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Christians in an Age of Wealth: A Biblical Theology of Stewardship
What does the Bible say about money, material possessions, and stewardship?
In Christians in an Age of Wealth, Craig Blomberg addresses tough questions about the place and purpose of wealth and material possessions in a Christian's life. He points to the goodness of wealth, as God originally designed it, but also surveys the Bible's many warnings against making an idol out of money.
Taking a close exegetical look at this topic as it’s discussed in Scripture, Blomberg answers the toughest questions about Christianity and
Is there any one key to keeping possessions in their proper, God-intended perspective?Are there limits on how rich we should become or on how poor we should allow others to get?What does a truly Christian economic system look like?How does the Bible's teaching on wealth fit into the gospel?
Blomberg expounds upon how the sharing of goods and possessions is the key safeguard against both greed and covetousness. He expands on the concept of giving generously, even sacrificially, to those who are needier, demonstrating how Christians can participate in God's original good design for abundance and demonstrate the world-altering gospel of Christ.
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Part of the Biblical Theology for Life series, this practical and challenging book will help you and your church ground your worldly possessions on the solid foundation of biblical understanding and reflection.
In Christians in an Age of Wealth, Craig Blomberg addresses tough questions about the place and purpose of wealth and material possessions in a Christian's life. He points to the goodness of wealth, as God originally designed it, but also surveys the Bible's many warnings against making an idol out of money.
Taking a close exegetical look at this topic as it’s discussed in Scripture, Blomberg answers the toughest questions about Christianity and
Is there any one key to keeping possessions in their proper, God-intended perspective?Are there limits on how rich we should become or on how poor we should allow others to get?What does a truly Christian economic system look like?How does the Bible's teaching on wealth fit into the gospel?
Blomberg expounds upon how the sharing of goods and possessions is the key safeguard against both greed and covetousness. He expands on the concept of giving generously, even sacrificially, to those who are needier, demonstrating how Christians can participate in God's original good design for abundance and demonstrate the world-altering gospel of Christ.
____________
Part of the Biblical Theology for Life series, this practical and challenging book will help you and your church ground your worldly possessions on the solid foundation of biblical understanding and reflection.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2013
38 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Craig L. Blomberg
83 books99 followersDr. Craig Blomberg joined the faculty of Denver Seminary in 1986. He is currently a distinguished professor of New Testament.
Dr. Blomberg completed his Ph.D. in New Testament, specializing in the parables and the writings of Luke-Acts, at Aberdeen University in Scotland. He received an MA from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a BA from Augustana College. Before joining the faculty of Denver Seminary, he taught at Palm Beach Atlantic College and was a research fellow in Cambridge, England with Tyndale House.
In addition to writing numerous articles in professional journals, multi-author works and dictionaries or encyclopedias, he has authored or edited 20 books, including The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Interpreting the Parables, commentaries on Matthew, 1 Corinthians and James, Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey, From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, Christians in an Age of Wealth: A Biblical Theology of Stewardship, Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions, Making Sense of the New Testament: Three Crucial Questions, Preaching the Parables, Contagious Holiness: Jesus' Meals with Sinners, and Handbook of New Testament Exegesis.
Dr. Blomberg completed his Ph.D. in New Testament, specializing in the parables and the writings of Luke-Acts, at Aberdeen University in Scotland. He received an MA from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a BA from Augustana College. Before joining the faculty of Denver Seminary, he taught at Palm Beach Atlantic College and was a research fellow in Cambridge, England with Tyndale House.
In addition to writing numerous articles in professional journals, multi-author works and dictionaries or encyclopedias, he has authored or edited 20 books, including The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Interpreting the Parables, commentaries on Matthew, 1 Corinthians and James, Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey, From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation, Christians in an Age of Wealth: A Biblical Theology of Stewardship, Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions, Making Sense of the New Testament: Three Crucial Questions, Preaching the Parables, Contagious Holiness: Jesus' Meals with Sinners, and Handbook of New Testament Exegesis.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 17, 2015
Similar ground to Witherington's Jesus & Money but more expansive. Blomberg reviews what the Bible says on a number of money related issues, including prosperity preaching, asceticism, giving, tithing and taxes, and idolatry. Blomberg and Lunde also discuss individual stewardship, corporate stewardship (in the realm of business and government) and church stewardship.
This is a great resource to have when pressing into what the Bible has to say about money.
This is a great resource to have when pressing into what the Bible has to say about money.
May 22, 2019
What is the number one threat facing the Christian church today? Craig Blomberg writes a compelling case in this book that it is Mammon, or the god (small "g") of materialism. Materialism can cover everything from hoarding wealth to envying the rich, and is best incapsulated by 1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Blomberg's book offers insightful analysis and exegesis of the Biblical text by surveying myriad passages having to do with wealth, money, poverty, greed, and stewardship. The first six chapters of the book address hundreds of Bible verses that speak to these issues, leading the reader through a careful look at God's material gifts for humans, the temptations and sin that result from idolizing those gifts, and a proper relationship with material goods and wealth.
