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You of Little Faith: How Bold Living Leads to Great Blessing
You may be surprised and uncomfortable to learn that there is one thing that's hurting your personal spiritual growth more than anything your unwillingness to give more than you're giving right now. On average, Americans give away just 3% of their income to churches and charitable causes. Perhaps you pull back because of fear that you won't have enough. Or you may feel resentful that you are asked to give at all. Either way, the result is the same and the one suffering most because of it is you.
In You of Little Faith , pastor Ryan Thomas isn't afraid to talk about the most taboo subject in the church--money. Drawing from a multitude of biblical passages and contemporary examples, he will convince you that giving aggressively and extravagantly, beyond what you ever thought reasonable or possible, will unlock God's blessing in your life and community and strengthen your faith in a way that nothing else can.
In You of Little Faith , pastor Ryan Thomas isn't afraid to talk about the most taboo subject in the church--money. Drawing from a multitude of biblical passages and contemporary examples, he will convince you that giving aggressively and extravagantly, beyond what you ever thought reasonable or possible, will unlock God's blessing in your life and community and strengthen your faith in a way that nothing else can.
222 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 13, 2022
This was a Goodreads giveaway win for me.
Good writing and it’s easy to imagine that the author is a talented orator. He makes a compelling argument if you happen to be predisposed to belief in Prosperity Gospel. Make no mistake, his definition of “faith based giving” is not the same as charitable giving....feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, taking care of the poor in any way. He flat out says in the forward to the book that he has never, as in ever, participated in charitable giving, nor does he have any interest in doing so.
A purported follower of Christ, a minister who preaches in His name, gives to his church, but doesn’t have any interest in what that church uses his money for. In his case, he knows full well that his church is using his offerings to build bigger and better buildings. His belief is that this “selfish giving”, giving for the reward that God will give you for giving your money to him, is a-ok. Even going into debt so that God will bless you financially is encouraged.
He even goes so far as to ridicule charitable giving. Don’t believe me? Check out page 73. “If you’re giving for some other reason (than to trigger the financial reward from god), for example out of altruism or a sense of duty or gratitude—then feel free to give as little as you please....The whole idea of charitable giving is that you give just for the sake of giving....Most Americans engage in this sort of giving. Even if they just give five dollars to the Red Cross, one dollar to a homeless person....it warms their heart a bit and reduces their guilt.”
This man who has never given a cent to anyone in need thinks you are a fool if you have and encourages you to do so sparingly.
The author purports that god promises two things if you give aggressively to your church: first, “I will bless you materially in this life...with actual money” and second “I will bless you in the next life in proportion to the amount you gave.” (Page 89 -90)
He preaches against materialism, but if you are motivated to give to a church by the financial reward that god will supposedly return to you, is that not also materialism?
This offends my spirit on so many levels. That being said, I am sure there are people who do believe this and this book gives them permission to not care about the poor and not feel any guilt or responsibility for how their church uses their offerings. If you don’t care if your church amasses a 100 billion dollar slush fund or where your contributions go or how they are used, this book is for you. If you are someone who believes that old white men will surely use your money the way God wants and you have no obligation or authority to hold them accountable for transparency and stewardship, this book is for you. If you believe that poor people are poor because God is punishing them for not giving more money to their church, this book is for you. But if you are looking for a faith-based money management program that allows you to take care of your family, avoid debt and give generously to the causes you care about, including your church, try Dave Ramsey.
(It did come with a free bookmark, so that was nice.)
Good writing and it’s easy to imagine that the author is a talented orator. He makes a compelling argument if you happen to be predisposed to belief in Prosperity Gospel. Make no mistake, his definition of “faith based giving” is not the same as charitable giving....feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, taking care of the poor in any way. He flat out says in the forward to the book that he has never, as in ever, participated in charitable giving, nor does he have any interest in doing so.
A purported follower of Christ, a minister who preaches in His name, gives to his church, but doesn’t have any interest in what that church uses his money for. In his case, he knows full well that his church is using his offerings to build bigger and better buildings. His belief is that this “selfish giving”, giving for the reward that God will give you for giving your money to him, is a-ok. Even going into debt so that God will bless you financially is encouraged.
He even goes so far as to ridicule charitable giving. Don’t believe me? Check out page 73. “If you’re giving for some other reason (than to trigger the financial reward from god), for example out of altruism or a sense of duty or gratitude—then feel free to give as little as you please....The whole idea of charitable giving is that you give just for the sake of giving....Most Americans engage in this sort of giving. Even if they just give five dollars to the Red Cross, one dollar to a homeless person....it warms their heart a bit and reduces their guilt.”
