Morris - BEYOND BLESSED: gods perfect plan to overcome all financial stress

I like to say that I met God on the way up, but I really got to know Him on the way down. Thats because I became a believer before my wife, Sharon, and I filed for bankruptcy. But the early days of my walk with God took place inside the crucible of that financial disaster.

And since I have the gift of skepticism, I questioned everything about my new faithincluding why my church seemed to go on and on about money. Thankfully, God was really patient with this young man. He taught me that my pastor talked a lot about money because the Bible talked a lot about money. He also exposed me to some great Christian thought leaders who shaped my take on Gods ways of handling money. I soaked up everything I could find from teachers like Larry Burkett, Ron Blue, and Howard Dayton.

I also crossed paths with a pastor from Texas named Robert Morris.

Over the years, Pastor Robert and I have become close friends. Hes spoken to my team at Ramsey Solutions, and Ive had the privilege of speaking to his amazing congregation at Gateway Church. Plus, God has used his first book, The Blessed Life, to strengthen my understanding of things like giving, generosity, and contentment. Honestly, I use something that Ive learned from Robert Morris almost every day of my life.

And thats why Im so excited about the book that youre holding.

See, I talk with hurting people on the radio every day. I meet them face-to-face at our live events. I see them at their worst, when theyre so scared they can hardly breathe and when their marriages are hanging on by a thread. For them, giving and generosity feel like bucket list itemsdreams that might become a reality one of these days.

Meanwhile, theyre just fighting to stay alive. Like so many others, theyre living paycheck-to-paycheck, drowning in a sea of student loans, car loans, and credit card debt. Theyre basically good people. They arent stingy or rebelling against God. They simply dont have the margin to give.

And thats what makes the message of this book so important.

Pastor Robert compares being wise with money to a person standing on two legs. The Blessed Life explained the importance of one leg: generous giving. But Beyond Blessed focuses on the other leg: biblical stewardship.

Of the two, giving is the easiest to grasp. But stewardship is just as important.

The Bible clearly teaches that God owns it all. Not just a tenth of your income or an occasional love offering or a pledge to a capital campaign. Everything belongs to Him. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, but He also owns the hills!

Whats more, Hes given each of us a portion of His stuff to manage wisely. Thats really what stewardship is all about. Its letting God be the boss of everything thats in your hands. Its using His blessings His way for His glory.

Now, thats not easy in this world. Our culture swings from one extreme that says wealth is evil to the other extreme that says wealth is a sure sign of Gods love. But, as Pastor Robert reminds us, neither is the truth.

Beyond Blessed helps you navigate money, wealth, and generosity from a biblical perspective. It teaches you the tactical things that I love like budgeting and saving and getting out of debt. But it also shows you why all that has to be done with a spirit of contentment and absolute dependence on God.

Simply put, Pastor Robert teaches you how to stand on both legs of wise biblical finances. He shows you how to be a great steward so that you can become an outrageously generous giver.

Over the years, Ive been blessed to rub elbows with some awesome leaders. But Ive never met anyone who understands biblical stewardship and generous giving better than Robert Morris. Plus, he doesnt just know this stuff. He lives it every, single day. His example inspires me to reflect Jesus more clearly through my life and my money.

I believe it will inspire you, as well.