Money: God or Gift

by Jamie Munson

Men and women, rich and poor, young and old - everybody has something that they treasure, and "where your heart is, there your treasure will be also." This book is to point your heart, your treasure, and your life to the source of all joy, goodness, and Jesus.

Designed to be read and studied over the course of three weeks as a study through Luke 12.

Over 20,000 copies have been distributed to date, and the print copy exceeds 100 pages!

Genres: Theology, Christian, Money, Nonfiction, Religion

Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

A lot of grace! That sums up my life well. Over the years I have had the opportunity to see a lot of change, in my own life, my family's lives and the organizations I’ve had the privilege of being a part of. I believe that Life is a gift, Leadership is an honor, and Legacy matters.

Reviews

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview

Helpful overview of money and how Christians should relate to it. Plenty of meat for either those just starting out or those later in life.

[Sean Solberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent pragmatic overview of a scriptural understanding of money.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Munson is a pastor at Mars Hill Church based in Seattle, WA. Most people associate Mars Hill with Mark Driscoll, but the church is large and growing rapidly. They have many other pastors, some of whom are also writing books. Munson is one of them. His book, Money: God or Gift, is a straightforward, practical instruction on why & how to be faithful stewards of God's money.

Munson's book breaks into three sections, Rich Toward God, Life is More than Food, and the Faithful and the Wise.

RICH TOWARD GOD
Munson explains how Christians are "Haves", meaning that God will provide for our needs. Since God is sovereign, everything that we receive is from Him, and we should do what he tells us to do with his money. We will have what we need, therefore, we can trust God and obey His commands, one of which is to give. Anything that we receive is by God's grace, thus, how we steward God's money is worship. Stewardship is an opportunity glorify God for our Joy!

Also, Pastor Jamie explains that giving is ultimately a matter of the heart. There are rich and poor people that are generous and good stewards of God's provision. There are also rich and poor people that are greedy and terrible stewards of God's provision. Giving is not about the amount, but about the heart. God gives however much money to whoever he wants, therefore, generous giving is not a numeric position but a position of the heart. Important to mention: Biblical stewardship is not poverty theology or prosperity theology, but generous theology as it pertains to giving.

Munson proceeds to explain how the Bible addresses the three categories of stewardship: Giving, Spending, Saving. We must give before we save or spend, for God requires our "first fruits". This also identifies what is first in our heart and mind. Do we first acknowledge God with our money? Or other things, people, etc. (idolatry)? As it pertains to spending, Christian must be generous. We should live below our means and flee from debt, but we should also avoid being hoarders. God has blessed us abundantly, and we must respond with generous hearts.

LIFE IS MORE THAN FOOD
Jamie Munson spends a bit of time talking about Wants vs. Priorities. To the Christian, a disciple of Jesus, priorities are: Jesus, relationships, and mission. Ultimately, it is completely okay to desire "worldly possessions", especially when they are beneficial to our priorities. For an example, it is not wrong to want an iPhone. iPhones are not evil, but they can be used for selfish desires, namely our satisfaction outside of Christ. An iPhone can also be redeemed by enjoying it to add joy in Christ! As Christians, our desires/wants will progress towards aligning with our priorities. Each spending situation must be considered individually, but it ultimately comes down to the heart. If one wants an iPhone, and it does not inhibit the priorities, then it is completely fine.

The main reason why money is important to us now as God's stewards, is to invest in His eternal kingdom. Logically, an investment is ultimately worthless if it does not last. In the eternal scope, the most valuable investment is in the Kingdom of God, for it will not perish. I am not advocating poverty theology; I am saying that at the very end of the day, only one investment matters: God's eternal kingdom. We cannot bring our wealth with us, but we can send it forward. We can invest! God has given us an extremely valuable investment opportunity. We will receive more than we can possible contain, and even now we will reap benefits, JOY!

THE FAITHFUL AND THE WISE
These last chapters address the practical issues in being good stewards of God's money for His glory and our joy. Munson specifically addresses different age groups. For children, the parents must be intentional in the teaching of how to steward God's resources well. Parent's should look for opportunities to teach about the value of giving and saving; it is also a great opportunity to talk about Jesus. Single's should establish giving patterns now and stay out of debt. This definitely pertains to my current situation of being in college. I have the awesome opportunity to save money and give. The habits I establish now, on my own, will follow me into marriage (God willing) and for the rest of my life. I want to enter into marriage with savings so that I may provide for my wife without any added stress from debt. I never want to be in debt. Now is the time for me to live below my means, to deny momentary gratification for God's glory and my ultimate, everlasting gratification in experiencing the joy of Christ.

