Endorsements of The Treasure Principle

"Supercharged with stunning, divine truth! Lightning struck over and over as I read it.” — John Piper

"The Treasure Principle will change your life! This book is destined to become a classic." — Howard Dayton, Co-CEO, Crown Financial Ministries

"The Scripture passages and illustrations really ring true. It was just what I needed!” — Hugh Maclellan, President, The Maclellan Foundation

“I enthusiastically endorse The Treasure Principle. I hope millions will read and apply it.” — Ronald W. Blue, Founder and CEO, Ronald Blue & Company

Book Reviews of The Treasure Principle

This purse-sized book (no pun intended) was a gift from my church about five years back. I was deceived by the size and decided to read it in one sitting – I got into a HUGE conviction meltdown! It’s a mighty small book, dealing with the world’s treasures vs. Eternal treasures. I didn’t like it because it convicted me so much, but I keep reading it, and I’ve read it to my boys because, they like me, were born into a lot of material and spiritual blessings. My confident hope is that we will choose to “act out of enlightened self-interest” and store up eternal treasures where they don't rust! How you ask? You’ve gotta read it to find out!????. Make a date to get a heart check up with @randyalcorn_epm's #thetreasureprinciple.

— Floeberry, via Instagram

If you’ve been a Christian for any amount of time I suspect none of the ideas Alcorn presents will be new or surprising to you. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read this book. If you’re like me you often go about your day storing up treasures in this world while paying lip service to the next life, and I found The Treasure Principle to be the “shot in the arm” I needed to push me to the next step of faith in giving... Never condemning but often convicting, The Treasure Principle is a book every Christian ought to read while conducting a self-evaluation of where their treasure is being stored up. If you take the teachings of this book seriously you won’t be able to walk away unchanged.

— Jacob Kier, blogger, Treasured Wretch

“Unlocking the secret of joyful giving”—It’s the subtitle of a book I was asked to review recently. The Treasure Principle was handed to me a week or so ago and I decided to read it quickly so I could write the review and move on.
     This apathy probably comes from a wealth of head knowledge accumulated from 26 years of Biblical teaching on money. I was pretty sure I knew everything the author, Randy Alcorn, had to say about money, tithing, and giving. But, since it was a free book and it was helping out a friend, I read it. So, in a sentence, here’s my honest review: I read it and I’m glad I did.
     While I can’t say that the majority of the content was new to me, I can say that Alcorn took the highlights of many longer books and seminars and packaged just what you need to know conveniently in a little 120 page booklet.
     So what is the treasure principle? At it’s very core it is Jesus’ teaching, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Have you ever wished you had more of a heart for missions? Well, Alcorn suggests putting some of your “treasure” into missions and watch your heart for that need grow. This principle can work for or against our Christian walk. We can invest our treasure into earthly things or heavenly things. One brings the possibility of immediate return, the other the promise of eternal return.  The choice is ours.
     I really appreciated Alcorn’s approach as well as his own personal story skillfully woven through the book. An added plus is that the author seems to practice what he preaches. Books about storing up treasure in heaven and not on earth are always a little more convincing when the author doesn’t own 3 houses and a jet.
     Overall, this book has challenged me in a positive way to reevaluate what constitutes “discretionary” income, where it has been going, and shift my perspective toward things that last. I absolutely recommend this book and for $10 and a few hours, it’s a great investment.

— Abigail Cristo, blogger,  http://abigailcristo.com

“When you discover the secret joy of The Treasure Principle, I guarantee you’ll never be content with less.” So claims Alcorn in the introduction to this small gift book on Christian generosity. Noting that 15% of Christ’s teachings in the New Testament deal with money and possessions—more than his teachings on heaven and hell combined—Alcorn compares heavenly treasure, which is eternal, with earthly riches, which “will always be lost” after death. Alcorn encourages Christians to understand that everything they believe they own is actually God’s; they are merely managers.
     He is a compelling storyteller, whether drawing on Scripture, accounts of others who have lived generously, or recounting his own experiences; all of his book royalties and a large portion of his salary go to charity. Analyzing the pervasive disease of “affluenza” and the fact that Americans’ unprecedented wealth does not seem to be bringing extraordinary happiness, he says that he and other people who have discovered the secret of unfettered giving know that they are storing up treasures in heaven, their true home. Alcorn’s writing here is more akin to a motivational speech (including an overabundance of rhetorical questions, italicized words and exclamation points for emphasis) than a book. However, many Christians will appreciate his countercultural messages that “giving is the only antidote to materialism” and the “health and wealth gospel dishonors Christ.” Indeed, for many, this could be a life-changing book.

