided by finances either. That's not defined by. That's your worth. God gave us all something. He gave us one talent, five talents, whatever, but use those wisely. So, and yeah, I know your why, I know your worth because I know a lot of people out here just have such low self-esteem in this comparison mode.

Shay Cook:

So, we're getting into the main discussion, but thank you for the rapid fire questions. That was amazing. You're already giving us some insight. I love it. All right, let's get into the main discussion. So how comparison impacts financial decisions? So you know, I see people on the social media. I see the most out there is this get rich quick schemes, or thinking somebody one day woke up and they were on a yacht. When you hear the stories of the big people that got these yachts, they worked 20, 30, 40, 50 years before they owned a yacht. But these youngins be like oh, I want that, I want that, I want that. It takes time. So you know, this comparison can make people overspend and just go through this keeping up with mentality. I always say this on this podcast people try to keep up with the Carters, with the Kardashians, with the Joneses everybody instead of trying to keep up with yourself the Joneses, everybody instead of trying to keep up with yourself Absolutely.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And you know, it's really interesting that you would say that, because the first leadership conference that I did that my company sponsored, I looked for people that could be real, that could be transparent, that were successful, but I did not want them to get up and go straight to the success. I want the people in the audience to hear what was that journey like, exactly Because I had gone to a conference right before my conference and this lady got up and she just all boasted about what she had and her life and this, that and the other. And then another speaker got up and she told of her almost losing her house. She told of how she had, as a single mom, she had gone through that. She had a powerful testimony and she had a very successful company. But she wanted people to know that this is not.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

You wake up one day and it's overnight and you're there and I went straight, I made a beeline to her and I said you have got to speak at a conference. That I'm doing because I want people to know that it takes time blood, sweat and tears. That's what they think about business owners. We think that every business owner is living large and they're driving this and they're living there. I know the first year that I made very little money and I was talking to my business coach and I was really depressed about it and he stopped me and he said Jonetta, he said the average business owner at that time. That's what I ain't going to tell you how many years ago. He said the average business owner makes about $44,000. They are usually solopreneurs, but the image that I had, like most people until you get into it, is that everybody that says they're a business owner was living large and that's not true.

Shay Cook:

That is amazing and you're right and it's a journey that we need to appreciate. And some people might have a Job moment, right. Sometimes you might get all the way to the top and you might have to take you all the way back down because you know you get a little too big for your britches, as the old people used to say, right, and it's like God, like uh-uh, and I learned from my experience and my journey that when I do and my ego starts to get too big, when I start to get a little cocky, a little this, and that, god be he goes. Like you didn't do this, I did this.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Wait a minute, that's what he does, don't he he?

Shay Cook:

be like uh-uh, so I'm going to take you down. You're going to be sitting here and you're like, well, I ain't making more money and all this. He's like you were just managing this.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

I had a friend that I knew she was really a business owner. She was rising really really quick. She got her business organized, she went and got her MBE and she went to her first. What did you call it? The pre-thing? When you go to the first, where everybody's coming together and listening to the client to see what they want, Do you have questions that?

Shay Cook:

Oh, okay, you mean like the prime, where they come together. Yeah, they all get together.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Well, she was just, you know, just getting started and what you do at those pre-bid, pre-bid conferences you sign, you sign your name, put your business name down, and all of that. Well, a prime won this huge contract. It was one of the first in Maryland where the prime won the Obamacare to help set that up, and all of that. And they went down the list and they picked her name. Wow, they talked to her and she said I would love to do this, I would love to do this. You know, this is exciting, but I don't have any money. I'm just getting started. These people gave her something like two or three million. Oh my God, they covered it for her. Wow, I mean, she was off and running. Now, that does not happen to me, no, but other people thought, oh, since it happened to her, this is how.

Shay Cook:

Oh yeah, that's a one in a million kind of situation.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

You know, she went, she was like a skyrocket. She took off, but a few years later she had to close her office, get rid of all her furniture, because you have to be able to manage that. I mean, I'm not saying that, you know, but it happens.