The final three chapters provide case studies for individuals (ch. 7), government and businesses (ch. 8), and churches (ch. 9) in Christian approaches to money and stewardship. This is the weaker part of the book, even though Blomberg attempts to provide a helpful FAQ for each of the three chapters. The case studies cannot cover every potential scenario, which is understandable, but the FAQs lean toward being too vague to really be helpful.
In chapter 8 especially, the book took a strange shift when speaking of the Christian approach to government and business that bordered on elementary economics and social commentary. It's one thing to note that small "s" socialism was practiced by the early church in Acts and that some modern towns look communist by our Western standards, but there is very little (if any) mention of the evils of Socialism (big "S") and central planning in economic reform. On the other hand, the author has a number of laments about the dangers of capitalism (excessive consumption mentality, overproduction of cheap goods, tendency toward low cost labor) while ignoring that free market principles have brought more people out of poverty than ever seen in the history of the world. But this isn't an economic textbook, so the critique is a minor one in that Blomberg appears to be talking about things he doesn't fully understand or can't appreciate.
Of course, as Blomberg makes abundantly clear throughout the book, God's plan for stewardship is for Christians to live generously. But such generous living is not easily attained, coming only through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit living in a rescued and redeemed individual. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that a heart of stone that has an unholy love of money can be completely replaced with a heart of flesh that understands we are simply stewards of what God graciously gives us.
Blomberg's book offers insightful analysis and exegesis of the Biblical text by surveying myriad passages having to do with wealth, money, poverty, greed, and stewardship. The first six chapters of the book address hundreds of Bible verses that speak to these issues, leading the reader through a careful look at God's material gifts for humans, the temptations and sin that result from idolizing those gifts, and a proper relationship with material goods and wealth.
The final three chapters provide case studies for individuals (ch. 7), government and businesses (ch. 8), and churches (ch. 9) in Christian approaches to money and stewardship. This is the weaker part of the book, even though Blomberg attempts to provide a helpful FAQ for each of the three chapters. The case studies cannot cover every potential scenario, which is understandable, but the FAQs lean toward being too vague to really be helpful.
In chapter 8 especially, the book took a strange shift when speaking of the Christian approach to government and business that bordered on elementary economics and social commentary. It's one thing to note that small "s" socialism was practiced by the early church in Acts and that some modern towns look communist by our Western standards, but there is very little (if any) mention of the evils of Socialism (big "S") and central planning in economic reform. On the other hand, the author has a number of laments about the dangers of capitalism (excessive consumption mentality, overproduction of cheap goods, tendency toward low cost labor) while ignoring that free market principles have brought more people out of poverty than ever seen in the history of the world. But this isn't an economic textbook, so the critique is a minor one in that Blomberg appears to be talking about things he doesn't fully understand or can't appreciate.
Of course, as Blomberg makes abundantly clear throughout the book, God's plan for stewardship is for Christians to live generously. But such generous living is not easily attained, coming only through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit living in a rescued and redeemed individual. The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that a heart of stone that has an unholy love of money can be completely replaced with a heart of flesh that understands we are simply stewards of what God graciously gives us.
September 3, 2017
Good overview of Christian stewardship. Convicting.
Strength: The author works through a Biblical Theology of wealth and possessions. Thorough and thoughtful.
Weakness: The author's personal defense of previous writing seemed shallow. His personal illustrations seemed awkward. (However, I can see how he is using them to encourage others to surpass him).
Personal application: I was convicted by a portion dealing with James 5 and my possessions. Am I even aware of how I might be contributing to the oppression of the poor in the production of what I buy? No. Could I know everything about all that I buy? No. But I can limit my participation by limiting my consumerism. Consumerism not only deadens my soul, but it could very well be oppressing others.
Strength: The author works through a Biblical Theology of wealth and possessions. Thorough and thoughtful.
Weakness: The author's personal defense of previous writing seemed shallow. His personal illustrations seemed awkward. (However, I can see how he is using them to encourage others to surpass him).
Personal application: I was convicted by a portion dealing with James 5 and my possessions. Am I even aware of how I might be contributing to the oppression of the poor in the production of what I buy? No. Could I know everything about all that I buy? No. But I can limit my participation by limiting my consumerism. Consumerism not only deadens my soul, but it could very well be oppressing others.
February 7, 2020
4.5 stars. While I wish this book had spent more time on individual stewardship and what that looks like, this book still was very well done. It really hits every single topic under the umbrella of stewardship and because of that it is super wide in scope, worth the price!
February 11, 2018
I highly recommend this thoughtful work on Christian stewardship for individuals and the church!
