7 Pillars Foreword by Ron Blue

I have been fortunate to be involved in teaching biblical principles of finance for over 30 years. Additionally, I've had the privilege of counseling either directly or indirectly, many, many more people at all income levels. I have found several things to be true.

First and foremost is the reality that all financial decisions ultimately reflect a goal, priority, value, and a spiritual conviction. To say it another way, all financial decisions reflect an attitude of the heart. It has also been my experience that people are looking for specific answers to specific questions without generally understanding their own heart but more importantly God's heart. I constantly tell people that God does not need their money but he does need their heart. In Matthew 6:19-24 it says “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

I believe that America is in a financial crisis at every level because we have too long ignored God’s principles of finance. There is much written about money, TV talks about money, we're bombarded with billions of dollars of advertising every day, there are very few models of financial responsibility, and very few churches are comfortable talking about money in its broadest sense. That being the case, the question is, where do we go to move from overwhelming information to application? First of all we need a model. The “Seven Pillars of Biblical Stewardship” is just such a model. It begins where all money decisions should begin and that is “Discovering Your Purpose”. To say that another way, why are you here? And where are you going? The second pillar is to define in your own mind whether you are an owner or a manager. If I could give one piece of financial advice and only one piece, I would ask the question “Who owns it?”, how you answer this question will determine the mindset for every financial decision that you make. It is fundamental to becoming in your own mind a steward, trustee, or manager of someone else's resources.

You can tell that this book lays a foundation with the first two pillars but it doesn't stop there. It identifies pillar 3 which is "Giving With a Purpose". I have found that those who give generously are the most free financially. Once again it is not because God needs the money but he does want me to experience financial freedom.

Pillar 4 “Seeking Counsel and Advice". If those that you are listening to for advice do not understand God's principles, they cannot help you by giving you good advice, because they are starting from the wrong perspective. Are you listening to Godly Counselors?

Pillar 5 “Providing For Your Family” is essential to acting responsibly and begs the question, "Is my trust in God for his provision or am I attempting to accumulate enough to not have to trust God? Big Question!

The last two pillars dealing with creating and transferring wealth are at the end of the life spectrum and answer the question “Who is the next steward, and are they prepared?”.

It is a privilege to write this forward to a book which I would hope ends up in the hands of thousands upon thousands of people.