One of my goals for this year is to write a brief review of the books I read to help me retain the insights gleaned. Part of the rationale for this undertaking comes from a book I read last year that I think said you know you are reading too much if you are not reflecting and apply what you read. (But I can’t make sure that is what it said because I can’t remember where I read it.)
So here goes:
All three of the books I have read this year have to do with money or more specifically our heart toward money and our habits of giving. This is unusual reading for me and has been significantly impacting. These books have grown me in some really neat ways. My entire outlook on giving has been greatly expanded.
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
Basically the treasure principle is “you can’t take it with you – but you can send it on ahead.” There are several “keys” to unlocking the reality of this mentality.
Key #1 God owns everything. I’m His money manager.
Key # 2 My heart always goes where I put God’s money.
Key # 3 Heaven, not earth is my home.
Key #4 I should live not for the dot but for the line.
This was a really good point. The “dot” is our life on earth and the line is our eternal life.
Key # 5 Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
Key # 6 God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my
standard of giving.
After reading this book I made a commitment to be a generous giver. In fact, I signed a giving covenant and that begun an exciting journey.
The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
A simple and enjoyable read this book lays out a “powerful one-step plan to live and finish rich”. This is really a money management book which provides a simple practical step of making sure you are wise with your money. The concept is basically that you will not consistently make wise choice so take the choice out of your hand by setting everything up to operate automatically. Make the commitment one time and reap the long term benefits of the wise choice. I have redone several of my financial things because of reading this book. Specifically increasing my pretax retirement contribution and I am rethinking my current mortgage arrangement.
The Blessed Live by Robert Morris
This was an extremely challenging book for me, but I loved it because it really stretched me. He masterfully keeps from tripping into a prosperity gospel yet celebrates the generosity of God to generous people. I can’t really explain it, but my heart shifted during the reading of this book and I suddenly wanted to give. I wanted to give as much as I could. I wanted to give more than I could. I got true joy from giving. God has repeatedly shown me that He blesses givers so they can be even more generous givers.
I have now started reading “The Tipping Point” and the introduction totally hooked me.
I have to say that reading one of these books about money/money management would be last on my list of books I’d choose to read. I think however, that I need (or more than need, am being called) to reorganize my thoughts, goals, decisions, regarding money. I must admit, that never have I tithed before. I always justified that we were giving all we could, that our time serving as youth leaders, Sunday school teacher, etc. was our gift to the church. But, my views have changed as I’ve prayed and studied about this. That being said, which book would you recommend to start with…because I’m envisioning a boring read, definitely not the right attitude, but an honest one!
Comment by rufwriter — February 19, 2009 @ 4:13 am |