How to Be Rich: A DVD Study: It’s Not What You Have. It’s What You Do With What You Have.

Comments

1. Guest

   May 17, 2015 at 12:00 am

   Fantastic. Buy it!

2. Guest

   November 14, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Andy Stanley seeks to educate all participants of this study of what “richness” means, being not “rich,” but having more than another person. That’s right, this is a DVD study with companion book – a one month study that introduces the topic, discusses side effects, dollar cost living, and diversifying. At a DVD running time of 205 minutes with the companion book weighing in at just over one hundred and fifty pages. But how does one define being rich?

   It’s not about wealth.
   If your annual gross income is $48,000 or more, you are within the top 1% of all wage earners in the world.
   If you have clothing to choose from, you’re rich.
   If you have traded in a usable car for another car, you’re rich.
   If you have upgraded your usable phone for another phone, you’re rich.
   If you have ever gone shopping just to relax, you’re rich.
   Andy’s point is not about being rich, but to help us be good at it. Most people don’t feel rich, but we are richer than we think and we need to change that mindset. Andy sets to change this concept by helping us celebrate our richness, downsize and increase margin, learn to plan ahead, learn about the ownership myth, and learn greater gain.

   So what’s the point? Andy bases this teaching off 1 Timothy 6:17, which commands the rich to give away their wealth. Andy’s point is that to feel rich, people need to realize how rich they actually are, and instead of putting that money back into the coffers of extra stuff we don’t need, use it to bless and benefit others with generosity. Andy argues that those who are rich are discontent, and the only way to fix that discontentment is to stop being rich – by being generous.

   Hard words to live by, and scarier to put into practice. In fact, the concept frightens me. Perhaps if I felt more rich, then I would have no objection to what Andy’s teaching. But when I am making it by month to month in most cases, studying school and paying on loans for my education and car, it’s harder for me to see his point. Regardless of how difficult it is for me to agree with Andy, it doesn’t change the fact that Andy’s right. Most of us are rich – we just need to change our mindset about it. And perhaps that’s what makes this DVD study so necessary for everyone…

   Disclosure: I was contracted to write an honest review in exchange for a reviewer copy of the product. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.ool and paying on loans for my education and car, it’s harder for me to see his point. Regardless of how difficult it is for me to agree with Andy, it doesn’t change the fact that Andy’s right. Most of us are rich – we just need to change our mindset about it. And perhaps that’s what makes this DVD study so necessary for everyone…

   Disclosure: I was contracted to write an honest review in exchange for a reviewer copy of the product. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.

3. Guest

   April 3, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Good study. As always Andy has a honest way of sharing God’s truths. Opens your eyes to what type of Christian you really are.

4. Guest

   March 8, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Andy Stanley’s study on riches and generosity was a good refresher on so many biblical principles I was already aware of, but this really helped reinforce those concepts. It’s easy to think here in America that we may or may not be rich – but Andy establishes the premise that we ARE, in fact, rich. And we have a responsibility to be a good steward of those riches, both with our finances and our time and good deeds.

   Andy is an excellent communicator, both with the written and spoken word. I received a copy of the DVD and the book for free via BookLook in exchange for a review and as soon as I received them, I started reading the book and then followed up shortly with the DVD sessions. What I really appreciated about the format of the DVD series was the fact they provided both the full versions of the original sermons, but also an abbreviated version of each session, intended for small groups. I also appreciated the fact that the book wasn’t just a verbatim transcript of the DVDs – he did a good job of bridging principles in both without being completely redundant between the two mediums.

   The series provided so many good reminders – to hold loosely to money, to give it away so that I can fight the desire to hoard, and to not trust in riches, but to trust in the one who richly provides. All concepts that are easy to cast aside in a culture that prizes financial safety and security to the point that we never give of ourselves or our finances.

   All in all, I think this an excellent resource for both individuals and small groups. Andy uses broad strokes to paint a picture of how to biblically handle the riches we have been entrusted with.

5. Guest

   February 24, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Andy Stanley is excellent on any topic. This one he nails perfectly.
   The title really explains the entire book — it’s not about how much we accumulate,
   but rather how our character is shaped so that we rule money and not the other way around.

6. Guest

   February 23, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Do you ever compare yourself to someone else? She’s a better mom. He’s got a better job. Their kids are better behaved. They have a better house, car, television, smartphone. She’s got it all together. He’s happier than I am. She’s skinnier than me. I’m sure I’m the only one who ever makes those silent comparisons, right? Right. How about thinking other people are rich? Do you ever say, "Man I’m broke/ poor/ spent/ only tumbleweeds in the old bank account!"

   Andy Stanley wants you to know that you are rich. He says that if you make more than $48,000/ year you are in the top 1% of wealthy people in the world! Top 1%! His goal isn’t to teach you how to get rich quick or to shame you for what you have. Instead he believes that we are never taught as Christians how to be rich. He is simply seeking to bring light to what God’s word tells us about our riches and how we are to be good stewards with those riches.

   I started this study with my Sunday School class last week. We had a video snafu but were able to watch the first group session of How to Be Rich this morning. I really liked what he had to say. We’ve done other studies by Andy Stanley in the past and he has a great, straightforward way of just laying his message out there. He isn’t beating around the bush or trying to impress you with his lofty vocabulary, he’s just talking with you.

   His premise in the first lesson is that comparison drives us a lot of the time. More than we’d like to admit. In the book he tells the story of the first diagnosis of anorexia. Anorexia began when women kept pulling their corsets tighter and tighter and tighter. In keeping up with Mrs. Jones (as he puts it) the women began really harming their bodies. Are we harming ourselves by trying to keep up with everyone around us? Likely so.

   As our class fell into discussion this morning, it was troubling to us how soon our children fall into these same patterns of comparison. So let’s start now and follow this study (there is also a book available for How to Be Rich) so we can set a better example for the next generation and how they should care for their riches.

   I received a free copy of this bible study and guide for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.w and follow this study (there is also a book available for How to Be Rich) so we can set a better example for the next generation and how they should care for their riches.

   I received a free copy of this bible study and guide for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

7. Guest

   February 3, 2014 at 12:00 am

   How to be Rich by Andy Stanley is a book about the correct way rich people should view their money. Andy Stanley challenges Americans to consider what Rich means and how the world defines the way we view money and spend it.
   If you make more than $48,000 a year as a family, you are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world. This fact is staggering to me. Another mind blowing fact is that as American I can work 5 days a week (for 8-10 hours per day) and provide for my family of five for seven days. Five days of work is sufficient to house, feed, clothe, and entertain my family of five for seven days a week. In most nations working 6 days is normal but for many working seven days a week is connected to survival, let alone letting other family members not work and still survive.
   We live in a great time where we are all considered rich. There will always be richer, but we are rich and should act like it. In this book and (possibly) accompanying DVD Andy Stanley discusses how Paul instructs Timothy to teach rich people to live.
   …to be Rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to Share 1Timothy 6:18
   I really enjoyed this book. I found it uplifting and convicting. This really has changed the way I view our financial situation and our obligation to the world and to God. I look forward to applying some of these principles to our budget and all areas of life.
   I will say I have one gripe with this and it’s only with the DVD. In some of the sessions he seems very wishy-washy on God and Jesus. Its little comments like \\”if we ignore all other theology and only focus on generosity that we would attract the world.\\” I agree that generosity is not as present in Christian life as it should be but I do think believing Jesus as your personal savior and surrendering your life to him is a little more important that being generous. I don’t think that’s what he meant to imply but it kind of came off that way.

   Note: I did receive a copy of this book and DVD to read and review. The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

8. Guest

   January 15, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Excellent book for all Christians living in the western world. Be advised that it will challenge your thinking with respect to stewardship and generosity