Book Notes "Financial Freedom" by Ulf Ekman

Good afternoon, Mr. Ekman, I have read your book "Financial Freedom" in around 6 hours this weekend. I read your short biography that you are a pastor and live in Sweden. You were born in 1950, your age as same as my father's. Now, I just want to share or make a short synopsis about your book. As my commitment to all of the books that I have read, I will try to write three important points about what I understood after I read. 

First of all, as I know that you are a pastor or a religious leader, you have a unique perspective on how to see money or material things based on scripture, especially from bible. I think it is rare, because many perspective about financial stuff are too mechanical and formulaic. Honestly, I found your book when I went to Glodok, Central Jakarta. I bought a used book seller who sells on the street. I was interested in the title, it was like fulfilling one of my big desire to "financial freedom". The price was low, and I decided to buy it. 

From the content, I divide this book into two parts: financial prosperity in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Sure, because I am a Muslim, I just follow it like the flow, many verses, and it is okay. When I was reading on page 40, my brain refused to continue, because the content is boring, as you only write in a dogmatic tone. But I was trying to continue to the end, and I got these three important things:

1. Prosperity is the character of God. If I want to be prosperous, I need to follow God's character, especially to serve and to give to others. 
2. Sometimes, if you become a good man, people will mistreat or pin you, and you think that it is normal. But the point is, it should not make you feel angry, disappointed, and lose your heart. Don't defend yourself or your ego. This argument is mind-blowing to me. 
3. We need to implement active obedience. I mean, we as men, the most need that bother our way to God is about connection. I do pray a lot, but sometimes it feels empty in my heart. I like bible's metaphor to describe it: you sow the field, but you cannot taste the fruit. You work or pray every day, but you don't enjoy it. It is a big modern problem, sir.

What do you think?

Ulf Ekman would say: "Thank you so much Isma for reading my book. I am just a channel that God sent for you to make you understand these important points in your life, in your own context. One day if you forget, just read your notes."

QUOTATION:

Wherever you go you will find people dictated to and ruled by money, unless they are ruled by the Spirit of God. If they are not directly by money itself, they are ruled by what money can buy... We are virtually afraid of speaking about money. Why? Because we are afraid that others will think we are overly interested in money. (6) 

Financial prosperity is certainly not a get-rich-quick scheme; however it does seek to challenge incorrect beliefs about money... Money is a sensitive subject. For many, it is an open wound they dare not touch, think about or speak about... You have not been called to live in financial bondage... Poverty-consciousness has become such a normal part.. And we need to renew our minds. (7) 

A "balance" of 50% faith and 50% unbelief is no balance at all. (8) 

The more you get know God, the fewer problems you have with areas like healing, the authority of the believer, demons, speaking with others tongues, and so on. (11) 

He gives much more than you think He should give... Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over! God enjoys giving to you... (12) It is mind blowing tho'. 

You need to see God's character with regard to giving so that you will no longer have a bad conscience in this area of your life... God has two primary characteristics in the area of giving; first, He is a rich God, and second, He is a glad and cheerful giver. (13) 

He is greater than you needs. (15) El Shaddai. 

Fill God's ears with His own promises and force Him to do what He has promised. (17) 

The Lord is the provider. (19) 

Through understanding God's character and covenant, you will begin to understand how He thinks. And this understanding is important. (20) 

There are millions of flowers which remain unseen by man. (21) 

Obedience leads to influence. (32) 

The devil gets nervous when you become a channel for God by blessing people with what God has given you. (33) 

Two important paragraph in page 36.

Perfection is not a requirement for the blessings of God. What really matters is the person's attitude of herart. If the heart is right, the blessings of God will immediately begin to flow. (37) 

Isma: Don't forget the source of wealth... I think in this world we meet many things something that we don't build, houses full of all good things, which we don't fill. 

The Lord knows that the curse which is in the world will come over us if we choose to disobey by following our own ways and the ways of the world. (44) 

"You shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes." - "A nation whom you have not known shall eat the fruit of your land and the produce of your labour..." - "You shall carry much seed out to the field and gather but little in..." (44) 

Poverty has one aim: to rob people of the blessings of God and to prevent them from doing what has called them to do. (49) 

Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare by it. If you gain wisdom instead of silver, wisdom will in turn gain riches and honor for you. (54) 

Diligent hands will bring you success in every area of your life. 

The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. (57) 

I would not have been able to open this door for you if you had not turned down the other invitation. (86) 

Fear is stingy, afraid of the consequences and always trying to hold on to things. Fear must see before it can be believe. On the other hand, faith is built on the knowledge of what God has promised. (88) 

If your conscience is clear it will not be easy for people to pin something on you. (96) 

If God is truly your provider rather than people, you can be unmoved and content in any and every circumstance. Your trust is where it should be; in God... So one important aspect of walking in financial prosperity is being free from depedency on other people. (106) 

You will always receive back when you give. It is a spiritual law. (106) 

Always sow your seed in good soil and never sow under pressure. God will speak to you, thus enabling you to give with joy. However, do not give an arbitrary sum; ask God how much you are to give. The devil wants believers not to give. (117) 

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (119) 

Prosperity is for the expansion of God's kingdom. (123)

Title: Financial Freedom | Writer: Ulf Ekman | Translated by: Ferguson Communications | Year: 1989 | Publisher: Word of Life Publications Sweden