The Shrewd Christian : You Can't Have It All, But You Can Have More Than Enough
- Book Review,
by NEIL ATKINSON
From Publishers Weekly
Drawing on such personal-finance classics as "Your Money or Your Life" and "The Millionaire Next Door," Atkinson encourages readers to evaluate whether their current jobs are satisfying and are leading them toward financial independence. Far too often, he tells us, people sell out their true dreams to meet the escalating demands of our trade-up, supersize-it society. True financial freedom, by contrast, lies in determining how much is enough, and learning to live within our means. By saving more, we can work less; by being frugal with both big-ticket items and small expenses, we can put our dollars toward the things that really matter to us. The book is directed toward the audience Atkinson calls the "CMC," or the Christian Middle Class, a group he desires to be economically productive and spiritually fulfilled. One chapter recommends an innovative program called "100 Days to Shrewd," including a month-long "draconian adventure" where readers halt all unnecessary spending for 30 days. This unusual program helps Christians cultivate gratitude and understand how people live in other parts of the world. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“Neil Atkinson has an extremely solid, biblical perspective on personal finances. As he states, shrewd Christians do not ignore money or stop at money alone. Instead, they go through money and get past money so they can be involved in more important things. I highly recommend this book. It’s fun, serious, and full of practical helps.”
–Denny Rydberg, president of Young Life, an international outreach ministry to adolescents
“What I love about this book is the coupling of callings: that people matter and money matters. The Shrewd Christian is a fantastic guide to improving your economy while maintaining your ‘people are primary’ philosophy.”
–Marilyn Meberg, author of The Zippered Heart and speaker for the Women of Faith conferences
“Neil Atkinson does a masterful job of offering the ‘Christian middle-class’ practical solutions to everyday financial issues. The Shrewd Christian challenges and encourages God’s people to live as biblically wise stewards in an increasingly hostile world.”
–David Briggs, director of the Good Sense Stewardship Ministry at Willow Creek Community Church
“Neil’s wry sense of humor punctuates each page of The Shrewd Christian; his years of personal experience and his wisdom make this book invaluable. The Shrewd Christian makes it not only possible but simple and fun to control money, instead of letting it control you.”
–Grace Ketterman, child and family psychiatrist and author of numerous books, including When You Feel Like Screaming
“Neil helps us to understand how we can reach the goals of gladness and contentment and how costly it is to our souls when we allow finances to be the center of our affections. As you read Neil’s wise counsel in this book, you will hear the voice of Jesus whispering in your ear, ‘Follow me.’ Neil encourages and teaches us to stop listening to the bad shepherds in our society and to keep our souls aligned with the Good Shepherd: Jesus.”
–Craig Williford, Ph.D., president of Denver Seminary
Review
?Neil Atkinson has an extremely solid, biblical perspective on personal finances. As he states, shrewd Christians do not ignore money or stop at money alone. Instead, they go through money and get past money so they can be involved in more important things. I highly recommend this book. It?s fun, serious, and full of practical helps.??Denny Rydberg, president of Young Life, an international outreach ministry to adolescents ?What I love about this book is the coupling of callings: that people matter and money matters. The Shrewd Christian is a fantastic guide to improving your economy while maintaining your ?people are primary? philosophy.??Marilyn Meberg, author of The Zippered Heart and speaker for the Women of Faith conferences ?Neil Atkinson does a masterful job of offering the ?Christian middle-class? practical solutions to everyday financial issues. The Shrewd Christian challenges and encourages God?s people to live as biblically wise stewards in an increasingly hostile world.??David Briggs, director of the Good Sense Stewardship Ministry at Willow Creek Community Church?Neil?s wry sense of humor punctuates each page of The Shrewd Christian; his years of personal experience and his wisdom make this book invaluable. The Shrewd Christian makes it not only possible but simple and fun to control money, instead of letting it control you.??Grace Ketterman, child and family psychiatrist and author of numerous books, including When You Feel Like Screaming ?Neil helps us to understand how we can reach the goals of gladness and contentment and how costly it is to our souls when we allow finances to be the center of our affections. As you read Neil?s wise counsel in this book, you will hear the voice of Jesus whispering in your ear, ?Follow me.? Neil encourages and teaches us to stop listening to the bad shepherds in our society and to keep our souls aligned with the Good Shepherd: Jesus.? ?Craig Williford, Ph.D., president of Denver Seminary
From the Inside Flap
If financial freedom seems like an unattainable dream–wake up! Let Neil Atkinson open your eyes to the truth about wealth in this biblically based, practical, readable, funny, and encouraging guide.
If you want to get a grip on your finances, you’ve got to let go of your misconceptions about what it means to be shrewd. The Shrewd Christian will enable you to conquer money, not merely solve money problems. When you change your thinking, you’ll see your lifestyle change. And when your lifestyle changes, you’ll experience true wealth.
Neil Atkinson started out where you are. And now he’s ready to you how to achieve authentic, biblical financial freedom for the rest of your life.
About the Author
Neil Atkinson is not a financial expert, but he has learned what it means to become and remain truly wealthy. A graduate of Hope College and Fuller Seminary, Neil worked with Young Life for thirty-two years in a variety of leadership positions. There he discovered how to thrive, not just survive, on a meager ministry salary. In 1996, Neil founded Next! Leadership Development, helping people actively pursue God’s calling on their lives.
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