by Richard J Foster
Harper Collins Publishers
New York, New York
1988
Reviewed by Pardon Mwansa, Associate Director, General Conference Stewardship Ministries
It is impossible to read this book and not be spiritually challenged. In fact, those who are not willing to be challenged in their spiritual walk with God must not read this book, for doing so will cause them great disturbance. While discussing the topic meditation, Foster suggests creating a richer attachment with God by detachment: The detachment from the confusion all around us is in order to have a richer attachment to God. Christian medi-tation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely (p. 21).
When he talks about the need for a life of prayer in those who believe, he writes: All who have walked with God have viewed prayer as the main business of their lives. (p. 34). An observation he makes about contemporary culture is that it makes people believe happiness is found in having plenty. To such he explains: Because we lack a divine Center our need for security has led us into an insane attachment to things. We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic.... It is time we awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick. ( p. 80).
After I read this book, I made some decisions in my own life. Firstly, that I will have some form of Sabbatical time every year. This will be time for personal evaluation of my relationship with God. Secondly, that I will de-accumulate. This means I will take intentional steps to give away the many things I have accumulated, things I do not necessarily use. I challenge you to read this book. And in turn, let the book challenge you to make a decision or two that will change your life forever.