September 3, 2014
Christians In An Age of Wealth is a survey of all the passages in the Bible that address (however tangentially) issues of wealth, poverty, economics, money, stewardship, and giving. Blomberg plods methodically through the Pentateuch, major and minor prophets, wisdom literature and Old Testament history, followed by the gospels and the epistles. In the process he strongly condemns the prosperity gospel and its proponents—those who argue that health and riches are the birthright of every Christian—but also has significant criticism for the modern evangelical church’s treatment of money issues ranging from building projects to social ministries (or lack thereof). One of the most interesting sections to me personally was Blomberg’s discussion of the tithe. He argues that Christians are not morally obligated to give a specific percentage of their income, but rather that our giving should be sacrificial, and that it should increase over time. In other words, a progressive scale of generosity makes more sense practically and Biblically. The millionaire who gives away a mere 10% of his income likely doesn't feel it at all; in contrast, someone in poverty may be able to give only 5% but still be incredibly sacrificial. In other words, the 10% figure is a straightjacket that unnecessarily burdens some, insufficiently burdens others, and fails to apply the relevant texts correctly in the first place. It’s a provocative section of the book.
In the second half of the book, Blomberg takes the reader through a few case studies and tries to apply his theological study to real world scenarios. There’s no doubt that the author practices what he preaches: over his lifetime he and his wife have lived so as to be able to give extremely high percentages of their income away, both to their local church and to other ministries. Blomberg does well to point out the hypocrisy of many churches who attempt to discern the will of God for their financial plans, but then fail to take the steps that should have been obvious had their biblical principles been in order beforehand. Unfortunately, this leads to churches pulling a 180 in their plans, all the while claiming that the most current version is what God had planned all along. Blomberg does well in illuminating the ways a weak theology of stewardship can wreak havoc on a congregation.
I am not entirely sure who the audience is for this book. Blomberg relies on citations, and I felt the draw to go down the rabbit hole of other sources rather than continue reading his work. Overall, it’s a worthwhile resource to be able to consult on a variety of economic and stewardship issues in the church.
(A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley for purposes of review.)
In the second half of the book, Blomberg takes the reader through a few case studies and tries to apply his theological study to real world scenarios. There’s no doubt that the author practices what he preaches: over his lifetime he and his wife have lived so as to be able to give extremely high percentages of their income away, both to their local church and to other ministries. Blomberg does well to point out the hypocrisy of many churches who attempt to discern the will of God for their financial plans, but then fail to take the steps that should have been obvious had their biblical principles been in order beforehand. Unfortunately, this leads to churches pulling a 180 in their plans, all the while claiming that the most current version is what God had planned all along. Blomberg does well in illuminating the ways a weak theology of stewardship can wreak havoc on a congregation.
I am not entirely sure who the audience is for this book. Blomberg relies on citations, and I felt the draw to go down the rabbit hole of other sources rather than continue reading his work. Overall, it’s a worthwhile resource to be able to consult on a variety of economic and stewardship issues in the church.
(A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley for purposes of review.)
November 27, 2013
Quoting the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright, “I believe the number one idol within the lives of our people and in the lives of our churches is materialism.” We say that we follow Christ, but most Christians only give 2 ½ percent to foreign missions. While Blomberg writes about the advantages of having wealth, he also points out the power of possessions to seduce people to sin. Quoting Proverbs 30:8-9, the extremes of poverty and wealth can lead to temptation. The author calls out the Christian bookstores that are no longer just bookstores. He refers to the cheap things they sell as "Jesus junk." The selling of these things does not further the kingdom. The author doesn’t necessarily promote the 10 percent (tithing) offering, but a graduated one. The book is well referenced.
Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with Christianity collections.
Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with Christianity collections.
October 28, 2016
Excellent, thought provoking, relevant, very relevant! I enjoyed this book. A biblical overview of stewardship with scenarios that really get to the heart of the difficulty in stewardship decisions. I loved the complexity because the topic is complex! I loved the focus on being a blessing to people who struggle financially, often through no fault of their own. Focus on giving to help the poor with a concern for enabling behaviors that continue a cycle of poverty. Focus on support for world missions with discussion on what to look for in making decisions. Focus on church financial decision making. I found the political discussion more difficult to read since I felt he was stepping on some core beliefs but it was good to look at those beliefs from a different point of view.
April 9, 2015
I really appreciate how detailed Blomberg is in giving a true biblical basis and using textual tools to undermine the standard (often non-biblical) assumptions that many Christians bring to the table when discussing stewardship (such as the tithe).
February 8, 2014
Difficult subject for any Westerner. Some of the ideas proposed in this book I will have to study further but still a convicting read.
December 27, 2014
Bible based facts from each phase of biblical history. Good stuff.
October 3, 2016
Challenging for anyone trying to think biblically about this topic. This title will challenge your ideals be ready to be pressed to the point of uncomfortability.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews