THE GOD OF MONEY...a biblical approach to financial prosperity

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I think this book is a good introduction for those who want learn basic principles of money handling in biblical way.

Prosperity theology

Jun 19, Matt Witten rated it it was amazing Shelves: A challenging book for our Western culture. A real look at what money is, and what it should mean for us. Something all Christians should read as the learn how to manage worldly assets and use what's God's for his glory. May 30, Matt Chapman rated it really liked it. Inspiring, convicting, and full of lots of practical advice for faithful stewardship including a chapter on teaching children to be faithful stewards.

Sep 05, Mary Ellen rated it really liked it Shelves: All that we are and have God has given us. Our job is to faithfully manage what God has entrusted to us.

Randy packs this little book with much Scripture. As you read you grasp the urgency of what the Lord demands of you as His own possession. Biblically sound and profoundly convicting, Randy has taught me to think with an eternal perspective about how I spend not only "my" money but also "my" life for God's glory and others' good. This is a timely book.

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We all need to stor We're God's stewards. We all need to store up treasures for ourselves in Heaven. Bless God for His using Randy to guide us to the Scriptures so that we may hear what the Spirit of Christ has to say to His church today about such an important aspect of life, money. Read this book prayerfully and humbly, asking God to give you wisdom on how to live for His glory and looking forward to that day when you see Him face-to-face and He says to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. May 21, Chrissy rated it it was amazing Shelves: I had already read the treasure principle, so I knew what to expect. Even so, I loved this book. It truly is a reminder that we are but stewards of god's provisions, and that while we may exalt in our creature comforts, the fact is it is more about His purposes for our money and less about ours.

I'm not saying the book advocates living in a spartan home with nothing, but really we spend so much an stuff that we really don't need. Especially with the ease of purchasing online nowadays, its a no w I had already read the treasure principle, so I knew what to expect. Especially with the ease of purchasing online nowadays, its a no wonder there are so many hoarding material things these days.

It almost seems as if this should be a must read at least once a quarter. Maybe this way it won't be archived on our mental bookshelves. Sep 07, Curtis rated it it was ok Shelves: It's not that I disagreed with all that was said, but I definitely didn't agree with the approach taken to the subject. In offering the reader a somewhat systematic approach to the topic I felt that much of the larger picture of Christ's call was set aside.

The Bible Does not Promise Wealth

Too much focus was given to 'eternal rewards' as an incentive to forego earthly rewards now while he addresses this statement I found it unconvincing. Instead of using our views and practices regarding finance to drive our move towards beco It's not that I disagreed with all that was said, but I definitely didn't agree with the approach taken to the subject. Instead of using our views and practices regarding finance to drive our move towards becoming Christ-like, Christ calls us to seek first his kingdom.

I found some advice useful but felt the book focused my attention more on my money than on Christ's kingdom.

A Biblical Overview of Money and Wealth > Managing Your Finances

I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this book about managing money. It was not your typical book with full of cliches and assumptions about what the Bible says but it was very relevant to what is going on in society. I learned a lot about inheritance, the misconceptions about money and why God wants us to live an abundant life. There were certain controversial topics that he talked about, he provided great insight without disputing over it. Although this book was nowhere near fantastic, I learn I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this book about managing money.

Although this book was nowhere near fantastic, I learned a lot about how to deal with money and how to be content in whatever state I am in. I look forward to reading more novels by him, love his writing style and his unbiased views on things. View all 5 comments. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.

To view it, click here. Randy Alcorn writes personably and communicatively. He touches on the root issues of why many people myself included are hesitant to give, save, or come into bondage of debt. If we are hesitant to save its because we see an impulsive need rather than an eternal need, and preparation to care for others. If we are in unnecessary debt we want to play God and decide that are wants are our needs.

If the rich were willing to share their abundance with those with less there would be less problems in he world. It all starts with a willing heart, habits, and an eternal investment mindset.

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Sep 17, Jillian rated it it was amazing. Rarely has a book made me feel so convicted, or made me want to change my mindset as much as this one! I never even thought I had a problem with how I view or handle money, but Randy Alcorn has some eye-opening observations to make. This is basically just a starter guide, but I'm definitely putting some of his more in-depth works on my "to read" list, as well as some other works he recommends at the end. I need to make a major turnaround, stat. Followers of Jesus who use money. Not about financial strategies; consider Dave Ramsey and others for that.

