What the Scriptures Teach Us About Prosperity

By S. Michael Wilcox

Reviewed by Beth Roach
On 3/6/2010

Deseret Book, 2010 Hardcover:
197 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-60641-229-9 Price: $19.99

What the Scriptures Teach Us About Prosperity by S. Michael Wilcox is principle-based instruction about finances. Beginning with the parables of Jesus Christ and teachings of the New Testament, Wilcox discusses valuable lessons from attitudes, examples, and warnings given throughout all the standard works and counsel of modern prophets about the use and misuse of wealth. By using examples of our current economic turmoil, he keeps the principles timely and relevant.

He states that situations dealing with wealth and seeking wealth carry several warnings and cautions in the scriptures and some of the hardest trials to face are staying faithful and humble in the midst of peace and prosperity. The author gives guidelines for self-assessment to check if we are focused on what we can count or what really counts. It illuminates the balance necessary between what you possess and what possesses you.

The book is short, at just under 200 pages, and is all the more powerful for being concise. Even though the book is brief and easy to read and understand, and the author's voice is friendly and approachable, I found that this book took a long time to read because there is so much packed on to each page. I kept writing notes to myself about things I was learning and discussing different perspectives with my family and friends. This was a book to nibble around the edges slowly and think about and reflect on and then nibble on some more. Because it is short, it is easy to review and study more than once.

The format of the book is much like listening to an institute lecture or education week talk. Since several questions are asked throughout the text, I would have liked to see the book have more interactive formatting with space at the end of the chapters or sections to write my reflections or make notes. I found myself writing on bookmarks and sticky notes, but the next time I read this, I will be highlighting and writing in margins. I liked the example of the author's mother teaching about the value of consistent saving from earnings. Including more examples of how to teach these principles to children or apply them in daily routines would also be valuable.


Copyright 2010