This man who has never given a cent to anyone in need thinks you are a fool if you have and encourages you to do so sparingly.
The author purports that god promises two things if you give aggressively to your church: first, “I will bless you materially in this life...with actual money” and second “I will bless you in the next life in proportion to the amount you gave.” (Page 89 -90)
He preaches against materialism, but if you are motivated to give to a church by the financial reward that god will supposedly return to you, is that not also materialism?
This offends my spirit on so many levels. That being said, I am sure there are people who do believe this and this book gives them permission to not care about the poor and not feel any guilt or responsibility for how their church uses their offerings. If you don’t care if your church amasses a 100 billion dollar slush fund or where your contributions go or how they are used, this book is for you. If you are someone who believes that old white men will surely use your money the way God wants and you have no obligation or authority to hold them accountable for transparency and stewardship, this book is for you. If you believe that poor people are poor because God is punishing them for not giving more money to their church, this book is for you. But if you are looking for a faith-based money management program that allows you to take care of your family, avoid debt and give generously to the causes you care about, including your church, try Dave Ramsey.
(It did come with a free bookmark, so that was nice.)
December 5, 2019
Occasionally, I come across a book that makes me scratch my head and wonder how it found its way out of the publishing house and into the hands of readers. Ryan Thomas’s 2019 You of Little Faith fits the bill this time.
I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised with this book when, after searching Thomas, he seemed an acolyte of Rand–“selfish capitalist egoism is true virtue,” in other words. My disapprobation of the “the new Christian intellectual” project notwithstanding, I tried to give this book a fair shake and let myself be persuaded by the arguments.
Spoiler: I wasn’t.
Thomas’s fundamental premise seems to be one of reciprocity. If we sacrificially give to god, god will then reciprocate and fill the gap we have left–moreover even. His contention, then, is that we ought to “give boldly” in order that we be “blessed greatly.” He begins with a lengthy personal testimony and then marshals a smattering of biblical references and arguments to bolster this position.
The book is radically misguided. Although Thomas militates against “materialism,” the chief blessings with which he’s concerned–throughout the book, cover to cover–are financial. “If you give money, you will receive money, overflowing.” This despite the church’s history of being of and for the poor, this despite Jesus’s warning in Matthew 19 about a camel and a needle, this despite James’s warning in James 5.1: (“Come now, you rich; weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.”)–Thomas is distracted. Distracted, because throughout Scripture, there’s a greater treasure promised–not one obtainable by making promissory notes here through your giving but one granted by faith in the Son, who is our inheritance and our joy. The treasure toward which our hearts ought to be oriented is beholding the triune god in glory, to whom we will lay down our crowns in worship at the end of the age.
<><><>
Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers http://www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksb... program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....
I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised with this book when, after searching Thomas, he seemed an acolyte of Rand–“selfish capitalist egoism is true virtue,” in other words. My disapprobation of the “the new Christian intellectual” project notwithstanding, I tried to give this book a fair shake and let myself be persuaded by the arguments.
Spoiler: I wasn’t.
Thomas’s fundamental premise seems to be one of reciprocity. If we sacrificially give to god, god will then reciprocate and fill the gap we have left–moreover even. His contention, then, is that we ought to “give boldly” in order that we be “blessed greatly.” He begins with a lengthy personal testimony and then marshals a smattering of biblical references and arguments to bolster this position.
The book is radically misguided. Although Thomas militates against “materialism,” the chief blessings with which he’s concerned–throughout the book, cover to cover–are financial. “If you give money, you will receive money, overflowing.” This despite the church’s history of being of and for the poor, this despite Jesus’s warning in Matthew 19 about a camel and a needle, this despite James’s warning in James 5.1: (“Come now, you rich; weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.”)–Thomas is distracted. Distracted, because throughout Scripture, there’s a greater treasure promised–not one obtainable by making promissory notes here through your giving but one granted by faith in the Son, who is our inheritance and our joy. The treasure toward which our hearts ought to be oriented is beholding the triune god in glory, to whom we will lay down our crowns in worship at the end of the age.
<><><>
Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers http://www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksb... program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....
December 4, 2020
I received a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I'm really not sure what to do with this book. It was a fast read, and it was interesting. The author's personal story is compelling - the way that he chose to give sacrificially and was rewarded financially as a result in some very uncanny ways. He pulls out a lot of Bible verses to back up his philosophy of sacrificial giving. However, there are also plenty of Bible verses that do not support this philosophy, such as the admonition to not borrow money. Basically, the author's take on finances is the polar opposite of Dave Ramsey. That was my predominant thought while reading this book, and still is - I would pay to see this guy and Dave Ramsey duke it out! I imagine that Holladay's leap of faith works for some, as it seems to have worked for him, but I disagree with his assertion that God will consistently perform in this way and always return money that is given away.
