World Evangelism Statistics, and Missions Giving

I'm not a big statistics guy, but sometimes statistics can be revealing.

The following statistics are from the book 2020 Vision, by Bill and Amy Stearns.

Stephen King, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Angelina Jolie: What unbelievers are discovering about giving

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

A few years ago, my wife Nanci showed me an article she had found in her Family Circle magazine. The article was titled "What You Pass On." It was written by author Stephen King. He's not a writer known for his theological insights, but what he wrote echoes the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 5:15 in his assessment of the futility of materialism. Buffet, Gates and Jolie will weigh in afterward. Here's what King has to say:

Financial Challenges, Worry and Giving

Recently I was interviewed for a segment that aired on the Coral Ridge Hour, called "How now should Christians live in today's current economy?"


(Click here if you're unable to view the video.)

I'm speaking next week at a Generous Giving conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. As I'm working hard to finish up final revisions of my book If God is Good... Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil, I'm also thinking about giving and stewardship in light of the financial challenges so many people are facing. Many people find themselves worrying.

Worry has a ...

Question and Answer: Paying Down Debt and Giving

The question I have is that we are reaping consequences from bad choices. My husband and I have a young family and are still paying down $100,000 of student loans from both of us going to a private university.

Question and Answer of the Week: When a Spouse Doesn't Want to Give

As I mentioned a week ago in my blog on giving and debt, I'm going to set aside Wednesday blogs specifically for question and answers. If you have a topic you'd like to see me address in a Q & A, feel free to post that in the comments. Because it is a once a week blog, I won't be able to get to every topic, but I'd enjoy hearing what some of you are wondering about.

This week I'm continuing to address questions about giving that I answered on the Revive Our Hearts website. (Related ...

Question and Answer of the Week: How to Live Wisely Financially

This week's question is another one I answered on the Revive Our Hearts website:


I hear all kinds of financial advice in today's times. I've heard about investing and saving and preparing for the future (for example, saving for our children's education or retirement). What would you say would be the best financial advice for someone who is just starting out with marriage and children and really doesn't know what to do with their finances?

Thanks for this question. If you do just two things, you will have the cornerstones of living wisely financially.

Question and Answer of the Week: the Old Testament Model of Tithing and Christians Today

Does the Old Testament model of tithing still apply to Christians today, since it was part of the old covenant?

I have mixed feelings on tithing. I detest legalism. I certainly don’t want to pour new wine into old wineskins, imposing superseded first covenant restrictions on Christians. However, the fact is that every New Testament example of giving goes beyond the tithe. This means that none falls short of it. The strongest arguments made against tithing today are “law versus grace.” But does being under grace mean we should stop doing all that was done under the law?

I ...

Choosing a God-Honoring Lifestyle

Regarding choosing a financial lifestyle that is honoring to God, I received a blog comment from a reader, asking:

Do you believe that everyone should live modestly? (Would that be $30,000 per year, or $50,000, or $100,000, or...?)

How do you measure this? Should everyone have the same amount, or are some called to wealth and others not?

When it comes to our attitude toward wealth, Jesus gave commands. When it comes to our specific possessions and lifestyle, he gave us principles. Jesus did not hand us a precise checklist of what we can and cannot own ...

A Man from Heaven: How would he spend his money?

Recently I was working on a book project that involved my reading through messages Charles Spurgeon preached on Heaven. I was delighted to come across a passage in which he affirms some of the same teachings I lay out in my books The Treasure Principle and Money, Possessions and Eternity. While writing those books years ago, had I been aware that Spurgeon had said what follows, I certainly would have quoted from him!

Caring for the Needy: What God Says

This year nine million children younger than five will die needlessly, more than half from hunger-related causes. 25,000 per day. Over 1,000 each hour. These children are as precious as our own children and grandchildren. What would we want others to do for them if they were in this dire situation?