— Originally published in Publishers Weekly

The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. This 4 ½” X 6 ½” hardback book of 93 pages is one of the best presentations of Christian giving we have ever seen. The author is honest and insightful. We recommend this book!

— From Scripture Truth Book Company at Scripturetruth.com 

I thought I was reading this book for you because the topic of giving seems like an important one. But as it turned out, I needed to read it for me. Though I wanted to read The Treasure Principle—Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving, I didn’t think I needed it. I believed I was pretty good at giving, and my husband is extremely generous. Together, I figured we had this concept of giving conquered: We tithe at our church and give additional offerings. We contribute to other ministries outside of our church as well as to charities. And, hey, we even give where needed to family and friends.
     According to Randy Alcorn’s The Treasure Principle, we’re on the right path, but we have more work to do.

True Joy in Giving
To be truly joyful in giving, Alcorn writes that we need to think beyond what our material possessions can do for us on earth. We have to think, well, eternally. That’s a huge step. I don’t think it’s a mindset anyone on earth would come up with. It’s an idea straight from God: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
     Alcorn explains earthly treasure is not bad, it simply doesn’t last. Or as we have heard before, “You can’t take it with you.”

The Money Connection
The Treasure Principle takes us step by step to learn about committed, joyful giving. Alcorn talks in his book about a “money connection.” Using scripture, Alcorn points out that our spiritual lives and our possessions are intertwined.
     The suggestion that our spirituality and our money are connected, reminded me of the story of Adam and Eve told in The Holy Bible. This couple gave up paradise for a possession—a bite of food! Think how much more wonderful life would have been for them if they had focused on God and heaven instead of centering their heart’s desire on a thing.
     We face similar choices every day, just with different things. If we put God first, then we can have benefit of His wonderful blessings here on earth and even more so in heaven. However, if our hearts are disproportionately focused on possessions and money, then our reward is at best, temporary.
     The Treasure Principle helps us understand the “money connection” and then moves us on from there. Alcorn goes on to define the treasure principle, discusses benefits of giving, roadblocks and how to get started. By the time you’ve completed the book, you’ve been given six keys to the “treasure principle.”
     The Treasure Principle is one possession worth investing in. But don’t keep it for yourself. After you’ve read this book make it one of those things you give away. The Treasure Principle is available at bookstores and on-line. You can read more about the author, Randy Alcorn at www.faithfulreader.com and at www.epm.org (Eternal Perspective Ministries).

— This review originally appeared in “Impressions” which appears in The Potomac News-Manassas Journal Messenger. You can reach Deborah at deborah@shepherdsvoiceministries.org.

You can give joyfully if you’re seeking true treasure
     You know God wants you to give money to your church and other organizations that do good work. But fulfilling your duty is one thing, and getting excited by it is another. In fact, you may not be giving as much as God would like you to, because you’re just not very motivated.
     How do you find the cheerfulness God says in the Bible that He loves to see when people give? Pursue the treasure God wants you to have.

Here are some ways you can discover joy when you give:

• Realize that investing your money in earthly things will provide a limited and temporary payoff at best. Possessions themselves can’t satisfy you, and often end up possessing you rather than vice versa, because they demand so much time and energy to maintain. When you die, you must leave every penny of your money behind.
• Understand that investing your money in eternal ways is guaranteed to pay big dividends, because God has promised to bless gifts faithfully consecrated to Him and use them in ways that bless the givers and others.
• Acknowledge that it’s God who has given you the ability to earn an income, and that all your money is ultimately His. Commit to managing that money as effectively as possible, relying on God’s wisdom.
• Don’t wait until you feel like giving to actually give. Start giving out of obedience—because you know it’s what God wants you to do and you want to respond faithfully to God. After you begin to give, God will send you joy, and that joy will motivate you to keep giving.
• Remember God’s generosity—Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and the many blessings God has poured into your life. Seek to express your thankfulness to God by giving as an act of worship, and allow His love to flow through you to others as you act in generous ways.
• Make sure that your expenditures match your values. If you truly value God’s work on earth, you’ll give financially to support it.
• Wholeheartedly embrace God’s vision for efforts that you sense Him leading you to support. When you immerse yourself in God’s plans, you’ll get excited about them, and will want to help bring them to fruition.
• Get out of debt and avoid future debts so your money isn’t tied up in places God doesn’t want it to be, limiting your ability to serve Him. Before you buy a particular good or service, ask yourself whether it truly reflects your values, and whether you might do better if you were to spend your money in another way.
• Talk with others about how God is using your giving to help you grow, and listen to their stories of giving and how they’ve grown as a result. Together, celebrate God’s work in your lives. 

— Find Joy When You Give by Whitney Hopler (Live It Editor, Crosswalk.com)