Book Review: How to be Rich

How to be Rich by Andy Stanley is a book about the correct way rich people should view their money.  Andy Stanley challenges Americans to consider what Rich means and how the world defines the way we view money and spend it.

If you make more than $48,000 a year as a family, you are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world.  This fact is staggering to me.  Another mind blowing fact is that as American I can work 5 days a week (for 8-10 hours per day) and provide for my family of five for seven days.  Five days of work is sufficient to house, feed, clothe, and entertain my family of five for seven days a week.  In most nations working 6 days is normal but for many working seven days a week is connected to survival, let alone letting other family members not work and still survive.

We live in a great time where we are all considered rich.  There will always be richer, but we are rich and should act like it.  In this book and (possibly) accompanying DVD Andy Stanley discusses how Paul instructs Timothy to teach rich people to live.

…to be Rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to Share   1Timothy 6:18

I really enjoyed this book.  I found it uplifting and convicting.  This really has changed the way I view our financial situation and our obligation to the world and to God.  I look forward to applying some of these principles to our budget and all areas of life.

I will say I have one gripe with this and it’s only with the DVD.  In some of the sessions he seems very wishy-washy on God and Jesus.  Its little comments like “if we ignore all other theology and only focus on generosity that we would attract the world.”  I agree that generosity is not as present in Christian life as it should be but I do think believing Jesus as your personal savior and surrendering your life to him is a little more important that being generous.  I don’t think that’s what he meant to imply but it kind of came off that way.

Note: I received a free copy of this book and DVD to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.