November 30, 2019
Being rewarded by God for faith-based giving.
Author Ryan Thomas describes faith-based giving as giving money generously to God (meaning, the church) with the expectation that God will bless you in return. You of Little Faith How Bold Giving Leads to Great Blessings presents Thomas and his wife’s faith-based lifestyle. The journey includes their decision to give 50% of their income, the struggles they faced to meet their financial promise, and how God rewarded them time and again.
You of Little Faith asserts that faith-based giving is a primary way to increase our faith and develop a stronger relationship with God. Mr. Thomas is articulate, presents his points well, and has an engaging writing style. He lays out the concept and his application of faith-based giving in an organized and understandable way. His financial sacrifices and the rewards he received were both commendable and miraculous.
The author contends that our materialistic society can easily lead people to idolize money and that when money becomes our idol, it separates us from God. (I wholeheartedly agree.) But charitable giving and generous giving (anything less than the normal 10% tithe) are not enough. We must give to the church until it’s a true sacrifice or hardship before God will reward us.
If you’re like me, you’ll be challenged by the premise of this book and the weak attempts to show a biblical basis. If you’re interested in the idea of faith-based giving, this book is a good choice to guide you.
How this book affected me:
My excitement over reading this book evaporated with the first paragraph of the Introduction when the author (a pastor) said he doesn’t agree with or participate in charitable giving. But the book isn't about charitable giving, so I moved past that, but things just got worse. The faith-based giving concept had me reeling. I found a few nuggets of agreement with Mr. Thomas and he challenged me to consider being even more generous with my money, but his book will haunt me for some time to come.
Who would enjoy this book:
People who’re trapped in a materialistic mindset could benefit from this book. Anyone interested to understand the concept of faith-based giving would learn all they needed to know from this book.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The Book Reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books - adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We're proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.
Author Ryan Thomas describes faith-based giving as giving money generously to God (meaning, the church) with the expectation that God will bless you in return. You of Little Faith How Bold Giving Leads to Great Blessings presents Thomas and his wife’s faith-based lifestyle. The journey includes their decision to give 50% of their income, the struggles they faced to meet their financial promise, and how God rewarded them time and again.
You of Little Faith asserts that faith-based giving is a primary way to increase our faith and develop a stronger relationship with God. Mr. Thomas is articulate, presents his points well, and has an engaging writing style. He lays out the concept and his application of faith-based giving in an organized and understandable way. His financial sacrifices and the rewards he received were both commendable and miraculous.
The author contends that our materialistic society can easily lead people to idolize money and that when money becomes our idol, it separates us from God. (I wholeheartedly agree.) But charitable giving and generous giving (anything less than the normal 10% tithe) are not enough. We must give to the church until it’s a true sacrifice or hardship before God will reward us.
If you’re like me, you’ll be challenged by the premise of this book and the weak attempts to show a biblical basis. If you’re interested in the idea of faith-based giving, this book is a good choice to guide you.
How this book affected me:
My excitement over reading this book evaporated with the first paragraph of the Introduction when the author (a pastor) said he doesn’t agree with or participate in charitable giving. But the book isn't about charitable giving, so I moved past that, but things just got worse. The faith-based giving concept had me reeling. I found a few nuggets of agreement with Mr. Thomas and he challenged me to consider being even more generous with my money, but his book will haunt me for some time to come.
Who would enjoy this book:
People who’re trapped in a materialistic mindset could benefit from this book. Anyone interested to understand the concept of faith-based giving would learn all they needed to know from this book.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The Book Reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books - adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We're proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.
February 2, 2020
Ryan Thomas’ thesis in You of Little Faith is that the only financial giving that is biblical and will be blessed by God is ”aggressive, faith-stretching” (p.20), sacrificial giving that is given to the Lord. One of his main premises is his interesting distinction between faith-based giving and charitable giving:
“Charitable giving: when you give a small percentage of your income to help someone simply out of the goodness of your own heart. Faith-based giving: when you give a large sum (and ever-increasing) percentage of your income to God because you want something from him in return” (pp.14-15).
Two ideas are key in this distinction – a small percentage vs. a large, ever-increasing percentage of your income, and giving to help someone vs. giving to God in expectation of His blessing. He believes seeking that blessing is Biblical.