My hope is that you would read this book. Soak in the concepts. I hope that God's grace would compel you to be a good steward of his money. It's for God's glory and your joy. What is more valuable than to experience the revealed glory of the Sovereign God through an inexpressible, infinite, imperishable JOY?! Is money your god? Or is it your gift, your tool, to increase your pleasure in witnessing the glory of your Maker?

[Jennine G. (Living On Purpose) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Money: God or Gift" is best applicable as an introduction or refresher of money matters. Munson really does cover all the bases, even the questions every Christian struggles with when it comes to money. He talks about use of monetary resources as a matter of the heart. You "have" or "have-not" based on your motives. This means that giving, spending, and saving can be done for the wrong reasons. Giving, spending, and saving are each discussed in accordance with Biblical values, citing many verses and ways in which they are done correctly or not (motivations of your heart).

Munson also discusses guilt many of us may feel when it comes to having fun or buying things. He speaks to Needs vs Wants and how to figure when each is appropriate. Generosity is covered in a later chapter because the giving is an important part of a Christian's budget. And there is also talk on budgeting and an appendix that provides a sample budget to use. Last, but not least, Munson talks about where our giving (if rightly motivated) takes us - treasure in Heaven.

So while there are many topics covered, they are relatively short and to the point. This book would be a great way to help you (or someone else) realize the Biblical ways behind money management before going into an in depth study. Or maybe you aren't sure where your problem lies, this book would help pinpoint your problem in order to find other studies that delve deeper into that specific topic. For people who have heard it all before on the topic of money and the Bible, it is a great reminder of our true goals for our money and why.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly decent superficial accounting of how the Bible talks about money, with a heavy dose of Mars Hill ethos in there. The advice (savings, retirement, pay down debt) is fairly standard, but with verse to support, which I like. Mars Hill chooses to interpret some passages in their own conservative way (surprise!), but if you can get past that it's a good beginning for what God says about cash. For example, the book advises that when you get married you learn to live on one person's income (presuming a 2 income household). Mars Hill's reason for this is so that when the woman begins popping out all those kids she can be the stay at home mom she's meant to be (sigh). But this is still good advice. If you can live on one person's income for your regular budget, you can pay down debt and increase savings very quickly. So, there it is. A quick, superficial guide to budgeting the Biblical way, from a conservative church.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Money: God or Gift by Jamie Munson
Format: PDF provided by Storycartel & author in exchange for an honest review.

Easy to follow financial advice for saving, getting rid of debt, and using your money wisely. The author follows each step of advice with a pleitude of Bible verses. Simple, consise guide for those new to money management that has a spiritiual backing.

I felt the book was more informative and factual rather than trying to personally involve the reader. That's not a bad thing for the reader who needs all the emotions cut out and an easy to follow guide to get started. In my own preference, I liked to personally connect with books through personal stories or ancedotes; that always seems to modivate me beyond just learning some basic information. Overall, a good money guide.

[Ben Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, concise, packed with biblical & practical principles. Well worth the hour or two it takes to read; even better if used as it was designed to be - a 3-week study. With the pervasive misunderstanding of money, saving, spend, giving, etc. this is a breath of fresh air, & will hopefully be used to produce great fruit in folks' lives & ministry.

Only downsides: a few editing mistakes, and very focused toward Munson's own local church (which is fine & the purpose of his writing), but it would be more helpful/applicable if some of the specific-church things were broadened a bit.

Easily forgivable though; great book. Well worth buying a couple cases to give to your church members next month. At least that's what we're doing!

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great bible study book. Gets at a lot of the roots underneath how we intersect God and finances and why there is glory in giving to God our first fruits. One of my real key takeaways was that God doesn't desire that we give money because he loves money, rather that he loves us and that his glory be above all else so in order to give sacrificially requires that we are not putting ourselves first but rather that God is first. He seeks to remove that obstacle of worship.

Sort of interesting reading this book again. Dude has disassociated himself in all ways online from Mars Hill. Not even on his work history. Yet throughout the book he holds them up as the shining example of proper church execution

[Matthew Redder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is concise (113 pages), which made it simpler to enjoy the book's rich content. The content is definitely to-the-point and right on. Munson uses dozens of scripture references to back up content, and in that vein, it is easy to follow the references along and get even more out of the book. As a Pastor I could use this book as a small group guide, in couples counseling, or even as a reference to a series on money on a Sunday morning. Confusion about money and faith is definitely a problem that has permeated our culture. In my opinion this book helps to get at the heart of what it looks like to have both, and how to find a biblical balance. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh take on the subject, even if you think you know all there is to know already.

