Saturday, June 06, 2009

Beyond Greed: Book Review


Greed is perhaps the forgotten sin, particularly in Western society today. It doesn't feature highly on most people's radars, and is certainly not regarded as a major problem. Any discussion of greed is a good thing, when most try to redefine it as being sensible, putting away a nest-egg, or being prudent.

Brian Rosner, in a revised and updated version of his original How To Be Really Rich, sets about seeking to help us recognise the danger of greed, and to move us beyond greed to contentment, sharing with others and storing up riches in heaven. The book is built upon the foundation of two verses which are really very clear on the issue of greed: 'Greed ... is idolatry' (Colossians 3:5), and 'There is great gain in godliness with contentment' (1 Timothy 6:6), but provides a Scripture-wide basis for the consideration of greed, and how to deal with it.

Interspersed through the chapters by Rosner, are shorter features and articles by Phillip Jensen, John Dickson, Broughton Knox and Tony Payne (among others). These articles are sourced from various issues of The Briefing, the monthly magazine published by Matthias Media, and are further discussions on the area of greed. There's also a chapter on the so-called prosperity gospel, which easily exposes the false gospel of money for what it really is.

Quite a number of copies of this book were distributed through our church this spring, as we were using 'The Money Revolution' as our Lent Course. The book was recommended reading for us to think it through, and it's well worth reading.

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