Shay Cook:

Some people are too. They grow too fast. Shout out to Dr Candace Pruitt. As you know, sbdc. She was like you got to level out your growing, you got to. You got to level out your growing, you got to. You got to grow steadily. Because sometimes people grow so fast and we're talking about another subject, but it still comes back to that Growing so fast that we're comparing ourselves to like an Amazon or Google. But those pieces even Facebook and all these big companies they took a long time to grow. Jeff Bezos, I mean. People know the story. It took 20 years to get to where he is.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

But you know what that goes back to people comparing, thinking that this is the path. That is not everybody's path.

Shay Cook:

And that's why people have this emotion. There's an emotional cost to this comparison right, the anxiety, the burnout, the shame. I know I deal with all of them, especially anxiety and burnout, because I think it started with me, with the business. It started probably back in my IVP days. Shout out to Will.

Shay Cook:

Holmes. But it was like you know this millionaire mentality, let's get these millions, let's get these millions. And I'm like, wait a minute, I'm steadily growing. God is keeping me steady, I'm still open. I should be grateful for that. Why am I trying to chase these millions? But after that course again, it was great. You know, I love the Goldman Sachs more. I'm sorry, I'm comparing myself to all these other business owners that have made all these millions and I'm feeling anxiety. I'm feeling bad.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

You do, you do, why am I?

Shay Cook:

feeling like this. But guys like I have a plan for you not them.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And you know what my thing is is human. That's part of what we all feel, and when people say they don't feel that, at some point in time I kind of look at them side-eyed, because just about everybody goes through that and you go through this. You know what was me? Why not me? How is this? But their journey is not your journey, Exactly.

Shay Cook:

Exactly that is so good. Have you personally dealt with any of the anxiety or the burnout or the shame? Oh my.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

God. Yes, it's really interesting. I know that I don't know how you respond to it. Before I got a handle on how to deal with it, I turned into a workaholic.

Shay Cook:

Yep, that's where I'm at right now.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Yeah, I turned into a workaholic and I was whoa, just working day and night and, um, you know, and I think that you uh was aware that I was over, uh, the general manager, that was over the Walter Reed contract, and I remember working because they had had four or five project managers before me, none of them had been successful, and people were saying don't go down there, they eat project managers for dinner. You might not want to do this, but it was an opportunity that I didn't. You know, I prayed about. I really wanted to try it. Thank God, we were successful and the senior vice president that I reported to at that time called me one morning. She said why are you sending emails at two and three o'clock in the morning? She said I just got an email from you at like 2.30 or something this morning and at 6.30, you're at work. Oh, my God. She said there's no way you rested.

Shay Cook:

Yeah, there's no way. And back then you couldn't schedule anything back then.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

So, yeah, I mean yeah, wow, wow, yeah, sonata, you weren't getting to, you were working really hard, yes, and then, when the accolades started coming and you know I was working with the joint chiefs of staffs at the pentagon and these people like, oh my god, you are doing an amazing job. No one else has done this. We we won a hundred percent of our rebids and all of that. But the thing is, why was I working so hard?

Shay Cook:

Yeah.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Because I really almost burnt myself out. But thank God I had mentors and I had coaches that said you can't stay at this level, you can't stay at this level. My first vacation was for about a month. I went to South Africa. Wow, I went to South Africa and I had trained my staff. I did not get one phone call. Oh, that's what I'm talking about. But you know, it paid off, but at what cost.

Shay Cook:

Yeah, exactly, you had to learn the hard way and a lot of us do. I know I'm stubborn. I have to learn the hard way. I'm still a workaholic and right now I've been dealing with a lot of anxiety because of personal stuff, but also professional. Being in this amazing Goldman Sachs program 10K business, 10,000 small businesses program, which, thanks to Johnnetta, who's been trying to get me in this program forever. She's a graduate and she's been telling me about it. It's amazing. So, wrapping that up, but being in that program, it's like the anxiety has been high and the only thing that helps me because, you know, even in those programs I'm looking at this business making this money, they doing this, they got this many employees. They didn't you know. So it's always that comparison. But it's really God and the word, his word, his comfort, his meditating on him and his word is the only thing getting me through this, the only thing getting me through this and I can identify with that.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And you know what, when I was in the program, it was really interesting because I was looking for someone to help me with my books, my accounting and bookkeeping and there was a girl in my particular group. That was really good. But you know what? I think I hesitated to get her because I was embarrassed because everybody else had these big revenues and I said, you know, if I open this up, she's going to see that my revenue. But I'm saying that's a comparison.

