Contact: Kristin Brown, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, 703-962-7877
 
McLEAN, Va., May 24, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a new Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE) booklet, Be Fruitful and Multiply: Why Economics is Necessary for Making God-Pleasing Decisions, IFWE economist Anne Bradley explains why "economic-thinking" is the key to faithful Christian stewardship and fruitfulness.

"Every day we make hundreds of decisions from what to eat for breakfast to whom we should marry," said Bradley. "The question is how do we make God-pleasing decisions? Many are eager to do that, but few understand the role of economics."

"When you ask the question, 'What are the principles that help me best steward what God has given me?' That's a good working definition of economics for the everyday person," said Bradley. "Whenever we try to maximize our benefits and minimize our costs, that's economic-thinking. We're all economists, and we don't even know it."

In an interview on the IFWE blog, Bradley explains how economic principles, when applied within a biblical perspective, help us to think wisely not only about our personal decisions but important societal questions as well.

"Economic realities, which are really biblical realities, reveal that we're all created uniquely and differently," said Bradley. "We like different things. We have different skills and talents. When you really start to think about the implications of that, we need each other. That is one of the core lessons of economic thinking. I can't do everything I need to survive. I need to be able to rely on other people. That's how you go from the perspective of saying, 'I have very limited gifts' to believing that, 'My job as a Christ-follower is to do my best with what I've been given. That's my ministry.' We all have a ministry."

Anne Bradley is IFWE's vice president of economic initiatives and served as both co-editor and contributor to For the Least of These: A Biblical Answer to Poverty. (Zondervan, 2015). For a limited time, Be Fruitful and Multiply: Why Economics is Necessary for Making God-Pleasing Decisions can be purchased for $3.99, which is 30% off the current price. Use code: BFAMNEWS. Offer expires 5/31/16. A complimentary digital copy is also available for download.

The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE) is a Christian research organization committed to advancing biblical and economic principles that help individuals find fulfillment in their work and contribute to a free and flourishing society.