Money in the Light of Eternity: What the Bible Says about Your Financial Purpose

by Art Rainer, Thom S. Rainer (Series Editor)

You Are Created for More.

Our hearts are filled with all types of longings―yearnings for contentment, satisfaction, and happiness. We all want to be part of something greater than ourselves. Yet our biggest temptation is to try to satisfy those longings by seeking after more money and more stuff. That is junk food for our souls, full of quickly fading pleasure that leaves us unhealthier than we were before.

We deeply desire God and the good gifts that come from him alone. It’s the way we’re wired.

Does your heart long to be a part of something greater than yourself? God’s most ambitious mission is ready for you to join. When was the last time you used money in a way that brought about deep, refreshing happiness and satisfaction for yourself and for others?

Money in Light of Eternity helps you see money the way God views it. When you follow God’s design for your life, you will find what no large bank account, big house, or fast car could ever provide. You will find your true heart.

You were created for so much more.

160 pages, Hardcover

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Art Rainer is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. Art lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina with his wife, Sarah, and their three children.

Reviews

[Joanne | wellreadcoffeeaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Though the American dollar reads, "In God We Trust," many Americans have greater faith in the green paper it's printed on."

"Cheerful givers hold their possessions loosely. They recognize that everything belongs to God and they are managers or stewards, not owners."

I think this book came into my life at the exact time it needed to. It was an excellent reminder of not only stewarding God's blessings well, but also the reason for why we are even in possession of them anyway. In light of so uncertain a future ahead of us, it's easy to get caught up in financial concerns or stress. Giving - and giving generously, at that - can become less and less of a priority. This book challenges that perspective. It's easy to follow, to the point, and biblically based. I recommend this book to all Christians.

[PhyllisRBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art Rainer points out that so many of us place our hope in money and the control of it instead of allowing God to show us how it can shape eternity.
He states:

“…giving to mold your heart into a heart that trusts him more. Giving says to God, ‘I trust you more than I trust myself or money.’”

“The generosity we find in the Bible is not easy. It is not convenient. And it is certainly not comfortable. Sacrifice is uncomfortable. The generosity we are called to in the Bible causes our hearts to lean into God and trust him.”

Chapters include topics such as living for something greater than yourself, acknowledging that God owns everything, what it means to be fueled by gratitude, generosity as an act of worship, and prioritizing generosity. The chapters also give Biblical and contemporary accounts of generous, sacrificial and cheerful giving with a few poignant questions to ponder at the end of each chapter. This book would be a good resource for individual, small group to church-wide study.

I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

[Scott Riessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, biblical, and practical. I love Art’s emphasis on the local church- “God’s plan to teach the world.” Regardless of your level of generosity, there is an action step in this book for you.

[Scott Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art Rainer certainly covers a lot of dimensions to generosity: stewardship, gratitude, trust, worship. He even talks about the messiness of being generous. However, I kept wondering why the book was written. Who’s the audience that’s going to pick up the book? Believers who already understand they are but stewards who are to manage resources according to the Master’s desires don’t need to read this. Those who accept with humility God’s good gifts—living a modern version of Deut. 6.10-12 (you didn’t build this, don’t forget the Lord)—don’t need to read this. Those who look at everyday life and apply Micah 6.8 don’t need to read this—“But what does the Lord require? To do right, to love mercy and walk humbly with God.” Or James 1.27–pure religion is taking care of widows and orphans and not letting the world corrupt you i.e. don’t let the world’s standards or perspectives persuade you to keep up with the Joneses. Potential readers would be new to generosity and they would want a “how to” book. Those who are not interested in generosity, have not been persuaded by sermons or even tax regulations encouraging generosity probably wouldn’t pick up the book. So I’m left with the audience of those who are only dipping their toes in the waters of generosity. Church-goers are no more generous than the rest of society, donating roughly 2% of their income. Those people will benefit from Rainer’s exhortation to dive into the deep end and go all out.

I do wonder at the title of the book. It implies that we can earn our way into heaven by being generous. Rather being generous is a response of gratitude as Rainer says. It’s obedience to His commands to help others, including loving our enemies. It’s recognizing that we don’t own these things but have been generously endowed with physical, financial, intellectual, relational, spiritual and historical (heritage, legacy) resources. No one is a self-made success: they didn’t build the roads, schools, hospitals, armed forces, police, courts, etc. on which our society rests. They didn’t come fresh into a faith that’s entirely new but has a legacy of thought and application in everyday life.

For those who are wondering if it makes sense to be more generous, Rainer’s book is a good resource. If you need encouragement, this book is good.