People strive after wealth, it becomes their idol, and is expected to be a source of happiness and contentment. When people reach financial goals, they find that it does not satisfy deeper longings that still create a sense of dissatisfaction.

Our culture equates wealth with happiness and contentment—shorthand for a satisfied life. In short: wealth as a solution to problems, consumerism as a form of therapy, and material possessions as a form of significance.

We have models of so-called success as wealthy people driving nice cars, living in extravagant houses and going on expensive vacations. The implicit message is that this is the good life. In short, the lifestyles of the rich and famous—and we would all be happy if we could have that same lifestyle.

Those financially successful people are lionized in a familiar fashion, where reality shows lift the cover behind all the items that money can buy. If money cant’ buy happiness, at least they can try.

 But is the financially successful person a good model for happiness and contentment? Are the portrayals of wealthy people in media role models to emulate? Are wealthy people reflected in the brash personality of people like Donald Trump?

 In our extensive research we have found that there is a far more attractive model of success among the wealthy that is not typically identified or followed. This is the individual who has achieved a balance of success in key dimensions: wealth, work, values and faith. They don’t look like millionaires—they are “un-Millionaires.”

 Who are these people? They are millionaires with a Judeo-Christian ethical system. It harkens back to the Protestant work ethic before it was disconnected from thrift and frugality.

 But these people are not typically identified, because as the “un-millionaire”—they are not attention seeking, but actually attention running; they are generous, but not wanting things; they are low ego and thus don’t think they deserve attention. They are out there, but they are under the radar. We want to highlight the positive features of the people because they are great role models for others—but they don’t promote themselves.

 This book is needed because there are positive role models who can inspire others and these lessons are not typically highlighted and understood.

 These Christian un-millionaires are positive examples. Here are some of the significant lessons to be learned as to why they are both financially successful, but also spiritually grounded:

1. They have strong convictions regarding their faith, which provides a meaningful value system for their approach to life, including finances.
2. They do not have their identity wrapped up in consumer or materialist items
3. They have stable marriages and families
4. They have found their passion, purpose and calling
5. They have not adopted a consumptive life style
6. They have well-adjusted children who are pursuing their own calling
7. They are careful stewards of their resources
8. They are generous and charitable
9. They are humble
10. They are thrifty
11. They have exercised creative entrepreneurial abilities
12. They actively pursue the application of their faith in the marketplace
13. They believe in generational blessing by fostering families with a spiritual ethos and businesses with spiritual capital.
14. They exhibit a strong work ethic—diligence, but not obsessive overwork.
15. They are disciplined in both personal and business matters.
16. They have a long-term perspective