Money, Possessions & Eternity absolutely rocked my world. There is definitely no better book on the topic of money/possessions than this one. It is the best book I've ever read, period, and I can't wait to re-read it over and over as a reminder until I die. - J. G.
I am a young financial advisor, and I have been struggling with the weight of guiding people’s finances and influencing their decisions. Your book, Money, Possessions, and Eternity led me to abandon many of the things the world approves of, and adopting a more Christ-centered, eternity-focused view of money. — J. C.
In the last couple years I’ve read several financial books—only a fraction of what’s available, to be sure—and none of them really impressed me. They all had good, helpful, and informative sections, but the attitudes encouraged by some of the books didn’t seem to ring true to Scripture. I’m all for staying out of debt and living frugally, but is it possible to have a wrong motive or misplaced perspective with those good goals?
Money, Possessions & Eternity by Randy Alcorn struck a chord with me. I loved how it delved deep in the issues of the heart and God’s views of money before touching practical issues. For how can we make wise, biblical decisions if we are not first aware of the Lord’s thoughts? I was challenged time and time again to examine my heart and refresh my perspective of eternity. After all the sections I read him aloud, my husband is eager to read it, too, and there are a few changes we’re praying about because of discussions stimulated by this book.
While no volume is error-free but Scripture, Money, Possessions & Eternity is one of the most scripturally-based financial books I’ve read so far, and I’d give it a top rating. Read it ready to search your heart. — L. K. This is the most compelling, thought-provoking and challenging book I’ve ever read other than the Bible. I’d love to see every Christian in the U.S. read it. God could then use us to change the world, one soul at a time. — L. A.
This challenging and thought-provoking book should be considered a must-read for all Christians. It deals with the topic of money and possessions. According to the author, Scripture says more about “how we are to view and handle money and possessions than about any other single thing.” In fact, Mr. Alcorn says that Jesus devoted “a full 15 percent of his recorded words on this one subject.” Another statistic that will amaze many is that there are twice as many verses in the Bible on “money than to faith and prayer combined.” Obviously it is very important. Even more obvious to anyone who reads this book will be that most American Christians either do not realize the biblical position on this subject or do not adhere to these teachings.
I suspect that virtually all readers will feel that their toes are stepped on a bit as I do. Much of the book contains things that we probably do not want, but desperately need, to hear. The central premise of this text is found in Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
This is truly a life-changing book. I would recommend it for every Christian. For a briefer introduction to this topic, I also heartily endorse another one by Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books). Buy this for yourself. Buy a few more for gifts. Share it with many. — S. P.
Randy Alcorn has hit the nail on the head for biblical giving. His main premise is that all money and possessions belong to God, so we ought to be willing to give what is His anyway back to Him or to whomever He chooses. Our money and possessions are not for our selfish pleasure but for the promotion of spiritual and eternal things. Quite a convicting read. — L. F. Money, Possessions & Eternity absolutely rocked my world. There is definitely no better book on the topic of money/possessions than this one. It is the best book I've ever read, period, and I can't wait to re-read it over and over as a reminder until I die. - J. G.
I am a relatively new believer and things have been amazing recently. I found Money Possessions and Eternity and it speaks to me like nothing before. I am a person who has struggled with money and materialism and really want to obey. – S. B.
I have recently finished Money, Possessions and Eternity, and I can say that without a doubt it is the most inspired and powerful book on giving and sacrifice that I have ever read. As believers we should rejoice in the light of His Word, regardless of the selfishness and failures that the light reveals in us. The Lord has this book to bring me closer to the likeness of Christ. – T. S.
This is the best solidly-biblical treatment about money and possessions, that I've ever read, and I've read a lot! – L. T.
I’m currently in the process of reading your book Money, Possessions, and Eternity. It is an insightful and challenging book. I intend to do all that I can to encourage others within my church to read it as well. - E. A.
What an eye opener this book is! He lets you have it like it is. Greed, gluttony and covetousness are not treated as virtues, like the “prosperity gospel” preaches. This book helps to get us, as Christians, back on the right track of why God gives us material blessings and what He expects us to do with them. God is the focus, not us. Be prepared for some soul searching introspection! – M. K.
This is an excellent book on biblical stewardship. It’s a must-read for anyone wanting to see what the Bible has to say about your possessions and how to view (as well as handle) them. I highly, highly recommended it. - J. T.
