My interest in personal finance began when I read a book on Christian personal finance – the Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples by Larry Burkett, to be exact. So when I’m given the opportunity to review a book on personal finance from a Christian perspective, I like to take it.

Faith & Finances: In God We Trust is a combination story and devotional. A publication of Christian Devotional Ministries, the book is subtitled A Journey to Financial Dependence. I’ve never read a book set up quite like this one, so it scores points for being unique.

It’s a short, twelve chapter story about a wealthy man who, through a series of events, must face up to the fact that he trusts his wealth more than he trusts God. And then he has to decide what to do about it. But here’s the catch: you don’t read the story straight through.

Interspersed between chapters in the story are short devotional readings and stories pertaining to what the main character of the story is facing at the time.

The devotional anecdotes are encouraging and are relevant to the economy today. Several of the devotions reference financial problems, such as unemployment, debt, and the fear of not having enough money for necessities.

Though many of the devotional anecdotes reference God’s provision, this is not a book that tells you that you will prosper, if you just do x, y, and z. I do believe that God provides in times of need, but often He chooses to provide for us day by day, rather than supplying all our wants. That sentiment is echoed by one of the authors, Jennifer Becker Landsberger, when she writes,

No matter how dire the situation, God is not going to let you starve to death. You may have to give up your pride and ask Him for help. You may have to ask others for help. But remember, above all, there is a reason for the troubles we go through; we simply have to trust that God knows what He is doing.

I’ve found that to be true in my life. I really appreciate the fact that the authors don’t trivialize trials people are going through in today’s economy.

The Low-Down on Faith & Finances: In God We Trust

The Pros:

• Relevant to today. It’s obviously published recently.
• It’s down to earth; not preachy.
• I identified with several of the devotional stories.
• The devotions interspersed throughout the story are really encouraging and inspiring.
• It’s a quick read, if you want it to be.

The Cons:

• The main story is a little predictable and simplistic. It works for it’s purpose, though.
• It’s a bit of a challenge to figure out how this book/devotional is to be read. When using it as a daily devotional, you need to make sure you give yourself time to read the story when it’s time to read another chapter or two.

My Overall Opinion

Faith & Finances: In God We Trust provides a simple story with a lot to think about between chapters. I think the strength in this book is definitely the devotions. If you’re looking for deep theology, this isn’t it. It’s not meant to be. If you’re looking for a quick daily devotional to encourage you through tough financial times, this isn’t a bad option. It will provide you with about a month’s worth of readings, and it’s a good reminder that what we have isn’t ours to begin with.

We invite you to learn more about Faith and Finances during April and May while they tour cyberspace. To find other tour stops, visit bookpromotionservices.com. For other details about the book or to get more information about Christian Devotions visit www.faithandfinances.us. The book is for sale at amazon.com.

Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.