His radical approach is outrageous by rational, worldly standards because it takes believers far outside their comfort zone so they are relying solely on God to supply what they will need to keep their pledge of giving for the year. Ryan lays down the gauntlet for all believers through his own model - the book opens with the extended story of how he and his wife have lived out his thesis. Their story is full of the disappointments and twists and turns of life but captivating, as all throughout their story the reader is mentally raising arguments against the advisability (or even sanity) of their premise. But his thesis proves true. God does meet them abundantly and continues to incarnate the truths of this book through their lives. Thomas substantiates those promises of God’s provisions and blessings over and over again (pp. 131-140). In seeking those blessings, he deliberately debunks the idea that we should give altruistically with no thought for ourselves. Instead, he urges people to give substantially SO THAT God can pour out the blessings He longs to give.
A provocative and challenging book! 5 stars Mary Lou Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 1/31/20
“Charitable giving: when you give a small percentage of your income to help someone simply out of the goodness of your own heart. Faith-based giving: when you give a large sum (and ever-increasing) percentage of your income to God because you want something from him in return” (pp.14-15).
Two ideas are key in this distinction – a small percentage vs. a large, ever-increasing percentage of your income, and giving to help someone vs. giving to God in expectation of His blessing. He believes seeking that blessing is Biblical.
His radical approach is outrageous by rational, worldly standards because it takes believers far outside their comfort zone so they are relying solely on God to supply what they will need to keep their pledge of giving for the year. Ryan lays down the gauntlet for all believers through his own model - the book opens with the extended story of how he and his wife have lived out his thesis. Their story is full of the disappointments and twists and turns of life but captivating, as all throughout their story the reader is mentally raising arguments against the advisability (or even sanity) of their premise. But his thesis proves true. God does meet them abundantly and continues to incarnate the truths of this book through their lives. Thomas substantiates those promises of God’s provisions and blessings over and over again (pp. 131-140). In seeking those blessings, he deliberately debunks the idea that we should give altruistically with no thought for ourselves. Instead, he urges people to give substantially SO THAT God can pour out the blessings He longs to give.
A provocative and challenging book! 5 stars Mary Lou Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 1/31/20
November 27, 2019
I’ll start by saying that this book is well written and makes some very compelling points. Ryan does a great job building a case for why we should give sacrificially beyond our tithe. He makes some great points throughout the book about God’s promises in regards to giving and the rewards we’ll receive. Unfortunately, for me, that is where the positives end. In order to agree with this book and apply the principles as written you have to agree with something that is presented as a fundamental truth which is; it’s not only ok, but encouraged that we give for selfish purposes. Within the system presented the natural outcome is that people start giving not for what they’re able to do by giving, but what they’re able to get by giving. This seems like highly American, consumer/capitalist, mindset, which makes it hard for me to give it a lot of credit.
Overall I felt that some of the exegesis was very surface level and taken at face value. Its easy to cherry pick verses and build a case about giving to get. Ryan goes as far as to minimize giving to God out of obligation/desire to please, and to minimize generous giving for the purpose of charity. It seems to go against the rest of scripture to some degree, where I feel there is a more complete case for loving one another and seeking the well-being of your neighbor both physically and spiritually. Although this book was easy to read, made some great points, and kept my interest I can only give it three stars. It is worth reading, but I would do so with caution. I suspect the truth is somewhere in the space between giving from a place of generosity and selfishness.
Overall I felt that some of the exegesis was very surface level and taken at face value. Its easy to cherry pick verses and build a case about giving to get. Ryan goes as far as to minimize giving to God out of obligation/desire to please, and to minimize generous giving for the purpose of charity. It seems to go against the rest of scripture to some degree, where I feel there is a more complete case for loving one another and seeking the well-being of your neighbor both physically and spiritually. Although this book was easy to read, made some great points, and kept my interest I can only give it three stars. It is worth reading, but I would do so with caution. I suspect the truth is somewhere in the space between giving from a place of generosity and selfishness.
November 21, 2019
This book was remarkable writing and compelling to read with that also it will be challenging and motivating you to be able understand of the faith-based giving to help the other or church that also can be helping you to finding the real truth happiest and getting more closer to God by starting from you first. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers for this review”.
March 5, 2020
This is not a bad book but I really struggle with the idea that giving means God "must" bless you. God will bless but that does not always mean financially which is often been the focal point. This book does mention financial blessings, though not at aggressive as others, so in that respect it is a good read.
*I received a review copy in exchange for my honest assessment
*I received a review copy in exchange for my honest assessment
July 11, 2023
Pros: I never see someone taking Jesus's words at face value like this, which is wonderful. And the author has followed through and experienced the results.