Shay Cook:

Oh, and that's why I'm shaking my head, because I've been there, done that. I understand completely what you're talking about. I did not want to share my numbers in that class.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Yeah.

Shay Cook:

But it's funny because I think I don't know if you guys did the same exercise where they put the board up and you're writing down where you're at right now and your numbers and where you want to be. And I'm looking at some people and some people are way lower and some people are way higher and I was like what is wrong?

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

with me, they all over the place, and you know the thing about it. When I told one of the guys I don't want to call his name, but he was one of the guys that I interviewed with when I got into the Goldman Sachs program and he was kind of a little discouraging when I told him where I wanted to go and he said that looks like it's like 800 percent. You want to go there. I said, well, I think I can do it. After I came out of that program, girl, it was like blockbuster. Wow. I made crazy, crazy, crazy money Wow.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And when I did. I could not wait, because he was there when we did our presentations oh, okay, because he could see where I was. So afterwards I don't know whether it was where we had to circle back around. You have to keep up with your numbers, and so, and when he literally called me and he said, I cannot believe it, you did Exactly. So the comparison can also work in your favor, if you let it.

Shay Cook:

Yeah, it could be a boost in your spirit and also in dream big, don't stop dreaming. During one of our office hours yesterday for one of the modules I don't know if you had Dr Sam Deal and Morgan, he's a guy and he taught our projections or whatever. He taught one of the modules. They kept on saying be conservative, be conservative. And I was like, okay, but I was like you know, at one time I was always like I remember telling Dr Candice Pruitt again during one of our sessions, like I'm going to triple our revenue for the business, and it never happened, and so it hasn't happened yet, I should say. And so I was very, you know, I was just discouraged, I was very discouraged.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

I'm like I'm like I'm just going to stop putting that down. And he said again yesterday. He said you know what you need. A dream you need, because that's what entrepreneurs do, we dream and we need to don't stop see that when you're not hitting that, they're like uh, you know, and if you listen to them, you will. God's timing and you might see everybody else getting, but it's not your season. Your season is coming. There's a scripture that talks about in due season we will reap. I call that my fifth season. That's my due season, because if I don't think, I will reap Amen, and that's a principle. I don't care, I will reap Amen and that's a principle. I don't care if you're a Christian, if you're not a Christian, whatever your belief, that is a principle that works.

Shay Cook:

It really does. That you reap what you sow, you reap what you sow Exactly.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And that sowing and reaping when you reap, that's your due season. Oh girl, don't get me started, girl, I mean you preaching?

Shay Cook:

because we were just talking the other day at my team meeting, we was like one of my executive administrative assistants shout out to Ailea and she was like you know, we're just planting roses out here. I'm like, yeah, you know what? God has given us the seed. And if he gives us the seed, and as long as we give it, he's going to give it the sunshine. As long as we put them in, sometimes it's going to be some manure, it's going to be some ish. In that day You're going to be like, oh, it smells, but the manure is just as pertinent as the fertilizer, as the water, as the love, as the talking to that plant, whatever it needs to grow. But God gave us the seed and he's going to make sure we have all the resources.

Shay Cook:

And for you to just say that our next point was how comparison can distort God's timing. You're so right, right, you just said it. We've been moving along just amazing. This comparison can distort. You're like I want it now. I want it now. I want it now. God's like you ain't ready for it now.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

You're not ready, if I know what we talk about, the talents in the scriptures. And what do you do with the little bit that he gives you? Do you had it under a bushel? You don't make it multiply, you don't do anything with it. Then you get upset when you don't reap anything, exactly.

Shay Cook:

He couldn't trust you with the little bit Exactly. Why would he give you more?

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And he's not going to. Yeah, he's not. I look at my pastor, pastor David Anderson, over at Bridgeway Community, and I don't know I can't remember now 10 million. I don't know what the cost of all of our stuff is at church, but he paid off a 30-year mortgage in 15 years, oh wow. And even less for our Arisestown campus. But the man is such a good steward the staff and the people that he brought in to help manage the money and they're very transparent, very open. We meet every year to say we're all, everything is gone. I love that and you can't help but give to a ministry because they are, I guess, stewardship is something that we have to be mindful of too.

Shay Cook:

Yeah, we do.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

We do, and he's just such a good steward, that's good, yeah.

Shay Cook:

And you know, in churches like that, we need more of those right, where people are good stewards, they're paying off these mortgages and they're helping their communities and doing God's work and spreading the gospel, which is a call from God, right? So, yeah, reframing success, defining his purpose, not platforms right, let's look at what success really looks like.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

That's important and, like I said earlier in our conversation, you have to define what success looks like for you. To define what success looks like for you, Because my success may be very different from your success and what we're looking for. I remember I heard this years ago and it makes so much sense and I think it came from Alice in Wonderland that says you don't know where you're going. Any road will take you there.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Any road will take you there, but when you define success and the Lord truly will order your steps. He will. Some days you may get up and say, okay, god, I don't know what I'm doing, he will send somebody, or you will read something, or you will hear something. Some type of interaction will nudge you in that right direction, because you've already defined success. When I started my business, my success might have been to live in this size house or to do this or to be able to do that, but as I matured and got older, that shifted to something that had more substance and more meaning, not just to me when I was writing everything. When I was in Goldman Sachs, it was important for me to have a legacy. Scripture says that we should leave an inheritance to our children and our children's children. Exactly, and then it became not all about me, exactly, exactly, gave you greater purpose.

Shay Cook:

Yeah, yeah, I love that. That's beautiful. Yeah, I just wrote my extra strategy yesterday and I was like I'm not trying to sell this and do all this, I'm trying to keep this in my family and have a legacy. And you're right, and that's exactly the same thing, and I mean it was a beautiful how it came to be.

Shay Cook:

Like God is putting it all together, you know, and the last thing I would say about this is you know it's it's power and contentment, and focusing on your, your people, not somebody else's not Beyonce, not Kim Kardashian, not Jeff Bezos, not any, whoever you idolize, oprah Winfrey, whoever it's your given assignment. That's what you should be focused on. As you're scrolling through the socials and you're seeing this person doing this and doing that and doing this, and you're feeling a certain way and, believe me, I'm not immune to that. I, too, deal with that as well. Like John Ed was saying earlier, you got to take a break from social, because that'll drive you crazy.

Shay Cook:

You seeing all these people doing all these great things, and I mean I think I'd rather see the good stuff instead of the bad stuff, because I know people sometimes post about that too. But regardless, you know, I'm focused on what God has given me to do, and that is to be a Christian, to be a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a business owner of Crusaders for Change, helping people spread in the gospel in any way we can, through helping people with finances. So that is my God-given assignment. I can't be Jonetta and Jonetta can't be me.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

And you know what? I tell people that they sometimes they don't want to step away, but they need to. My daughter got off of social media last year. She's been over a year. Oh wow, she got off of Facebook, tiktok, instagram, all that stuff, because because it was mentally waiting, and she said, you know, I mean I didn't tell her this. She came to that conclusion herself and she was a much happier person because she got a chance to concentrate on who.

Shay Cook:

Awesome, I love that. And the last thing also I would say a lot of people spend more money because they own social. They say 40 percent of millennials say social media makes them spend more than they can afford, and that source is CNBC. And it's true. Not only are we comparing ourselves, that we're trying to keep up with them, and then we're trying to buy all this stuff, and then we have all this stuff at home that we can't afford and all this credit card debt and no savings and no investments and no legacy and no inheritance. So, with all that said, I mean you know it is. You got to watch out guys.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

It's really funny because you can see comparison in small things. I had one of my neighbors came to me and she said who does your grass? I'm like the grass cutting people, you know. And I said I said we have really had a challenge with our grass. We couldn't get it to grow. We couldn't get it to grow only because we really wanted a really nice yard. And all she said, well, your yard is beautiful. And another neighbor was upset because they were like well, we planted this kind of grass and did you do this? I said, girl, I don't know what you planted and I don't know what they planted for me, but I'm saying who compares what type of?

