Fields of Gold

by Andy Stanley

Fields of Gold is a practical and inspirational book based on the principle of sowing and reaping. If we sow fear, what will be our harvest? And conversely, if we sow faith, what will we grow?

This book moves the reader beyond fear and guilt about giving, and into confidence, security, and excitement. Andy Stanley unpacks our irrational fears about money, helping us to discover that generous giving is actually an invitation for our heavenly Father to get involved in our finances and resupply us with enough seed to sow generously throughout our lifetime.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Religion, Christian Living, Church, Christianity

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Andy Stanley is the senior pastor of North Point Community Church, Buckhead Church, and Browns Bridge Community Church. He also founded North Point Ministries, which is a worldwide Christian organization.

Reviews

[Sunshine Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fields of Gold" is the first book I've read by the author Andy Stanley. This is a very short book (only 130 pages), quick to read and easy to understand. The message on these pages was about tithing and giving to God's Kingdom. Andy is a Pastor and talks about the hinderances, fears and doubts we all struggle with when it comes to giving up our hard-earned money. Andy shares his own insight, backs his message up with Scripture as well as highlights other personal stories of people who gave into the Lord's Kingdom and were given a plentiful harvest in return. In Chapter 5, Andy goes over the 4 P's: Priority Giving, Percentage Giving, Prompted Giving and Progressive Giving. Andy encourages his readers not to let fear stand in the way of completing God's will for your life. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to mature and grow in the area of tithing and giving financial offerings to the Lord.

[Amanda Tero · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book description that I quickly browsed mentioned the theme of sowing and reaping, but I didn’t realize the whole book (literally) was on the subject of monetary giving. I don’t think I’ve even heard a sermon focused on this matter, so I was very interested in the concepts that Stanley would share. There is a lot of food for thought. He very clearly does not approve of the modern “give to receive” concept (prosperity gospel), but he does give many examples of sowing and reaping.

One thought that stood out to me was that the reason many of us don’t give to God more often is because we’re more fearful than misers. Yet why do we fear when God provides everything for us anyway? Also, a reminder of the perspective that we are stewards not owners of our money.

Just a good thought-provoking read all around.

[priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Often, stepping outside your comfort zone is not careless irresponsibility, but a necessary act of obedience."

[Benjamin Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book gives a simple, straightforward explanation of the kind of financial generosity that springs from Christians who view their possessions as God’s. He helps you to view yourself as a steward of wealth that has been given to you by God, which thus releases you from clinging on to every penny. I’ve given at least 10% of my earnings away every month since I was 19. But there are still challenges in this book to go further, to choose to trust God for security rather than my investment portfolio and experience further joy and excitement of giving away what you can’t take with you. A great little read if you dare!

[Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy Stanley has authored a very good primer on the subject of Christian giving.

He speaks quite a bit about the fear of giving. He also presents the "4 P's of Giving": priority, percentage, progressive, and prompted giving.

This book increases my growing understanding of the heavenly value of earthly giving resulting in God's glory for man's benefit.

This book was written from the perspective of grace, being motivated not by fear but being motivated by increasing joy.

This is a really good book for any selfish Christian to read and apply and experience an increased devotion to the Lord who gives us everything for us to be His stewards.

[Kenny Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMAZING BOOK! I love Andy Stanley, but I have to say that this is one of the best messages on giving and generosity I've ever read or heard. I think that people get beaten down my the "tithing" message or they find too many places to fight or have their opinion. In this book, Andy doesn't even really go there, but camps on the idea of generosity and challenges everyone in that aspect. This book has truly inspired me and I know it will inspire you if you read it.

[JJ Vancil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fields of Gold, by Andy Stanley, challenges, without apology, our financial fears. While this book is about money, it is not primarily about giving, but rather trusting. What prevents so many people from giving our money away for use in God’s kingdom is fear, and fear indicates our lack of trust. This book invites us to experience the joy of fearless giving. What awaits us on the other side for the generous giver is a harvest that far exceeds our wildest expectations.

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review: Giving is not often thought of as one of the spiritual disciplines but in Fields of Gold it is primarily thought of as a spiritual act of obedience and not as a financial matter. This is a quick book, but worth the time.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/fields-of-gold/

[Dana DeVries · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Some good points about stewardship, but very American Middle Class perspective. Not much Biblical support. Trying not to be prosperity gospel, but is compared to Scripture. I appreciated his call to give generously to missions beyond church giving, and was most touched by his Schindler’s List analogy.

