Book Review: "God and Money" (Baumer & Cortines)
Two Harvard MBAs surrender their financial dreams—and find something better.
Big Idea
What happens when two young men, groomed for high-earning success, let their faith reshape everything they thought they knew about money?
Greg Baumer and John Cortines met at Harvard Business School. Both were chasing the standard American dream: wealth, prestige, and security. But a chance elective at Gordon-Conwell Seminary disrupted their trajectories. God and Money is their story of transformation—one that invites readers to rethink ownership, generosity, and the purpose of wealth.
“God is the owner of everything. We are simply His stewards.”
The book is not just personal narrative—it’s theological foundation, practical framework, and a call to joyful, sacrificial generosity.
Why It Matters for Faithful Finance
Most people—even Christians—follow a default path:
Earn → Spend → Save → Give what's left.
Baumer and Cortines flip the model on its head:
Earn → Give → Live with purpose → Set finish lines → Trust God.
They introduce the idea of “finish lines”:
A lifestyle finish line: How much is enough to live well?
A wealth finish line: How much is enough to keep?
A giving finish line: How much could you joyfully give?
It’s not legalism—it’s liberation. Their generosity isn’t guilt-driven but rooted in freedom, joy, and eternal perspective.
“The more we gave, the more joyful and purposeful our lives became.”
Key Insights
Ownership vs. Stewardship: Everything belongs to God. We’re managers, not owners.
The Joy of Enough: Once you set a “finish line,” you’re free to give beyond it.
Wealth is a Discipleship Issue: Money decisions reveal what we believe about God, trust, and identity.
Giving ≠ Losing: Biblical generosity is an investment with eternal return.
“Giving doesn’t diminish our joy; it multiplies it.”
Faith Reflection
Paul’s words to Timothy ring loud throughout the book:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth… but to put their hope in God… to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
— 1 Timothy 6:17–18
God and Money helps modern Christians take this command seriously—and joyfully.
Key Quotes
“The primary question is not, ‘What should I do with my money?’ but ‘What does God want me to do with God’s money?’”
“We had always been focused on how much we could make. The better question was: how much do we really need?”
“A financial finish line doesn’t restrict your freedom. It multiplies it. It protects you from lifestyle creep and releases you into greater generosity.”
“When giving becomes your default, it stops feeling like a loss and starts feeling like worship.”
Final Take
This book is a powerful mix of storytelling, theology, and financial clarity. It’s practical enough for a small group study, challenging enough to spark serious heart-work, and gracious enough for readers at any financial stage.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to live a more surrendered, intentional, and Kingdom-shaped financial life.
Josh’s Substack is free. As a faith-based Financial Advisor, he doesn’t want something from you, he wants something for you — namely, for you to live a life of financial well-being so that you can pursue faith-inspired living.
If you would benefit from further conversation on the topic of this post, retirement planning, investment management, charitable giving, or anything else related to your finances, please don’t hesitate to reach out.