Review

Rating: 10

Who of you heard of the phrase, “Money is the root of all evil”. How many of you know this is not a real quote? The proper quotation is, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

Money, like many physical objects (guns, drugs, cars, alcohol, pens) has no inherit evil within it. It’s just a thing, an inanimate object. However, in the hands of people, these things can be “evil” in how they are used and abused.

This is the dilemma of the Christian business person who is often an outsider to the world, and an outsider within his own church (and sometimes his family). There’s a great deal of legalism, hypocrisy, jealously, and misinformation in regards to a Christian who happens to also be a business leader, ceo, or entrepreneur.

Many Christians look down on wealth believers because they feel the Christian is called to a life of poverty and they are not entitled to wealth according to the Bible. Wrong! God never calls ALL people to poverty, nor calls all people to wealth. He puts every person in a unique situation, somewhere between exceedingly wealthy (Abraham, Joseph) and exceedingly poor (Mother Theresa). To say that wealth is evil, or being wealthy is not in God’s plan is clearly anti-scripture.

Thank God for people like Robert Fraser, and talented authors like him that have lived this struggle and produced their thoughts, inspirations, and studies for us to learn from. Robert’s book, “marketplace christianity” is a wonderful testimony and narrative about Robert’s journey from ministry the marketplace, to understanding his ministry was IN the marketplace — not the church.

Robert’s guidance and teaching to business owners, and employees of faith are firmly based on Scripture and evidence. There is no “divine reveleation” here, just insights from God’s word on the role of money in a believer’s life, and the role of Christians, rich and poor in the marketplace. You see, there’s thought that “the church” is where God and hold people hang out and “the marketplace” is where ungodly heathens hang out. This book destroys that premise and gives Christians the Biblical foundations to take their stand and be a minister “in the marketplace”. Yes, Christians can, and are called into service in places where profits are counted.

Why is this important?

First, ministries take money. Christian living does not, but providing physical and spiritual relief to those in need in an organized manner does. Who, may I ask, is going to provide that money? Will God rain it from the sky, or might He just equip men and women with talents to not only serve in the church, but also use those creative talents outside the church in the marketplace to generate income and wealth to fund His kingdom? In fact, won’t that ultimately bring God more glory to do it that way? The answer is, “Yes!”

I’ve read this book twice, and will read it again soon. It’s that important and that rich. Every time I read it, I get stronger in my faith, and stronger in connecting my business to God and allowing God to work through my business.

I also want you look at my friend Matt Gillogly’s website, “Create True Riches” - http://www.createtrueriches.com where he is helping entrepreneurs learn how to create wealth that fund’s God’s kingdom. Matt was the one who introduced me to this book and I’m grateful that he did. I hope you find it equally challenging and inspiring.–Bob