Building Your Financial Fortress in 52 Days by Kevin Cross, CPA
Cross, Kevin and Steven White. Building Your Financial Freedom in 52 Days: The Lessons of Nehemiah. Alachua: Bridge-Logos, 2009. 178 pp. $14.99. Purchase at Amazon.com
Introduction
Last week I spent the entire week looking at financial resources. I had hoped to include this book in my week-long series, but was unable to do so. Nonetheless, I would like to share with you a unique book on money that is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to be a better steward with what God has given them.
Kevin has a website, Account417, where you can find many free resources for taking charge of your finances. You can also learn more about the Nehemiah Challenge while surfing this website.
Review
I say this financial book is unique because it is a devotional book. Even more than that, the daily devotions are unique in that there is no questions to answer each night or something to memorize each week or some immediate application you are challenged to make the next day. Rather, you will find that you want to do all of these things as you read through the biblical account of Nehemiah rebuilding the post-exile temple.
Each day requires three to five pages of reading. Each day is introduced with various quotes–some humorous, some serious, some from non-Christians, some from Christians, many from the Scriptures. Each day offers real life illustrations as well as looking closely at how Nehemiah managed to rebuild the temple and how he managed the resources that God gave him.
After fifty-two days of reading this devotional, your perspective on money will change. This is not a get-rich quick scheme nor is it a “the world is ending and you need to hoard your resources” platform. Building your Financial Fortress is a sound resource to better understand how to win with money by managing (stewardship) what God has entrusted to you.
Recommendation
While there are some challenging questions, you are never goaded into making choices. Truth be told, I believe God will use this resource to help men and women become interested in their money from a biblical perspective. Sure, there are deeper books on God and money (see last weeks reviews), but not everyone is ready for those. Everyone is ready for Building your Financial Fortress. A fifty-two day devotion is just the thing to kick start one’s taking back their money for godly purposes.
Giveaway
Kevin has been gracious enough to sign two copies of Building your Financial Fortress for giveaway. To win one of two copies simply leave a comment below about how studying Nehemiah would help you with your finances or post something on Twitter using @ChristBookNotes in your tweet.
This contest will end Monday, 12 October at noon. God bless and good providence.
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Studying Nehemiah would give me a Biblical perspective on finances which is something I strive for in every area of my life. I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
Studying Nehemiah and putting into practice a 52-day effort would help my wife and I get jump-started getting our financial house cleaned out the rest of the way.
I wonder how this compares with Dave Ramsey. Being a devotional type book would make it different than what Dave writes. This should be interesting!
I am a huge Dave Ramsey advocate. I have read many financial books regarding stewardship and money management and debt and all of that stuff and it was Dave Ramsey’s books that finally slapped me upside my head. While this is a devotional book, I would put it up there with Ramsey in terms of making the paradigm shift in your own mind regarding finances. Keep in mind, Building your Financial Fortress is not specifically about dealing with your debt–it is more about getting you to understand how to manage (stewardship) your money well. I can very easily see doing this devotional in conjunction with Ramsey’s plan.
Can Canadians enter? I’ve never thought of studying Nehemiah to be foundational to finances, so I’m very curious about this approach.
Maybe I should re-read Nehemiah and catch what I have missed in regard to wise financial instruction. I would love to get this book as I am in serious need of biblical financial counsel. Thank you for entering me!
@Jennifer
Yes.
I think that in these financial times, any help with finances from a Biblical perspective would be a great benefit. Thanks for allowing the opportunity to enter this giveaway
We are also Dave Ramsey-ites, but find ourselves in need of paying off student loan debt to be able to provide for our growing family. We would welcome any further insights to strengthen what we’ve learned from Dave!
Studying the book of Nehemiah can apply to so many aspects of life finances included. Nehemiah can teach me how to plan a strategy and know exactly what I am doing with everyone not just jumping in helter skelter. It also teaches about how to work with others in reaching a goal, our spouses and our creditors. I big thing I see me, no matter how impossible the situation, or how I may have failed in the past. What an exciting study. Thank you for entering me!