Did God create us to be secure, self-protective hoarders? Or to become the conduit through which his generosity flows? What does the Bible say about money, generosity, and the purpose of financial well-being?

Bible Gateway interviewed Art Rainer (@ArtRainer) about his book, The Money Challenge: 30 Days of Discovering God’s Design for You and Your Money (B&H Books, 2017).

What prompted you to write The Money Challenge?

Art Rainer: Like many Americans, those in the church are experiencing significant financial stress. It’s impacting their career, ministry, family, and their generosity. God designed us not to be hoarders, but conduits through which his generosity flows. The Money Challenge helps readers discover and realize this design. My hope is that readers will begin living the fulfilling, adventurous, and generous life on which too many of us are missing out.

Why did you start writing about financial issues? How have some of these principles affected your life personally?

Art Rainer: I’m a story of one that chose, starting in his teenage years, to use sound, basic financial wisdom and the results that can come from it. The advice found in The Money Challenge really works. I’ve experienced it firsthand.

Unfortunately, there are many who have or are making harmful financial choices. From working in a bank to working in a church, I’ve heard many of these stories. And I just want to help. I want to help people right their financial picture and steward their money the way God intended them to steward it. I want to see pain, frustration, and stress replaced with contentment, joy, and open-handedness.

How much emphasis does the Bible place on money management and the concept of generosity?

Art Rainer: Money management and generosity are woven throughout Scripture. There are more than 2,000 verses related to money and the stewardship of our resources. Jesus spoke about money more than any other topic. To say that the Bible emphasized money and generosity is an accurate statement. Why the focus? Because, according to the Bible, money management is a reflection of heart management (Matthew 6:21).

It can be difficult to decide how to be generous with money. For example, what to do when a stranger on the street asks for money, or deciding what organization or cause to donate to. How does the Bible lead a person to be responsibly generous?

Art Rainer: Stewardship demands thoughtful, kingdom-advancing generosity (Proverbs 21:20). While this type of generosity starts with the local church, it does not preclude additional generosity outside the local church. Whether someone considers giving to a stranger on the street or to a kingdom-advancing nonprofit, he or she should not be flippant about the decision. Flippant giving tends to be wasteful. Thoughtful giving tends to be impactful. Wherever you give, get to know the recipient of your generosity and how that money will be used.

What’s the biggest misunderstanding you’ve seen among Christians when it comes to understanding God’s design for our money?

Art Rainer: Generosity is about the leftovers. For many Christians, generosity is what happens once all of their needs and wants are met. But this is not what the Bible teaches us. Generosity is a priority. Our giving is meant to be the sun around which our budget revolves.

Why is it so important that believers manage their money well?

Art Rainer: God has allowed us to be a part of his kingdom-advancing mission. He’s given each of us resources to use for his glory and his mission. When we mismanage our money, we erect barriers to leveraging our resources for his mission. We get frustrated. We feel stressed. We feel like we’re missing out on something—because we are. We’re missing out on the open-handed life God designed us to live.

What’s the purpose of the challenges at the end of each chapter?

Art Rainer: There are 30 different challenges throughout the book. Some challenges involve money, while others do not. The challenges are meant to help readers consider, and even experience, the generous life whether they have much or little.

How do you hope that individuals use the book? How can pastors use this book to lead their congregation toward greater biblical stewardship?

Art Rainer: I hope individuals use this book to restore health to their finances, but not just for the sake of being financially healthy. My concern is not that they become rich but enriched; to be in a place where they can live more open-handed and generous.

The Money Challenge teaches that the local church is the priority for one’s giving. Pastors can use this book to initiate a 30-day Money Challenge for church members or make it a part of a sermon series.

There are so many books about money, why should people read The Money Challenge?

Art Rainer: You can have financial health and still be unhappy with your resources. Most books make financial health an end. In The Money Challenge, financial health is not an end but a means to a greater, more satisfying end. The book desires to align the reader with God’s design for them and their money.

What do you hope readers do after reading this book?

Art Rainer: I hope they continue on their journey to financial health and generous living. I hope that they continue to pursue the contentment and adventure God has for us when we align our money with his design. And, of course, I hope they invite their friends to try The Money Challenge.

What are your thoughts about Bible Gateway and the Bible Gateway App?

Art Rainer: Bible Gateway is a phenomenal resource. I’m grateful that such a resource is available to all.

Bio: Art Rainer is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA from the University of Kentucky. He’s the author of The Money Challenge, Raising Dad, Simple Life, and The Minister’s Salary, and lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina with his wife, Sarah, and their three children.

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