Junkyard Wisdom: Resisting the Whisper of Wealth in a World of Broken Parts

by Roy Goble, D.R. Jacobsen

Junkyard Wisdom is an honest exploration of the tension between wealth and poverty, and between faithfulness and temptation, facing followers of Jesus in the developed world. Roy Goble grew up working in his father's junkyard, where he learned to take apart absolutely anything and to evaluate everything for the value of its parts. Later, as he met with success in the real estate industry, Roy experienced the complexity of creating wealth while pursuing what Jesus was calling him to be and do, beginning a decades-long quest for a way to understand his place in God's kingdom and in a global society. Like Roy, most of us live a life of unprecedented abundance. No matter what our income level, walls of security and distraction inevitably insulate us from the poor or anyone else who might threaten our comfortable life. Yet despite our trappings of wealth-or perhaps because of them-we continue to experience a spiritual hunger for something deeper and more meaningful. In a surprising solution to that hunger, God invites us to utilize our wealth and our talents to create kingdom relationships, beginning right in our own communities. We can only enjoy this meaningful life when we break down the walls and live as Jesus calls us to live. This means more than serving meals in a homeless shelter once a month or even flying to a remote region of the world on a mission trip. Instead, the way of Jesus requires genuine relationships with people who are different than us. Until we stop and remember the poor in all of our decisions, and until we intentionally break down the walls that divide us from those whom Jesus loves, we will never experience the abundance of God's love. In such relationships we will discover an exchange of hope between ourselves and the poor. We are commissioned to be ambassadors for Jesus, beginning where we live and reaching the other side of the planet. Junkyard Wisdom is the story of Roy Goble's response to that commission-from the junkyard to Silicon Valley to house churches in Myanmar to Belizean rainforests-as he searches for ways to build authentic relationships of love, faith, and hope. Here, he reveals what's waiting for us on the other side of comfort and complacency-an abundant future we can only reach together.

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2016

About the author

Roy Goble is the author of Junkyard Wisdom Advent, and Salvaged: Leadership Lessons Pulled From the Junkyard. He is also the CEO of Goble Properties, a real estate investment company based in Silicon Valley, and co-founder of PathLight International, a nonprofit based in Belize—while still finding time to visit and learn from friends and ministry partners around the world. Roy lives with his wife, D’Aun, in Northern California.

Reviews

[Cara Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roy Goble is unabashedly himself ...he doesn’t try to pretend to be someone he’s not, and in that way his authentic wrestling with the tension of poverty and wealth was refreshing.

[RICHARD A. LAVINSKI · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than thought provoking. This book is ACTION provoking!!!

Having grownup, like the author, in the junkyard business, my first motivation to read this book was primarily based on that unusual similarity in life circumstances. What kept me reading, however, was not the similarity in childhood experience. Instead, it was compelling and thoughtful process the author brings us thru in determining God’s purpose for our lives and the gifts He bestowed upon each of us. Whether it is wealth, a certain talent or skill, wisdom, love or just the gift of human energy, the author shepherds the reader to the realization that we are called to become great stewards of those gifts God has specifically given us. Stewardship means using those gifts in a way that demonstrates God’s love for the people God puts in our lives. That may mean more than just writing a check. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) It may also mean reaching far outside our normal circle of relationships and far outside our comfort zones.

In short, this book inspires the reader to: Take action! Use your gifts wisely to help others. Shed guilt if you have any about the gifts God gave you as long as you’re using them for God’s purpose instead of your exclusive selfish pleasure...and ...Give God all the thanks and glory!!! It’s simple, but not easy. But if you allow God to do it thru you, it will happen! The author demonstrates how this stewardship can make our purpose and our earthly journey so much more rewarding and fun.

I believe this book will be a blessing to anyone who picks it up, and a life changer to anyone who takes it to heart.

[Brian Boerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very best kind of discomfort -- invitation to adventure

I define a great book by what happens to me when I finish it: I need to sit in silence. I can't start another one yet. I need to respond to what I've read. And I don't know how to respond. So I have to sit with the book long after I've closed it.
By that definition, this is a great book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I had to re-read sections in order to digest the material but it really helped me to further understand what God wants us to do and how we can all help wherever we are in our lives.

[Patrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read to make you think about priorities and perspective.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an eye opening book. He talks about how wealthy Christians need to daily struggle with how to best use our money for the kingdom of God. It doesn't mean giving it all away. A very different perspective on wealth than is normally talked about and so pertinent to people in Silicon Valley. He writes in a very conversational way and his lessons are woven in through his stories. Would highly recommend to get a different perspective on the passages in the Bible about money, that seem to only have a one-sided view of them.