Alcorn is concerned with a biblical view of money, wealth, and stewardship of our finances. These principles are what underlie and determine many of the strategic decisions, anyway. Pretty hard to argue with most everything Alcorn says. And whether you see this as a plus or negative, he leaves some of the more difficult biblical interpretations in the realm of, "You, go struggle with this. It was a good eye opener for me about the real test of stewardship and storing up riches in heaven.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to seriously consider their task on earth and how it relates to the finances that God has entrusted to them to manage. I will be reading two other books by this author on the same topic of managing God's money. Oct 29, Samuel Ng rated it really liked it. Organized in topics, then in questions and answer format, this book tackles stewardship and eternal perspective in the way we handle the wealth that God has given stewardship over.

The key thing for me is that I should consider resources as a temporal steward from God on which I need to give an account for. May it be used and matter in light of eternity. A challenging and insightful book that I will recommend to read. Feb 17, Raphael Mnkandhla rated it it was amazing.

Excellent book With the prosperity gospel thriving, the subject of money has become extinct in churches or pulpits. This book gives a good dose of healthy biblical thinking about money. This is good for pastors, parents, missionaries , college students and all people interested in making a difference in regards to money. Jun 14, Lori Schwilling rated it liked it.

Although I occasionally took issue with Alcorn's conservative theology, I found his primary arguments to be enlightening and informative. Of particular interest were his attack on the prosperity gospel and his argument that the tithe should be our starting point, not the final goal. The book includes numerous references to scripture, both Hebrew Bible and New Testament.

May 28, Kristen Wampner rated it it was amazing. This is a great book. This paired with Dave Ramsey will make you think before you choose and really evaluate not only your financial life but also your spiritual one as well. I would highly recommend this book to anybody. It teaches about tithing and giving and sharing. This is a must have for any book shelf. Go get it and read it now! Apr 06, Elizabeth Johnson rated it liked it Shelves: Practical, common-sense approach to using money in a God-honoring way. The question-and-answer format is easy to read and simple to understand.

Covers a variety of money-related topics debt, saving, giving, teaching children , though not necessarily comprehensive includes credit-card debt - but not school or medical debt. Good overview, though, and challenging at times. Nov 20, Mary rated it liked it Shelves: A solid, no-nonsense book about money management from a Christian perspective. Great resource if you need information about the Christian Bible's advice on stewardship, tithing, and other day-to-day financial management questions.

Jan 05, Eilidh rated it really liked it. But also thought-provoking and potentially lifestyle-altering. There was very little that I disagreed with, plenty that made me slightly uncomfortable! Dec 30, Amanda Chick rated it really liked it. Helpful, convicting and great in bringing perspective about what it really means to be a steward of God's money! Mar 19, Butch rated it really liked it Shelves: Excellent book on what God's Word has to say about our stewardship of God's money.

Very convicting to me. May 04, Alaena Wright rated it it was amazing.

Managing God's Money: A Biblical Guide

Feb 03, Sean rated it really liked it Shelves: This was a pretty straight-forward and practical guide to good money management from a Christian perspective. Not really full seminar type material a la Dave Ramsay, but still a helpful resource. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries EPM , a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Alcorn resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, Nanci. The Alcorns have two married daughters, Karina and Angela. Randy and Nanci are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research and reading.

Taken from the Eternal Perspective Ministries website , http: Books by Randy Alcorn. Trivia About Managing God's Mo No trivia or quizzes yet. Quotes from Managing God's Mo In those rare cases where we go into debt, we should make every effort to get out as soon as we can. We should never undertake debt without prayerful consideration and wise counsel. Our questions should be, Why go into debt? Prosperity theology teaches that Christians are entitled to well-being and, because physical and spiritual realities are seen as one inseparable reality, this is interpreted as physical health and economic prosperity.

They maintain that Christians have been given power over creation because they are made in the image of God and teach that positive confession allows Christians to exercise dominion over their souls and material objects around them. Wealth is interpreted in prosperity theology as a blessing from God, obtained through a spiritual law of positive confession, visualization, and donations.

