“Beyond Blessed” by Robert Morris is a sequel to his earlier work, “The Blessed Life,” delving deeper into financial wisdom from a biblical perspective.
Known for its practical advice and spiritual insights, this book has garnered attention for its approach to managing personal finances through the lens of Christian faith.
Book Details:
- Title: Beyond Blessed
- Author: Robert Morris
- Genre: Christian Literature, Personal Finance
- Publication Date: 2019
- ISBN: 978-1546010098
About the Author:
Robert Morris is the founding senior pastor of Gateway Church, a multi-campus church in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. As an experienced speaker, pastor, and financial adviser, Morris has a respected voice in matters of faith and financial stewardship. His perspective is sought after for its blend of spiritual depth and practical application.
Summary of “Beyond Blessed”:
“Beyond Blessed” aims to teach readers how to manage their finances in a way that will please God and lead to financial freedom. The book is not just about being wealthy; it’s about being able to fully support the kingdom of God and live a life free of financial stress. Morris expands on the principle that managing what we have wisely will lead to being trusted with more, a concept rooted in the teachings of Jesus.
My personal notes and takeaways:
- In dramatic contrast, putting God first and recognizing that it all belongs to Him
liberates us from fear of loss and insufficiency. Think about it. When you own a
home, the repairs and upkeep are solely your responsibility. But when you are a
tenant, the ultimate responsibility for the property lies with the landlord.
Homeowners may lie awake at night worrying about whether the roof needs to be
replaced, but tenants never do. If there is a potential problem, they simply pick up the phone and say, “Hey, I think you may have a problem with your roof! You might want to check it out.” (25) - There are many believers that God simply cannot bless with great wealth because He knows it would destroy them. Few people understand that abundance is a far tougher test of character than poverty. (30)
- Before I go too much further, let me state emphatically that for many believers –
especially in places like the United States – a significant “house cleansing” and
shedding of “stuff” can be an important step in getting out of …the prosperity
materialism mind-set…Frankly, many of us are drowning in stuff and could benefit
greatly from more simplicity in our lives, and in our homes. Knowing how to
simplify and make do with less is also vital when you’re getting out of debt or
beginning to live within your means. (53) - It is God’s will for us to be blessed so we can be a blessing. He wants us to have all
our needs supplied with plenty leftover to help others. It is God’s will to see more
people come into relationship with Him. (63) - By the way, the Bible is clear that God’s heart is very much toward the poor. In fact, the Word of God makes it clear from cover to cover that if you want to get God’s attention, show generosity and compassion for three special groups of people – the poor, orphans, and widows. (75)
- …your tithe/firstfruits offering will almost always be in the form of money. And the biblical principle is to give a tithe of your “increase” (91)
- What if God came to you in person, like He appeared to Abraham and Moses, and
said to you, “If you will tithe – if you will give me the first ten percent of your
income – I will do two things for you. First, I will stand at the door of your house and keep the devil out. I will keep him out of your marriage, keep him away from your teenage kids, and keep him out of your health. Secondly, I will bless you so that you actually have more than what you’re currently making”?
