Money, Possessions, and Eternity: A Comprehensive Guide to What the Bible Says about Financial Stewardship, Generosity, Materialism, Retirement, Financial Planning, Gambling, Debt, and More

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what the Bible teaches about money, possessions, and eternal priorities. Randy Alcorn does an incredible job combining Scripture with practical wisdom, showing how financial decisions impact our lives now and for eternity. The insights are both challenging and encouraging—Alcorn doesn’t just give advice, he gives a biblical vision for living with purpose and generosity. This book has reshaped the way I view stewardship and has inspired me to align my finances more closely with God’s calling. Whether you’re new to faith or a seasoned believer, this book offers timeless truth that will transform how you handle money. Highly recommended for personal study or group discussion.

Randy Alcorn does a most excellent work in successfully communicating many of the intangibles around the proper handling of money and possessions for the Christian, in light of eternity. Eternity is key to every concise argument made - it's a matter of "a right perspective - an eternal perspective." He is clearly gifted with keen insight and skill in helping each of us carefully evaluate our potential for mindless routine behavior, devoid of biblical expectations. Of the vast material read over the last year, this book has had the greatest impact upon me from a behavioral standpoint. There are many things we read that might change our thinking, or impact our attitude about a given matter. However, there are few writings, apart from the Bible with the latent potential to impact behavior to the degree of this book. The message has everything to do with how we handle the financial resources, talent, time, and any other area of life for which we are considered stewards. Unfortunately, much of the Christian life is lived incongruent to so much of what we say we believe. Is it no wonder so many of us have lost our Christian witness before a waiting and watching world. Our actions speak louder than our words. In most cases, the surrounding culture has much greater influence upon us to accept their lifestyles as the norm, rather than the church influencing the surrounding culture. Indeed, how we handle money says much about our character toward people and toward our King - Jesus. As noted in the text by Richard Halverson, "...Money is an exact index to a man's character." To this end, Alcorn categorically defines and addresses each and every area of stewardship in the life of a Christian and offers the appropriate biblical support for each. Alcorn carefully defines the destructive nature of materialism in the American culture and within the modern-day church. Both spectrums, from asceticism to materialism are dangerous in the life of the Christian. The instruction to the reader is addressed from the proper perspective of a steward who owns nothing but is working on behalf of the true owner. The steward is entrusted with all that he has and must eventually give an account for his actions - whether wise, or unwise. Alcorn's approach is to help the reader better understand the spirit of the text in that it's not just about the money. The product (Scripture would suggest fruit; Matt. 7:16; John 15:1-8) of the Christian's life is the result or consequence of a relationship with someone (viz., Jesus Christ) and His ultimate authority and kingship in the lives of His faithful servants. Essentially, all people everywhere have a couple of options or motivations for serving one of two masters; Jesus Christ, or the common coin. There are consequential destinations and rewards for each which must be reconciled. Alcorn's portrayal of the Christian as a pilgrim is also a fitting and meaningful analogy in that his thinking suggests we are not to sink our roots to deeply in this earthly soil as it only further complicates the process of up-rooting and moving on. Yet, this is our default tendency - to settle-in and make this world our home. The proper mindset of a pilgrim is critical to the overall success of the mission of the individual, family, and church. Additional attention is given to a myriad of issues including lifestyle, missions, retirement, insurance, and a litany of other areas impacted by our attitude toward money, possessions, and one's perspective upon eternity. As previously mentioned, few books have been as convincing to the point of behavioral modification. This book had a REAL impact upon me and my general outlook not just toward money, but toward life renewed as an operational steward of the Kingdom.

This book has had a huge impact on my view of giving. Randy does a great job of telling personal stories and giving examples to make the read enjoyable. I will say it’s a lot to digest and I bought this book but I mostly listened on audiobooks because sitting down to read was more challenging.

It was in very good condition and arrived in a timely manner

I like this book I read it one hour each day for four weeks. The other can be a little long-winded he repeats a lot of his points but overall good book. One thing I liked about the book is he sites all of his biblical references anytime he brings up something from the Bible he includes the verse right next to it so you're not having to wonder does the Bible really say that? I thought this book was going to be a bunch of propaganda and guilt you into giving more to your church but it turns out it wasn't like that at all. I mean don't get me wrong it does show why we should give but the author basically just says this is what the Bible says this is how I've been blessed by changing some things in my life style these are stories of other people who have been blessed by making changes in I thought this book was going to be a bunch of propaganda and guilt you into giving more to your church but it turns out it wasn't like that at all. I mean don't get me wrong it does show why we should give but the author basically just says this is what the Bible says this is how I've been blessed by changing some things in my life style these are stories of other people who have been blessed by making changes in their finances and you can make a choice to do the same or not. I would read it again but probably not within the next two years because it's kind of long for my taste but overall very good book.

My husband and I could not more highly recommend this book! We actually were given it by someone we respect and works in the financial world and they said it was the best book out there written on the topic. We have found it to be one of those books we go back to time and time again to get realigned and get guidance on how to look/handle at our finances. I actually purchased this book from Amazon for a friend that is struggling with how to look/handle possessions and feels controlled by them in the sense that they feel guilty in enjoying anything or having anything nice. The book covers both ends of the spectrum and many other things. We have experiences financial freedom and great joy in giving and trusting God and this book has played a big part in it. This book has refreshing godly in site into the not just the biblical facts of how to handle our money and possessions but God's ultimate desire for the condition of our hearts with/towards them. I could not more highly recommend this book!

Very good book, informative. A lot about money i didn't know from a biblical perspective. I didn't know how much God says about money. Whether good or bad the Lord tells us! I recommend this book to any believer!

It is great as a Christian really working towards living by the Bible to find a resource like this one that hits the ball out of the park in it's exposition of passages that relate to Christians and wealth. The author is biblically based and clear, draws from many sources to emphasize and reason to his conclusions, and continuously gives real life applications and examples. This book got me thinking and has changed the way I view possessions and the Kingdom of God. It has made me really want to implement biblical principles in managing my possessions in regards to lifestyle, tithing, giving, and investing in eternity. It is a longer work, but one can read or study only sections to draw out biblical principles and be motivated to abide by them. I voice what other reviewers have said in that this is a must read book for Christians on this topic. And I encourage any Christian who even has the slightest curiosity on this topic to read individual chapters in this book for life and faith changing instruction on money, possessions, and eternity.

Life changing message. I now know that if I’m not giving I’m stealing from God and depriving myself of treasure and rewards in Heaven. May sound corny, but you can’t afford not to get this book, read it and ACT upon it.

Wer sich als das versteht, was Gott uns eigentlich aufgetragen hat, nämlich als seine "Vermögens-Verwalter" und nicht "Eigentümer", für den ist dieses Buch ein absolutes MUSS ! Es ist allerdings aufgrund seiner Informationsfülle nicht wirklich leicht zu lesen - immerhin ist es in Abschnitte eingeteilt. Also ich hab es 2 x lesen müssen - aber das hab ich auch echt gerne getan. Mehr als empfehlenswert ! (Gilt übrigens auch für die Deutsche Version "Geld, Besitz und Ewigkeit")

A wealth of biblical foundations, personal experiences and practical applications! Recommend to anyone who handles money!

Well worth the price in every way

Life Changing outlook on Money, Possessions and Eternity, God bless Randy. MUST BUY.