The prosperity theology teaching of positive confession stems from its proponents' view of scripture. The Bible is seen as a faith contract between God and believers; God is understood to be faithful and just, so believers must fulfill their end of the contract to receive God's promises. This leads to a belief in positive confession, the doctrine that believers may claim whatever they desire from God, simply by speaking it. Prosperity theology teaches that the Bible has promised prosperity for believers, so positive confession means that believers are speaking in faith what God has already spoken about them.

Positive confession is practiced to bring about what is already believed in; faith itself is a confession, and speaking it brings it into reality. The teaching is often based on non-traditional interpretations of Bible verses, [49] the Book of Malachi often being given special attention. While Malachi has generally been celebrated by Christians for its passages about the messiah, teachers of prosperity theology usually draw attention to its descriptions of physical wealth.

Prosperity theology casts itself as the reclamation of true doctrine and thus part of a path to Christian dominion over secular society. Peter Wagner , a leader of the New Apostolic Reformation , has argued that if Christians take dominion over aspects of society, the Earth will experience "peace and prosperity". They often view this as a Roman Catholic doctrine that should be discarded and replaced with an emphasis on prosperity.

Prosperity churches place a strong emphasis on the importance of giving. Some services include a teaching time focused on giving and prosperity, including Biblical references to tithing ; and then a sermon on another topic which follows the offering. Prosperity church leaders often claim a specific blessing can be exchanged for the money being donated to their ministry; some have been reported to instruct worshipers to hold their donations above their heads during the prayer. Congregants in prosperity churches are encouraged to speak positive statements about aspects of their lives that they wish to see improved.

These statements, known as positive confessions distinct from confessions of sin , are said to miraculously change aspects of people's lives if spoken with faith. Jakes , pastor of The Potter's House non-denominational mega-church, has argued in favor of prosperity, rejecting what he sees as the demonization of success. He views poverty as a barrier to living a Christian life, suggesting that it is easier to make a positive impact on society when one is affluent.

While some prosperity churches have a reputation for manipulating and alienating the poor, [60] many are involved in social programs. Underlying these programs is a theology of empowerment and human flourishing with the goal of releasing people from a "welfare" or "victim" mentality. Kate Bowler, an academic who studies prosperity theology, has criticized such seminars, arguing that though they contain some sound advice the seminars often emphasize the purchase of expensive possessions.

She maintains that home ownership was heavily emphasized in prosperity churches, based on reliance on divine financial intervention that led to unwise choices based on actual financial ability. Most churches in the prosperity movement are non-denominational and independent, though some groups have formed networks. They argue that leaders attempt to control the lives of adherents by claiming divinely bestowed authority. In the United States, the movement has drawn many followers from the middle class [48] and is most popular in commuter towns and urban areas.

Global Christian Fundamentalism Steve Brouwer, Paul Gifford, and Susan Rose speculate that the movement was fueled by a prevailing disdain for social liberalism in the United States that began in the s. Tony Lin of the University of Virginia has also compared the teaching to manifest destiny , [36] the 19th-century belief that the United States was entitled to the West. Marvin Harris argues that the doctrine's focus on the material world is a symptom of the secularization of American religion. He sees it as an attempt to fulfill the American Dream by using supernatural power.

Prosperity theology has become popular among poor Americans , particularly those who seek personal and social advancement. Simon Coleman developed a theory based on the doctrine's rhetoric and the feeling of belonging it gave parishioners. In a study of the Swedish Word of Life Church, he noted that members felt part of a complex gift-exchange system, giving to God and then awaiting a gift in return either from God directly or through another church member.

Marion Maddox has argued that this message has drawn a significant number of upwardly mobile Australians. In a interview in Christianity Today , Bong Rin Ro of the Asia Graduate School of Theology suggested that the growth in popularity of prosperity theology in South Korea reflects a strong "shamanistic influence".

Bong pointed to parallels between the tradition of paying shamans for healing and the prosperity theology's contractual doctrine about giving and blessings. Asia's economic problems, he argued, encouraged the growth of the doctrine in South Korea, though he claims it ignores the poor and needy. During the interview, he stated that he saw the problem beginning to be reversed, citing calls for renewed faith and other practices.

