Living With Wealth Without Losing Your Soul: A Pastor's Journey from Guilt to Grace

by Steve Perry

Overview

This book is for anyone who wants to steward well what God has given them.
—Rick Warren, Author of The Purpose Driven Life, Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church

Once upon a time, a faithful, God-fearing boy fell in love with the girl of his dreams…

As a young man, Pastor Steve Perry passionately followed an anti-wealth philosophy as he moved toward a Christian life. He held the not-uncommon belief that poverty was more virtuous than prosperity and poor people were closer to God.

But God had a different plan. When Perry found himself in love—and the girl of his dreams turned out to have a wealthy family—the accompanying internal struggle forced him to reconcile his beliefs with his reality. Of course, he turned to God for a deeper understanding of how to integrate wealth and faith.

For many Christians, wealth is accompanied by a certain measure of guilt. In Living With Wealth Without Losing Your Soul, Perry shows that justly earned wealth is as much a gift from God as any of His other gifts—and, far from being the root of all evil, money simply magnifies who a person really is. With exegesis, practical life examples, and his trademark humor, Perry suggests that wealthy Christians need not be stealthy Christians, but instead can steward their wealth in order to magnify their Christian lives and, in the end, come closer to God.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780795348570
Publisher:	Sacred Harvest Foundation
Publication date:	09/13/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	534 KB

About the Author

Steve Perry graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 1975 with a B.A. in Religion, and later earned a Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in 1979. He served as Associate Pastor of Grace Lutheran (’79–’84, Huntington Beach, CA) and Senior Pastor of Mission Lutheran Church (’84–’96, Laguna Niguel, CA). In 1996, Perry co-founded the Foundation for Christian Stewardship (now the National Christian Foundation California) and in 2003 he founded the Sacred Harvest Foundation with his wife, Susie. Currently, Perry serves on the boards of Azusa Pacific University, National Christian Foundation California, and Mission Increase Foundation. Steve met his wife, Susie, at Azusa Pacific University, and they were married on December 27, 1975. They have two married children, Jennifer and Matthew, and two grandchildren.

Read an Excerpt

Wealth is important to us all—but it is also important to God. The Bible has a great deal to say on the subject, as you will discover in this book. So we must understand it. That is why Steve Perry’s book is such a winner.

What People are Saying About This

Dr. John Townsend

"This is the best book I have ever read on living with wealth in a healthy, biblical, and God-honoring manner."

—Dr. John Townsend, New York Times Best Selling Author

Dale Brantner

"Brilliant, pastoral, biblical, and deeply personal. With grace, transparency, and humor, Steve opens his heart to his readers, then turns and opens God’s Word."

—Dale Brantner, President & CEO, CURE International

Rick Warren

"This book is for anyone who wants to steward well what God has given them."

—Rick Warren, Author of The Purpose Driven Life, Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church

Skye Jethani

"Proverbs tells us that, “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices” (Proverbs 11:10). Steve Perry’s book provides rare wisdom—both biblical and experiential—for Christians with wealth who are committed to seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness first. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a more thoughtful theology of wealth, joy, and whole life generosity."

—Skye Jethani, author of WITH: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God and co-host of The Phil Vischer Podcast

Fred Smith

"Genuine wealth is more than riches. It is substance, wisdom, and compassion. That is why [Steve’s] journey is not about being merely rich, but the blessing and use of authentic wealth."

—Fred Smith, President, The Gathering