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Lifestyles of the Rich & Faithful: A Handbook for Successful Christian Living
BOOK REVIEW

By Stanley O. Williford
Director of Publications

Have you ever wondered why some Christians are showered with blessings while others barely get a sprinkle?

Dr. Betty R. Price in this book offers an answer. It’s probably their lifestyle.

In Chapter 1, titled The Lifestyle of Success, she cites an example that should resonate with all Christians:

“I remember counseling a woman who was living with a man as if they were married, when, in fact, they were not. She came to me because she found out that she had cancer. Naturally, she wanted to get better, and I suppose she was thinking that I could just pray and lay hands on her and all would be well. Then she could go right on living as though nothing had ever happened. I had to tell her that God could do nothing until she had separated herself from her immoral living condition.

“‘Well,’ she asked, ‘doesn’t God have mercy? Won’t He have mercy and overlook this situation?’

“This is the way a lot of Christians think. They rely on God’s mercy, but they do not see the need to do what His Word says. We believe God is, and should be there to protect and help us, but then we do not recognize our responsibility to do our best and walk uprightly before Him and the world.”

This Dr. Betty at her best, constantly teaching while pulling no punches.

Sin cuts off the blessing of God, she warns. “Christians need to know that an unholy lifestyle keeps us from receiving from God, even though God wants so much to bless us.”

God requires a holy lifestyle, she writes in Chapter 2 – The Lifestyle of Holiness. She reminds readers of the Lord’s commandment to Israel in Leviticus 11:45:

For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

“Most important of all, our bodies should be holy places, because we are God’s temple,” Dr. Betty writes.

“You have to train yourself to live holy. One of the ways of doing this is by taking yourself away from unholy places, unholy people, and unholy actions.”

She cites Roman 6:19-23, which says:

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

“When you as a believer go to bed with someone you are not married to you put Christ in an unholy position. Any time we are doing something that is wrong or sinful, Christ is there with us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He lives within us believers. If we could just learn to see ourselves as Christ’s representative and realize that every time we act in an unholy manner, someone is watching and judging the Lord.”

In Chapter 3, The Lifestyle of Righteousness, she suggests that when Christians are tempted to do their own thing, or something questionable, they should ask themselves these questions:

1.Can Jesus go here with me?

2. Would Jesus do this with me?

3. Can I involve Jesus with this?

“Whatever we cannot involve Jesus in, we should not be doing ourselves. This is how we begin to grow up in the Lord and live in our righteousness.”

She shares an important scripture in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, where the Apostle Paul says:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

“This is not only in man-woman relationships,” she explains, “but other relationships, as well – friendships, business ventures, and financial arrangements, although one of the most difficult relationships is the marriage relationship where a believer is linked up with an unbeliever.”

We’ve discussed only three chapters. There are still four chapters to go – Chapter 4 on The Lifestyle of Faith, Chapter 5 on The Lifestyle of Peace, Chapter 6 on The Lifestyle of the Family and Chapter 7 on The Witnessing Lifestyle.

A reader who takes this book to heart, reading it over and over, can lift his/her life to a place where the showers of blessings not only fall on them, but actually drench them.

https://store.crenshawchristiancenter.net/p-2301-lifestyles-of-the-rich-faithful.aspx



*Lifestyles of the Rich & Faithful: A Handbook for Successful Christian Living* BOOK REVIEW By Stanley O. Williford Director of Publications Have you ever wondered why some Christians are showered with blessings while others barely get a sprinkle? Dr. Betty R. Price in this book offers an answer. It’s probably their lifestyle. In Chapter 1, titled The Lifestyle of Success, she cites an example that should resonate with all Christians: “I remember counseling a woman who was living with a man as if they were married, when, in fact, they were not. She came to me because she found out that she had cancer. Naturally, she wanted to get better, and I suppose she was thinking that I could just pray and lay hands on her and all would be well. Then she could go right on living as though nothing had ever happened. I had to tell her that God could do nothing until she had separated herself from her immoral living condition. “‘Well,’ she asked, ‘doesn’t God have mercy? Won’t He have mercy and overlook this situation?’ “This is the way a lot of Christians think. They rely on God’s mercy, but they do not see the need to do what His Word says. We believe God is, and should be there to protect and help us, but then we do not recognize our responsibility to do our best and walk uprightly before Him and the world.” This Dr. Betty at her best, constantly teaching while pulling no punches. Sin cuts off the blessing of God, she warns. “Christians need to know that an unholy lifestyle keeps us from receiving from God, even though God wants so much to bless us.” God requires a holy lifestyle, she writes in Chapter 2 – The Lifestyle of Holiness. She reminds readers of the Lord’s commandment to Israel in Leviticus 11:45: For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. “Most important of all, our bodies should be holy places, because we are God’s temple,” Dr. Betty writes. “You have to train yourself to live holy. One of the ways of doing this is by taking yourself away from unholy places, unholy people, and unholy actions.” She cites Roman 6:19-23, which says: I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. “When you as a believer go to bed with someone you are not married to you put Christ in an unholy position. Any time we are doing something that is wrong or sinful, Christ is there with us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He lives within us believers. If we could just learn to see ourselves as Christ’s representative and realize that every time we act in an unholy manner, someone is watching and judging the Lord.” In Chapter 3, The Lifestyle of Righteousness, she suggests that when Christians are tempted to do their own thing, or something questionable, they should ask themselves these questions: 1.Can Jesus go here with me? 2. Would Jesus do this with me? 3. Can I involve Jesus with this? “Whatever we cannot involve Jesus in, we should not be doing ourselves. This is how we begin to grow up in the Lord and live in our righteousness.” She shares an important scripture in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, where the Apostle Paul says: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. “This is not only in man-woman relationships,” she explains, “but other relationships, as well – friendships, business ventures, and financial arrangements, although one of the most difficult relationships is the marriage relationship where a believer is linked up with an unbeliever.” We’ve discussed only three chapters. There are still four chapters to go – Chapter 4 on The Lifestyle of Faith, Chapter 5 on The Lifestyle of Peace, Chapter 6 on The Lifestyle of the Family and Chapter 7 on The Witnessing Lifestyle. A reader who takes this book to heart, reading it over and over, can lift his/her life to a place where the showers of blessings not only fall on them, but actually drench them. https://store.crenshawchristiancenter.net/p-2301-lifestyles-of-the-rich-faithful.aspx

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