This criticism has focused on his healing and exorcism ministries and his promise of material blessings. Malaysian Christian writer Hwa Yung has defended Cho's healing and exorcism ministries, arguing that he successfully contextualized the Gospel in a culture where shamanism was still prevalent. However, Hwa criticizes Cho's teaching of earthly blessings for not reflecting a trust in God's daily provision and for their heavy focus on earthly wealth.

Historian Carter Lindberg of Boston University has drawn parallels between contemporary prosperity theology and the medieval indulgence trade. Coleman has speculated that modern-day prosperity theology borrows heavily from the New Thought movement, though he admits that the connection is sometimes unclear. Matthew Wilson of Southern Methodist University compares the movement to Black theology owing to its focus on uplifting oppressed groups, though he notes that it differs in its concentration on individual success rather than corporate political change. Mainstream evangelicalism has consistently opposed prosperity theology as heresy [36] and prosperity ministries have frequently come into conflict with other Christian groups, including those within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.

Jesus, Servant and Savior , R. Kent Hughes notes that some 1st-century rabbis portrayed material blessings as a sign of God's favor. He cites Jesus' statement in Mark Other critics of the movement assail promises made by its leaders, arguing that the broad freedom from problems they promise is irresponsible.

For instance, some theologians believe that the life and writings of Paul the Apostle , who is believed to have experienced significant suffering during his ministry, are particularly in conflict with prosperity theology. During his earthly tenure, he spoke time and again about the importance of spiritual wealth and health. When he talked about material wealth, it was usually part of a cautionary tale. In their book Health, Wealth and Happiness , theologians David Jones and Russell Woodbridge characterize the doctrine as poor theology.

He also argues that the proponents of the doctrine misconstrue the atonement, criticizing their teaching that Jesus' death took away poverty as well as sin. He believes that this teaching is drawn from a misunderstanding of Jesus' life and criticizes John Avanzini 's teaching that Jesus was wealthy as a misrepresentation, [82] noting that Paul often taught Christians to give up their material possessions.

Although he accepts giving as "praiseworthy", [82] he questions the motives of prosperity theology and criticizes the "Law of Compensation", [82] which teaches that when Christians give generously, God will give back more in return. Rather, Jones cites Jesus' teaching to "give, hoping for nothing in return".

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" KJV. In , the General Council of the Assemblies of God criticized the doctrine of positive confession, [84] noting examples of negative confessions in the Bible where Biblical figures express fears and doubts that had positive results and contrasting these examples with the focus on positive confessions taught by prosperity theology.

The Council argues that the biblical Greek word often translated as "confess" literally translates as "to speak the same thing", and refers to both positive and negative confessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

God's will should have precedence over the will of man, [86] including their desires for wealth, and Christians should "recognize the sovereignty of God". Oaks stated that people who believe in "the theology of prosperity" are deceived by riches. He continued by saying that the "possession of wealth or significant income is not a mark of heavenly favor, and their absence is not evidence of heavenly disfavor". He also cited how Jesus differentiated the attitudes towards money held by the young rich man in Mark Oaks concluded this portion of his sermon by highlighting that the "root of all evil is not money but the love of money".

In a lengthy segment, Oliver focused on what he characterized as the predatory conduct of televangelists who appeal for repeated gifts from people in financial distress or personal crises, and he criticized the very loose requirements for entities to obtain tax exempt status as churches under U.

Oliver said that he would ultimately donate any money collected by the church to Doctors Without Borders. The authors distinguished the prosperity gospel from Max Weber 's Protestant ethic , noting that the protestant ethic related prosperity to religiously inspired austerity while the prosperity gospel saw prosperity as the simple result of personal faith. They criticized many aspects of the prosperity gospel, noting particularly the tendency of believers to lack compassion for the poor, since their poverty was seen as a sign that they had not followed the rules and therefore are not loved by God.

Notable works that advocate prosperity theology include: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Not to be confused with The Gospel of Wealth. Journalism portal Christianity portal. Retrieved December 4, Retrieved August 2, Retrieved February 13, The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, Archived from the original on December 29,

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