[Adam Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short and biblically solid book, Jamie Munson writes on the topic of money covering everything from the practical advice on saving, giving, and living a life that is God-honoring in regards to our resources while touching on some of the more traditionally difficult questions within the church like "Should a Christian be rich?", "Are we to give away all of our money?" and "Isn't spending on pleasure bad?" It's easy to understand, brief, and filled with biblical truths on the topic of money.
I'd encourage anyone looking for more info looking to learn what the Bible has to say about wealth, saving, giving, and worship through these gifts.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

I found that it was an excellent resource for seeing a broad overview of what the Bible has to say about money. The author suggests that you go through the material in a small group setting which sounds like an excellent way to approach this topic.

What I liked about the book is the abundance of scripture that infuses the book and created a strong framework to clearly establish a Christian and biblical worldview on money. Well worth the short amount of time it will take to read it, but you will chew on this in a group setting for a long time.

[Ben Adkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven 19t read a ton of books on Christian finance, but this has surely got to be one of the best. In Money: God or Gift, Jamie Munson clearly lays out the basic biblical principles regarding money in the Bible. The book is a quick read (think a couple of days), balanced in its thinking, cheap to buy (only $5 on kindle), theologically focused, practical in application, and includes discussion questions for group study and further probing. The end of the book has useful appendices for planning a budget and resources for further study. This would be my de facto book recommendation for those struggling with finances.

4 of 5 cups of black coffee

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief, simple and helpful introduction to a biblical view on money.

Here is a summary of Munsen's purpose for writing the book (from chapter 10): 'Money is a good, necessary, extremely helpful gift from God. It is also an enticing, destructive, and terrible god. I sincerely pray that this book has helped you put money in its rightful place as an instrument to glorify Jesus, a gauge to assess the spiritual health of your heart, and a blessing from God that's perfectly fine to enjoy.

This book is an excellent complement to a book like Dave Ramsey's 'Total Money Makeover'.

[Jeff Bettger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best and most cohesive thing I have read on stewardship. I absolutely love that it begins with fear! I wish more Christians paid attention to these principles, and would apply them. We could literally solve world hunger, and all kinds of other things if we would just steward what God has blessed us with in a worshipful thankful way. If you have trouble giving or a covetous heart that desires stuff and things to make you feel better (like every American) I recommend this book.

[Brent Dore · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good basic overview of fiances but there were definitely times that I felt like he made complex issues into simple black/white points (...that's also one of my general frustrations with Mars Hill). I would recommend it to people though - especially people who are just beginnign to try and figure out how to budget and use their money as a means of glorifying God. Overall, it's a solid effort but I would have liked a little more.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good book off the start,about money,balance sheets,economics and financial theory or debit management.Fear is the best place to start,goes hand,and hand with things.We love and value,also this book goes by week 1,week 2,week 3,to teach stewardship,and money management,also it goes hand,and hand with your Bible,will help you get your mind ready in spiritually,financial and help in life.I loved this book,hope you do to

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple study with some good discussion but not to deeply in depth. It's strength is that is focuses on the heart of the issue and in having the right attitudes towards things. Although at times it is a little slippery fish and while it tries to root in scripture, it still comes back to some older peoples ideas with how best to handle this topic. But the book is not intimidating and easy to read.

[Ben Thorp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mix of sound theology and practical advice. A great reference point for church leaders and members alike, although ought to be read in tandem with a more in-depth book on the practicalities of (Christian) financial planning if used as a basis for changing your own situation - the author recommends some additional reading in the appendices.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book on money that I have read. It was a great book for that. It provided a good overview of stewardship and how my money should relate to my relationship with God. There are study guide questions included as this book was written to be used in a community group setting.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strong and simple financial direction from a Biblical & common sense perspective.

[Travis Wussow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-balanced and practical. Also full of good discussion questions that can be used to talk and think through the issues more deeply.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This included a lot of stuff that I already knew but it was good to get reminded that receiving God’s blessings is not a sin and giving should be done with the right motives.

[John Bowersox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Jamie Munson brings more common sense combined with a biblical foundation on the subject of money. Everyone I know could benefit from reading this quick study.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome resource! I plan on recommending it and giving it away to others. Addresses our hearts well as well as wisdom with handling money in different life stages. Very thorough, very understandable.