Shay Cook:

grass. Yeah, people do, people do.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

But I'm saying the comparison on so many different levels.

Shay Cook:

I don't even care. Yeah, you don't, but the next person does. So I mean I'm probably on the other side, so I go down there. I'll be like Nate, my husband, why our grass don't look like our neighbor's at the end. So I'm the same as your neighbor. I'll be like well, what's that grass? That grass look good.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

You know, I was telling her. I said, honey, my interest and focus is so not on the grass. Yeah, exactly, exactly, but that curb appeal is important, but I understand what you're saying it is. It helps you.

Shay Cook:

Everybody has their different priorities. And you're right, because I remember growing up and family members comparing cars and I remember my parents bought a Cougar. You remember the Cougars back in the 80s and somebody in my neighborhood across the street we were living in Fort Richardson in Alaska they bought a Cougar, like my parents, and then my parents had to go. They got a little red line or something so they could differentiate it from it. I was like it was always that. So my mom and dad would buy us cereal. Then we would go over our neighbor's house and they had the same cereal. It was like this back and forth and I saw it as like what are we doing right now? And I don't have time for that? Back when I was younger I did. I'd be like, oh, that's nice, let me go get that.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Now I do what I want to do. I don, I went to an event and you were actually at that event and they had the cutest little thing on their shelf and the shelf only had the name of their wi-fi and the password. I was like, oh my god, that is so cute. Where did you get it? Yeah, I'm like, yeah, I was comparing because I didn't have it so I wanted to get it. It so I went and it's okay. But when it goes, I remember when one of the houses that me oh my God, this house is bigger than ours and I'm looking at him thinking this boy is so small. Who's been talking? Who's putting in him that he's comparing the size of our home? Who cares?

Shay Cook:

How much love is in it. That's what matters.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

You can have this beautiful home and it's all held inside.

Shay Cook:

Amen, amen, that's so true. Well, that was amazing, dr Johnnetta Thurston. She is full of knowledge, and so tell us what's your final thoughts and where can people follow you to learn more about you, your business and everything you do?

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

You know what I'm going to tell you. I don't do a lot of the social media.

Shay Cook:

That's fine. You got a website, though. What's your website?

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

I do have a website and I do. I do have Instagram, I have all these other things. Is there a little thing with the at sign in front?

Shay Cook:

Yeah. I think, like at get Jada, at get Jada, yeah, j-a-d-a.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

For all of them, our website is wwwgetjadacom, and even if you put in JDA, management and Consulting it will redirect you.

Shay Cook:

It sure does. Yep and yeah, any final thoughts on this episode, you know what.

Dr. Johnetta Thurston:

Keep up what you're doing. This is amazing because when you are burdened with debt and your finances are out of whack, you are out of whack and you cannot be the best that you can be. You cannot do all the things, even what God wants you to do, amen. So keep giving out the knowledge, keep giving out the all that you're doing, and know that you're going to be blessed for this, because it's helping a ton of success.

Shay Cook:

Thank you, dr Jonetta. You are amazing. I would say everybody. To call to action for today is do a social media audit this week. Unfollow or mute any accounts that stir up discontent. For real, though, right. Follow three accounts that inspire you towards stewardship, faith and financial wisdom and anything that's going to help you up, you lift you spiritually and your soul, your money, your mind, body and your family. And just thank you again for joining us. Have a wonderful day. A big thank you for listening to this episode. We hope you found today's chat about the intersection of religion and money insightful. We would love to hear your feedback. Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and please feel free to leave us a review For the latest Yahweh's Money content. Visit us at crusaders4changeorg or find us anywhere you listen to podcasts. Until next time, stay financially fit and spiritually inspired and remember it's always better Yahweh's way.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Shay Cook

Host
Head Shot

Dr. Johnetta Thurston

Guest