The Church Leaders “Best Books” series is our way of helping leaders find, read, and recommend books on a variety of important topics related to ministry and the Christian life. Check out the rest of our best books lists.
Chris Brown stops by today to recommend his 5 favorite books on stewardship and generosity.
I’ve read a lot of books in my life. And, to be honest, a lot of them failed to make a dent. But others have left a real mark—and made me a better person in the process. When it comes to stewardship and generosity, here are five books that have taught me a lot about using God’s resources God’s way for God’s glory.
- The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. In a lot ways, this is the book that started it all. Dave’s practical advice helped me get a handle on my finances at a time when I was really struggling. If you want to know what getting out of debt and getting control of your money are all about, this is the book for you.
- The Blessed Life by Robert Morris. The hearts of some folks just naturally beat for generosity. Robert Morris, pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, is one of those people. In The Blessed Life, he tells his own story about how God taught to hold things loosely and why that’s so important to his life now.
- The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. Jesus told us to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). Why? Because earthly things don’t last. Alcorn reminds us that earthly possessions aren’t bad, but God gives them to us so we can expand His kingdom work on earth.
- Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. Genuine, biblical stewardship involves every area of our lives—including how we do business. Rabbi Lapin does a great job digging into Jewish traditions and explaining how those principles ethically lead to success in the for-profit, working world of the 21st century.
- The Legacy Journey by Dave Ramsey. Many people in our culture mistakenly equate success with greed and excess. But Ramsey offers a biblical view of wealth and all the things that go with it—including our responsibility to be generous now and to build a solid family legacy that lasts long after we’re gone.
Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive. So many great writers have talked about the topics of stewardship and generosity. But when it comes to the books that have shaped my thinking, these five top the list.
Chris Brown is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, pastor, and dynamic speaker carrying the message of stewardship and intentional living nationwide. Available on radio stations across the country, Chris Brown’s True Stewardship provides biblical solutions and sound advice for questions on life and money. You can follow Chris online at stewardship.com, and Twitter and facebook.
