The Generosity Ladder: by Nelson Searcy (Review)

“The Generosity Ladder” is a widely appreciated book that blends financial wisdom with spiritual insights.

It has garnered attention for its practical approach to managing finances in a way that aligns with Christian values, attracting readers who seek a more meaningful and God-centered approach to their financial life.

Book Details:

Title: The Generosity Ladder: Your Next Step to Financial Peace
Author: Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Dykes Henson
Genre: Personal Finance, Christian Living
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0801013795

About the Authors:

Nelson Searcy is a respected church leader and a sought-after coach for church planters. Jennifer Dykes Henson is a skilled writer and collaborator, known for her ability to distill complex concepts into accessible ideas. Their combined expertise provides a unique perspective on faith-based financial management, making their advice both practical and spiritually grounded.

Summary of “The Generosity Ladder”:

“The Generosity Ladder” emphasizes the importance of aligning financial decisions with Christian values. It explores concepts like wise spending, saving, and giving, proposing a balanced approach to financial management. The book offers practical steps to achieve financial peace without compromising one’s faith and spiritual values.

Selected Passages Randy Highlighted in the Book:

God gives us all we need. You may have worked hard for the money that has come into your life, but God gave you the breath, health, strength, and intelligence to do your job. He gave you every ounce of your ability to earn your living (24)
God simply wants us to use our money wisely so that we have the opportunity to live well and do good for others. First Timothy goes on to say, “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life” (6: 18–19). (25)
The only hope we have of loosening the death grip we have on our goods is to acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God. (26)
Understanding God’s ultimate ownership means that we also recognize our role as conduits of his resources. We were not put on this earth to amass treasures for ourselves but to let treasure pass through us and back to a greater purpose. (27)
In his great work on this subject, Money, Possessions, and Eternity, Randy Alcorn writes, “One day everyone must answer these three questions: Where did it all go? What did I spend it on? What has been accomplished for eternity through my use of all this wealth?” (28)
If we want God to trust us with the true riches of heaven and his true purposes for us on this earth, we must discover how to live an openhanded life. (35)
Your giving should be directly and proportionally tied to what God allows to come into your life. (47)
I have learned firsthand that I would rather tithe 10 percent and live with God’s supernatural blessing on the other 90 percent than to have the full 100 percent in my pocket and operate without God’s blessing. (59)
Time and time again I have heard stories about how people are living more blessed lives on 90 percent of their income than they ever could have dreamed of on 100 percent. (67)
Imagine that a sum of money (like your paycheck!) comes into your life. What do you do? First of all, you don’t close your fist around it; you keep your hand open and thank God for it. Then you tell it where to go: If you are not in debt . . .
a. The first 10 percent goes to your tithe.
b. The second 10 percent goes into savings.
c. The third 10 percent goes toward investments.
If you are in debt . . .
a. The first 10 percent goes to your tithe.
b. The second 10 percent goes to pay off debt.
c. The third 10 percent goes into savings.
One of the major keys to reaching financial peace is this: learn to live on 70 percent of your income. (76)
A generous life is characterized by three main things:
A willingness to stretch yourself. Instead of giving the minimum tithe every year, you stretch yourself to take even larger steps of faith. What kind of giver does God want you to be? Is he stretching you to give 11 or 12 percent each year? Maybe even 15 or 20 percent?
A desire to be generous with others. When you see need around you, you are quick to help. Rather than asking yourself, “Do I need to help that person?” you automatically give to his need. Being able to live in a place of quick generosity shows that you are controlling your money, not the other way around.
A decision to use your income fully to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. Philemon 1: 6 tells us, “You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ.” (83)
You may not be able to be a reverse tither, but maybe you could whittle away at that 90 percent. What is God calling you to? Could you live on 80 percent and give 20 percent? Part of committing to a life of generosity means asking these questions and allowing ourselves to be stretched and used by God. (87)
Ask, “God, how can I be a generous giver right now? How can I best honor you with my financial life? What are you calling me to?” Maybe you need to take the step of increasing your giving by a percentage point every year. Maybe you can decide to consistently help people in need. You have the freedom to make those kinds of decisions when you choose to live at the peak level of giving. (89)
The Top Four Ways to Invest Your Treasure:
1. Give a full 10 percent.
2. Give extravagantly.
3. Give sacrificially.
4. Give cheerfully. (94)
“Make as much as you can, save as much as you can, and give as much as you can.” –John Wesley
In helping people climb the generosity ladder, I have seen something incredible happen time and time again. As people move up the ladder, they move closer to God. Those who are at the obedience level and the peak level consistently tell me that their hearts grew closer to God every step of the way…. I have also seen that with every rung they scale, they find increasing significance in their life, increasing levels of happiness, increasing levels of intangible blessing. They have less debt, less bondage to materialism, and less stress. (99)
…you have to put life’s big stones in place first. Then the details will fill in around them. If you don’t, the small stuff will consume you, and you’ll never be able to fit the big rocks in. (103)
…commit to getting on and climbing the generosity ladder. Make the decision to get out of debt, as mentioned above, and stay out. Decide to cut back on something in your life and put that money toward gaining financial peace. (104)

Who Would Benefit From This Book?

This book is ideal for anyone seeking to grow in generosity while seeking to align their financial practices with their Christian faith. It’s a perfect read for church-goers, families, and anyone interested in generosity-driven personal finance, offering insights into managing money in a spiritually fulfilling way.

Popular quotes from “The Generosity Ladder”:

“Your heart follows your treasure, and your treasure will follow your heart.”
“Generosity is not just about giving, but about the attitude of your heart.”
“Financial peace isn’t about acquiring more, but about giving more.”
“True financial freedom comes when you are no longer enslaved by your desires.”
“In God’s economy, what you keep is lost, and what you give is gained.”

Related Books:

“The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn
“Your Money Counts” by Howard Dayton
“The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey

Readers who enjoyed “The Generosity Ladder” might also find value in Bob & Linda’s book: Simple Money, Rich Life. Find the connections between financial principles and modern financial strategies to enrich your own financial life!