[Jeremy Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the best books on becoming a generous giver that I've ever read. Every Christian should read this book, especially if he/she is wanting to move from a place of fear to a place of joy in giving.

[Chad Stutzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this great little book by Andy Stanley. It really challenged me again to examine my heart for giving. I highly recommend this book, every Christian should read it.

[Jt]

a great book on stewardship

[Jonathan Beigle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big Andy Stanley fan. I think this is the 4th book I've read. I've been to his Drive conference in Atlanta. I didn't love this book though. I found it pretty dry. It's important topic to discuss for Christians, but I had a hard time engaging in the book. Sacrificial giving is hard for everyone, and Andy spends a lot of time focusing on sowing your seed for the long-term...and not keeping your money because you are fearful about the short term. We all need to remember that!

My favorite quotes:
p. 31 - As a Christian, you don't need to be limited to a threshold of fear and self-preservation. The limits for your generosity aren't prescribed by mere financial principles. And often, stepping outside your comfort zone is not careless irresponsibility, but a necessary act of obedience."
p. 54 - God is going to do it with or without us. But he invites us to partner with Him. And when we do, our lives take on a whole new level of significance.
p. 110 - What do you fear most? Not having enough or not having the involvement of your heavenly Father in the realm of your finances?

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is on the profitability of giving. Contrary to prosperity preachers who emphasize a material prosperity as a result of giving (They aren’t wrong, but it just means their own personal prosperity increases as a result of our giving), Stanley speaks to the spiritual prosperity gained through our giving. This honesty was a pretty good book, but given the theological baggage that Stanley has, I think there are far better options that I would recommend that don’t skimp on the content and don’t have the issues that Stanley has.

[Joelle Germeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing, I love the message. Definitely helped me give fearlessly, and allow me to want include God more in my finances! The only thing I disliked was a little bit of guilting within some of the chapters and the story comparisons; I feel there shouldn’t be comparisons since comparison is the thief of joy. But other than that I loved the change of perspective when it comes to giving. We are steward’s of the Lord’s money, not our own💕

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much-needed encouragement to invest our money in what really matters. As I start more seriously looking at future investments, greed and fear have leapt out at me, and threaten to chase the more meaningful things in life away. It’s a strange feeling. So I’m grateful for Andy Stanley’s always-practical encouragement to step outside my comfort zone and reap a more meaningful return.

[Marlise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a simple handbook on giving for someone who has never considered giving to charity or tithing. It might come in handy one day if I ever meet someone opposed to generosity. However, most people I know either already give generously or want to. This book will not help someone who wants to know how to be MORE generous. It is really only for someone who has never considered it.

[Mark Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a okay practical book on why you ought to give extravagantly. The book as a whole was rather redundant at times but other than that it was good. I believe that there is more that could be discussed about giving but that wasn’t the books goal. The goal was to get you to want to give, so it seemed, and it did that.

[Mike Wardrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great - a short, simple, biblical picture of generosity that challenges and inspires. It’s not intended to be a theological treatise or a comprehensive overview; its meant to stir sleepy Christians from the chains of fear into the freedom of giving.

[Christopher-James Neethling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a hard book to read by any means. Most of it is good and practical. Here and there I felt Andy used Scriptures out of context, and on tithing he makes a suggestion that I think is a compromise. I get his heart, but I don’t think we’re at liberty to do that as Christians.

[Sara Schelonka · Rating 3 out of 5]

very easy read. i was really hoping it was going to connect to matthew 13:44 because that’s one of my favorites but it didn’t lol. still good to read as i’m going into a season where my finances change but definitely not earth shattering

[Liam Dailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me realize my own fears that I didn’t even know existed. It’s really well written and makes you think about your situation and how to learn how to rid yourself of fear of financial stress.

[Allen Rosenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different perspective

Quick read with entirely different perspective on giving and stewardship. Take a chance on this book and learn about the joy of giving.

[Christopher J. Corrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome easy read

I'm always captivated by this Mans view, as a new member this is a front and center topic. It's a question I have always had....answered.

[Charley Box · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy Stanley is always fantastic! I listened to this book and wished Andy had read it and not the narrator! Regardless, the content is excellent.

[Justin Parris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really challenged me to see my financial giving to God differently. Makes me want to do better and give more.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and understand. Sound, biblical advice on giving and how to fight the fear surrounding our finances.

[Paperback Prinsass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small, but very valuable lesson on giving and trusting God to take care of your needs. Wonderful read!

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last half of the book is definitely better than the first 80 pages or so.

[Lorene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nosure I learned anything new, but still, a very good read which makes you think.