This book is second only to the Bible in my opinion. Those are big words, but let me explain why I truly mean them. Before I’d even gotten past the first hundred pages, this book helped me change the way I manage my finances. How? By changing and enlightening my perspective. We get so caught up in the here and now that we sometimes forget what life is really about and what truly matters. This book has nothing whatsoever to do with “buying your way into Heaven.” That is a gift bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and we can do nothing to earn it. That’s why it’s a gift from God. However, how we live as a response to that is well within our control and how we manage our money says a lot about our view of God and our relationship with Him. That’s what this book helps put into perspective first and foremost. Once you have that perspective, you will start to change how you spend money without going through major internal efforts. Salvation is one thing and we can only get to Heaven by Jesus Christ and not our own efforts. How we live is another thing. Once we’ve settled the first, and are secure in the fact we cannot lose it, then our living is to be in gratitude for that precious gift and not an attempt to earn it (because we never could). That would diminish the fact that it is a gift of God.
The author’s heart-felt and sincere efforts to please the Lord in every aspect of his living have produced the fruit of this very helpful and edifying book. In turn, this book can help the rest of us to do likewise. This book had such a profound impact on me that there was no other book that could compare to it for impact other than the Bible, which of course, is second to none. – J. O.
Money, Possessions & Eternity is absolutely the most phenomenal book regarding the biblical view of money that I've ever read! I'm studying and highlighting as I go, and it is literally rocking my spiritual world. - J. P.
Great book! Makes you really think how you're spending the money that God has entrusted to you. - D. H.
My husband and I have been so blessed by Randy's book Money, Possessions & Eternity. God used it to help change the course and focus of our lives. We in turn have shared these principles with many others. - A. F.
Offerings had been running under budget for several months here. Like many pastors I had been a bit reluctant to preach much on tithing, resulting from not thinking through the issue clearly enough. I purchased The Treasure Principle and Money, Possessions and Eternity. I used these books along with some other material I had as a basis for 4 messages on the issue of giving and finance for believers. I found Mr. Alcorn's books to be quite helpful and provided great insight into this matter. I quoted him numerous times in each of the messages. Since giving the first of these messages in early January we have seen a marked increase in giving to the church and to missions supported by this church. We have definitely added some tithers from people who previously did not tithe. - O. B.
On page 340 of Money, Possessions & Eternity you seem to be saying "give now." When I was in Bible college some guys used that same logic to quit their training to go witness. For some of us, staying was the right thing to do. To send all students out of Bible college for current needs would not have provided for future needs. Isn't there a time to forgo current needs to provide for future needs?
Offerings had been running under budget for several months here. Like many pastors I had been a bit reluctant to preach much on tithing, resulting from not thinking through the issue clearly enough. I purchased The Treasure Principle and Money, Possessions and Eternity. I used these books along with some other material I had as a basis for 4 messages on the issue of giving and finance for believers. I found Mr. Alcorn's books to be quite helpful and provided great insight into this matter. I quoted him numerous times in each of the messages. Since giving the first of these messages in early January we have seen a marked increase in giving to the church and to missions supported by this church. We have definitely added some tithers from people who previously did not tithe. - O. B.
My husband and I signed up to take a class that was just starting to be offered to study Money, Possessions & Eternityy at our church. At the commencement of the course we initially had well over thirty people but finished with only twelve who read it all and signed the covenant.
Perhaps, for many, your sentiment that "there is something in this book to offend everyone" simply rang too true for many or maybe it was the gargantuan commitment of fitting in the 400+ pages of reading material over the course of a four-month span that scared them off. Now, being that reading happens to be my favorite hobby and I am a writer myself, taking on such a task was quite effortless, as well as the fact that my husband and I do not take our commitments lightly.
So we finished the course and, to say the least, it changed our lives immensely. Below is the actual letter that we wrote for our former instructors to use in the next class on the transformation that took place:
"Money, Possessions and Eternity was one of the best things to ever happen to our marriage. Through personal experience, we now see how studying this book, as well as implementing the truth discovered in it from God's word, is so vital to the peace and joy of every disciple.
God has taken away the materialistic views and desires we once had, that "he who dies with the most toys wins" or that success in this life has anything to do with how nice of a car we drive, how big of a house we own or how well it is furnished. You see, none of that matters to us anymore. We only want to serve our Lord and if He so chooses to "bless" us, it is our delight to bless him right back.
Going through this class has changed the way we view all of our time, money and possessions. God owns everything, even when it is ours to control. He wants to see us thriving in this life and rewarded in the next.
If there is anything we have learned from this book and course, it is that God truly deserves the glory. He gave the most valuable, the most precious thing He could; therefore, we should be just as conscious of what we do with the "valuables" he entrusts to us.
Lacey Rocha
San Antonio, TX (name used with permission)