Cons: from the beginning, the author is unapologetically selfish, claiming it's the approach truest to the text, but this ribs against all of Jesus's teachings on self-denial, which are what brought me to this book in the first place.
Cons: from the beginning, the author is unapologetically selfish, claiming it's the approach truest to the text, but this ribs against all of Jesus's teachings on self-denial, which are what brought me to this book in the first place.
October 15, 2019
Excellent book!!!
January 7, 2020
Difficulties where money is concerned can be wiped away.
December 3, 2019
Being rewarded by God for faith-based giving.
Author Ryan Thomas describes faith-based giving as giving money generously to God (meaning, the church) with the expectation that God will bless you in return. You of Little Faith How Bold Giving Leads to Great Blessings presents Thomas and his wife’s faith-based lifestyle. The journey includes their decision to give 50% of their income, the struggles they faced to meet their financial promise, and how God rewarded them time and again.
You of Little Faith asserts that faith-based giving is a primary way to increase our faith and develop a stronger relationship with God. Mr. Thomas is articulate, presents his points well, and has an engaging writing style. He lays out the concept and his application of faith-based giving in an organized and understandable way. His financial sacrifices and the rewards he received were both commendable and miraculous.
The author contends that our materialistic society can easily lead people to idolize money and that when money becomes our idol, it separates us from God. (I wholeheartedly agree.) But charitable giving and generous giving (anything less than the normal 10% tithe) are not enough. We must give to the church until it’s a true sacrifice or hardship before God will reward us.
If you’re like me, you’ll be challenged by the premise of this book and the weak attempts to show a biblical basis. If you’re interested in the idea of faith-based giving, this book is a good choice to guide you.
How this book affected me:
My excitement over reading this book evaporated with the first paragraph of the Introduction when the author (a pastor) said he doesn’t agree with or participate in charitable giving. But the book isn't about charitable giving, so I moved past that, but things just got worse. The faith-based giving concept had me reeling. I found a few nuggets of agreement with Mr. Thomas and he challenged me to consider being even more generous with my money, but his book will haunt me for some time to come.
Who would enjoy this book:
People who’re trapped in a materialistic mindset could benefit from this book. Anyone interested to understand the concept of faith-based giving would learn all they needed to know from this book.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books, adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We’re proud to be listed in the Top 50 Christian Book Bloggers ! I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.
Author Ryan Thomas describes faith-based giving as giving money generously to God (meaning, the church) with the expectation that God will bless you in return. You of Little Faith How Bold Giving Leads to Great Blessings presents Thomas and his wife’s faith-based lifestyle. The journey includes their decision to give 50% of their income, the struggles they faced to meet their financial promise, and how God rewarded them time and again.
You of Little Faith asserts that faith-based giving is a primary way to increase our faith and develop a stronger relationship with God. Mr. Thomas is articulate, presents his points well, and has an engaging writing style. He lays out the concept and his application of faith-based giving in an organized and understandable way. His financial sacrifices and the rewards he received were both commendable and miraculous.
The author contends that our materialistic society can easily lead people to idolize money and that when money becomes our idol, it separates us from God. (I wholeheartedly agree.) But charitable giving and generous giving (anything less than the normal 10% tithe) are not enough. We must give to the church until it’s a true sacrifice or hardship before God will reward us.
If you’re like me, you’ll be challenged by the premise of this book and the weak attempts to show a biblical basis. If you’re interested in the idea of faith-based giving, this book is a good choice to guide you.
How this book affected me:
My excitement over reading this book evaporated with the first paragraph of the Introduction when the author (a pastor) said he doesn’t agree with or participate in charitable giving. But the book isn't about charitable giving, so I moved past that, but things just got worse. The faith-based giving concept had me reeling. I found a few nuggets of agreement with Mr. Thomas and he challenged me to consider being even more generous with my money, but his book will haunt me for some time to come.
Who would enjoy this book:
People who’re trapped in a materialistic mindset could benefit from this book. Anyone interested to understand the concept of faith-based giving would learn all they needed to know from this book.
Our Christian Book Reviews:
The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books, adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. We’re proud to be listed in the Top 50 Christian Book Bloggers ! I chose to read an ARC from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review is my honest opinion.
Currently reading
October 26, 2020Great read
This book really opens my eyes about giving and gives me renewed strength to give more aggressively in the church
This book really opens my eyes about giving and gives me renewed strength to give more aggressively in the church
May 9, 2022
Clear and challenging
This book provides a great framework to understanding giving and how it helps us grow and strengthen our faith. I highly recommend it!
This book provides a great framework to understanding giving and how it helps us grow and strengthen our faith. I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews