For far too long, people of faith have embraced poverty as though it’s some kind of virtue. In this barn-burning message, Ian Carroll of Greater Chicago Church demolishes this false idol and pinpoints the real tension between poverty and wealth.
The real question is: Do you own your wealth, or does your wealth own you? And what is YOUR wealth going to accomplish?
Destroying Average
Ian is a long-time friend and mentor and in this message he calls mediocrity what it is, and summons you and me to a new level of power to transform the broken systems in the world.
Other messages by Ian
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
9 Comments on “A Call to Arms for Entrepreneurs of Faith: Ian Carroll on Poverty & Wealth in the Kingdom of God”
Apathy is a dangerous force. It is also enticing in ways that few even realize. There is a very big danger in making money – the act of making it becomes in itself a habit. I am not speaking of the person who makes things, helps others to live their lives – I am speaking of the person who makes their money through money itself. Has no regard for where that money comes from or where it goes. It is the quintessential follower of the bottom line.
Those people have no wealth. Wealth, understood in the way Ian speaks, is not just fiscal. It grasps the fact that money is only a medium, a manner of ‘shaking hands’, doing a deal. A wealthy person can help someone poorer in more ways than just giving them a few bucks. That man might teach the other to fish. Thereby the poorer man will be substantially happier in his life – because he no longer lacks food.
The world around us – which we are despoiling with such grievous abandon – is there to nurture us. We were given dominion, we were not given the rights to rape and pillage every and any corner we could tread on. I grow a great deal of my own food, and know both how hard it is, and the real joy of seeing plants grow. It is very different from the farmer who has already sold his crop on the futures markets. Because this is what money without wealth – has brought us: a planet that is fast becoming sterile.
A final word. Ian did speak of the life of Jesus. I know of few who really grasp what Jesus did in his life after the Baptism. I speak not of his death – important as this is – only His living teaches us more about ourselves as humans. His death allows us to do this. Only in His life Jesus bought nothing, possessed nothing. All He ate was given to him out of generosity. If we can use money with His life in mind, we will need less of it to be rich.
Yeah, this enemy called average, i love it when someone bashes mediocrity on the face.
Perry, thanks so much for sharing this. I’ve listened to it at least four times over the past two days. I am also reading (and journaling) through the book, “Money and the Prosperous Soul” by Stephen De Silva. I had no idea how many false beliefs I had regarding money, wealth, prosperity, and success.
Thank God that the “Truth shall set us free.” And thanks again for sharing such inspiring information.
Awesome! Time to purge the head trash and be aligned to who God intended us to be! It’s not about what I do, it’s about who I truly am! Yes Lord, I want to be healed, I want to see!!!
Thanks for posting this Perry!
One of the reasons I turned my back on traditional Christianity was that it was becoming increasingly irrelevant to where I was at. I found far more profound answers elsewhere.
It’s heartening to hear this message of transformation from within Christianity now.
Thanks for sharing. Positive and enlightening. “Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required, and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.”
Wow.
Faith and finances are not mutually exclusive.
Rather, they are mandated to be inclusive.
Not as the “health and wealth” prosperity preachers say.
But as the Master says.
Thanks for the message, Perry.
Thanks Perry, a good listen for sure. Now if only I could live up to it!