If He showed up, in all His glory, and promised you that face-to-face, would you take Him at His word and give Him the first tenth of your increase? Well, He’s done just short of that very thing. In His holy, infallible Word, God says this: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:10-11 NASB) Wouldn’t you be foolish not to accept that deal? What rational person would say no to that offer? Yet millions upon millions of believers say no to it month after month. (97-98)
- In The Blessed Life, I gave numerous examples about how God supernaturally blesses
us when we become generous givers. What I am about to say is the core truth I want
you to take away from this book. When we begin to set our finances in order, God
supernaturally blesses us! It’s more than just the numbers in the budget adding up
mathematically. God begins to bless our “fish and loaves” as Jesus did when He fed
the multitudes! Please don’t miss this! God blesses good stewardship in the same
way that He blesses generous giving! (113) - We will only be truly happy when we’re in the center of God’s will doing what He
created us to do…If you’re fulfilling the purpose for which God created you, you can have nothing and still be deliriously happy and content. (149) - The Lord loves to satisfy His children with good things. But He is only fully free to
do so when He knows our hearts won’t go after those things. That our delight will
continue to be in Him. That we won’t turn what He intends to be blessings into idols. (155) - Yes, contentment is a source of great gain for two reasons. First, because it frees God to move into your circumstances and change them for the better. But more
importantly, contentment positions you for a life of eternal significance and impact. That’s a life that lays up great treasure in heaven, where neither rust, nor decay, nor moths, nor time can degrade your joy. A heart of contentment is a major foundation for a life of wise stewardship. (158-159) - …I’m saying that the way we choose to spend our money, the wisdom with which we manage it, and the way we care for the things God has entrusted to us wordlessly speaks about our God to the people around us who don’t know Him. (164)
- Here is my point. Yes, our good stewardship testifies of God’s goodness to those you encounter in your daily life, but it does something else quite wonderful. Good
stewardship gives you the financial margin to be generous and give to others as the
Spirit of God prompts you. That’s where the real fun starts. There are few things
more gratifying or exciting than getting the opportunity to be a miraculous manifestation of God’s goodness and love to someone who isn’t expecting it. (167-168)
- There is seemingly supernatural power in the act of writing a goal down. Something about it moves it from the realm of mere thought into the material realm where we live and act. (184)
- Learning to live well below your means may very well be the most powerful, life-
transforming, peace-bringing habit you can acquire. Yet only a tiny fraction of
people do it. (196) - If you want to live below your means, the most important thing you can do is learn to be content. (197)
- You start with a heart to be a good steward. That leads you to an understanding that you need to do the three things excellent stewards do – that is, commit to spend wisely, save diligently, give generously. (205)
- Jesus is saying when you use your money (unrighteous mammon) to help people hear and receive the gospel, you’re literally making friends you probably won’t meet until you “fail” (die) and go to heaven. Indeed, these friends are part of the “treasure” you’re laying up there. As a faithful steward who has used his or her money this way, you’ll arrive in heaven one day to an amazing greeting. A big part of that welcome will be people who want to hug you and thank you for being responsible for having delivered the truth about Jesus to them. These new friends will be some of the cherished and precious things to you when your life is over, and you step into eternity. There, you will say, “I only thought I knew what joy was.” (245-247)
- Allow me to say it again: God’s principles of stewardship are for our sakes, not His.
He’s rooting for you to become a better steward because He’s looking for people into whose hands He can put significant resources. (247) - In the words of the old cliché, God will get it to you if He knows He can get it
through you. (248) - You see, wise stewardship impacts past, present, and future. It helps heal financial
mistakes of the past, brings you peace in the present, and powerfully impacts the
future. Your wise stewardship creates a lasting legacy that extends far beyond your
brief time on this earth. It’s that powerful. I’m excited for you. Get going! There is a happy journey to undertake, and great, great joy waiting for you as you live beyond blessed. (254)
Who Would Enjoy This Book:
“Beyond Blessed” will resonate with Christian readers interested in aligning their financial practices with their faith, especially those who are:
- Seeking a less aggressive approach than that of traditional financial advisors
- Looking for biblically-based financial guidance
- Interested in learning about generosity and stewardship
- In pursuit of financial strategies that honor God
Popular quotes from “Beyond Blessed”:
- “God is the owner of everything, and we are simply stewards.”
- “When you live a life of generosity, you live a life beyond blessed.”
- “Biblical stewardship is not about acquiring more but managing wisely the resources we are given.”
- “Financial peace isn’t about acquiring more of the world’s wealth but about releasing it for God’s purposes.”
Related Books:
- “The Blessed Life” by Robert Morris
- “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey
- “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki
- “Thou Shall Prosper” by Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Readers who enjoyed “Beyond Blessed” might also find value in the foundational concepts presented in “The Blessed Life,” also by Robert Morris, which sets the groundwork for the teachings expanded upon in this book.
