Book Review: Managing God’s Money
Jesus has a lot to say about money - especially as it relates to our hearts (Matthew 6:21). God created and owns everything, and he has entrusted resources to our stewardship. Christians have an opportunity to bring him glory with the way we manage money, and we need wisdom and practical guidance on how best to do that. Randy Alcorn’s book Managing God’s Money is an excellent book on this topic, and is well-worth the read.
Alcorn has written two other books on the same topic - a much longer, more detailed Money, Possessions, and Eternity, and the condensed version The Treasure Principle. This medium-length work is divided into six sections (22 chapters), developing a biblical perspective of money, exploring relevant theology that shapes our understanding of money, and providing practical wisdom related to properly stewarding money. The first section lays a foundation for biblical stewardship: God owns everything, and we are stewards of the resources he has entrusted to us. The second section addresses issues that conflict with faithful biblical stewardship, including materialism, cynicism, and prosperity theology. The third section introduces an eternal perspective regarding wealth, especially related to the hope we have in heaven and the reward that awaits faithful believers. The fourth section provides practical guidance for financially giving to the church, and how we view poverty. The fifth section addresses wisdom related to financial strategies for debt and wealth management, and the sixth and final section address how to pass on financial wisdom to children and to the church body.
If you want to grow in thinking biblically about money, or if you’re looking for practical guidance on managing the resources God has entrusted to you, I encourage you to read Managing God’s Money. May we be faithful to steward all of our lives - including money - for God’s glory and the good of his people.
Managing God’s Money is an ambitious book - it covers a considerable amount of topics for a book its size. That said, it is sufficiently thorough, and the overall flow of the book is both logical and helpful. Those who don’t have the time or desire to take the deeper dive of Money, Possessions, and Eternity will find that Managing God’s Money is practical, accessible, and an engaging read. I hope you give it a read, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy it.