Money, Possessions and Eternity

Randy Alcorn -

Money, Possessions, & Eternity is a revised and updated classic on how to handle money and possessions God's way. It has received excellent reviews by ministry leaders such as Christian financial author Ron Blue, who commented that this book "affected my life more than any other book besides the Bible."

Strengths:

Eternal Perspective. Unique from most books - even many Christian books - in that it is so focused on helping readers see their life and money from a truly eternal perspective.

Additional Content. The "Revised and Updated" version contains a lot of new material, including additional scriptural and topical indexes for easy reference, as well as a 13-week study guide. In fact, author Randy Alcorn observed that "not a single page has been left unchanged" from the original.

Uses. Money Possessions, & Eternity has proven useful for a variety of purposes, including small group Bible studies, individual financial guidance, book clubs, workplace lunch discussions, classroom textbook, and new member orientation classes in local churches.

Questions. Money Possessions, & Eternity does a great job at answering the big and often tough questions about money, such as: Why is money so important to God? Is “prosperity theology” right or wrong? Can we be freed from materialism? What should we approach debt? How much does God want us to give? How can we best help the poor and reach the lost? How can we leave our children a true inheritance? How can we use money in ways that God rewards now and into eternity? What about gambling? investing? insurance? saving? retirement?

Character.  Readers will discover that this book is not just about money, but rather about our commitment to Christ, and how our use of money can either magnify or obstruct that relationship. Alcorn points out that “our handling of money is a litmus test of our true character.”

Illustrations. Alcorn is especially gifted in using simple illustrations to help readers understand difficult concepts. For example, he refers to tithing as the "training wheels" of giving. Related, Alcorn is a master at using stories and examples to illustrate a challenging point. For example, he cites John Wesley's commitment to establishing a standard of living and then giving away everything beyond that standard.

Understanding. One of the great benefits of Money, Possessions, & Eternity is that it helps readers truly grasp the biblical principles of stewardship, rethink their attitudes toward wealth and possessions, and ponder the choices they make about money every day. Alcorn has called this book "a comprehensive biblical and practical treatment of Christian stewardship" for those "genuinely interested in learning and applying God's perspective on finances."

Things to be aware of:

Length. Although written in an easy-to-read, captivating style, this book will not be read in one - or even a few - sittings. It's 400 pages, and is written to be thought-provoking and cause readers to pause and reflect about their life.

Challenging. Money is a sensitive topic for some, and readers should be aware that Alcorn pulls no punches as he presents his challenging message in love. He commented, "There is something in this book to offend everyone. Some of it offends me--and I wrote it. Any offenses are simply the by-product of trying to be faithful to the principles of Scripture--which have an annoying tendency to take issue with the way we prefer to think and live."

Available at:  Amazon.com