I have never had my perspectives so challenged. 100% must read. – N.T.
The Treasure Principle is the best tool that I’ve found to help people understand sacrificial giving. — R.S.H.
This book was used by God to kick off my ministry to be radically generous and to disciple and equip generous givers. It will go down as an all-time Christian classic.— C.M.
The Treasure Principle helped changed my views of finances. I think I probably have the spiritual gift of giving, and your book has been a huge encouragement in the usage of it. — M.V., Pastor
I started reading The Treasure Principle on a flight from Portland to Chicago and remember the opening line was, "This is not a book about giving it's a book about joy." I remember having an internal eye-roll moment. A couple hours later when I finished the book I said to myself, "This is indeed a book about joy!" One of the most life-changing books I have read in my life. — B.J.
God has used The Treasure Principle book and a mission trip to totally transform my life and vision. My husband and I have been giving out the book (we bought 48 of them at Christmas) to whoever the Lord lays on our heart. We are excited to be giving more and more financially to various ministries. What freedom it is to come to the understanding that we are stewards of His money, His time, His life in us. We lead a small group of young marrieds at church and this book will be featured in our next study. — M.R.
I have enjoyed reading the book The Treasure Principle and hope and pray that I will “put into practice” in my life and that “nothing will ever look the same, and that I “won’t want it to”. I have been a tither for a long time, but you have put its meaning into the best words I have ever seen and read on the subject. I have never been much of a reader of books and have only read a few without ever putting them down, but I can add this one to my short list. Thanks again. – N.R.
Randy Alcorn is no stranger to financial success, financial loss, and sacrificial giving. In The Treasure Principle, Alcorn shares with his readers six important keys to joyful and free Christian giving.
It is very possible that many Christians do not even recognize the hold that materialism has upon their lives. Alcorn’s work helps us to see just how devastatingly attached we are to our things, and how sadly we miss the joys of giving.
Alcorn challenges us to realize that God is the true owner of everything while we are merely his stewards. We will give more freely and rightly when our mindset on giving changes. Alcorn encourages us to realize that all the money we have is God’s. Instead of thinking, “What does God want me to give,” we should think, “How much would God want me to keep of his money?” This mind-shift is very helpful for believers.
It would be very good for almost any Christian, especially in western cultures, to read through and strongly consider Alcorn’s The Treasure Principle. Perhaps it would open our eyes and hearts to giving for the joy of the eternal reward and the glory of God. Yes, readers should be careful and consider their steps wisely, but this is true of any book. Without question, believers should consider how God would have us worship him through giving in the midst of this difficult financial time. — T.P.
God is good, and He has richly blessed all of His children. The challenge for us is to make sure that we are being a blessing to others with the blessings that God has entrusted to us.
In these hard economic times facing the church, we all need a little encouragement to make sure that we are giving by faith and giving faithfully. Desiring to give generously is good so long as we actually do give as generously as we can. Alcorn reminds the reader that this is what the Bible teaches, “just as the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability” (2 Corinthians 8:11).
Yet this is exactly where we all need a little help and encouragement, and Randy Alcorn in his The Treasure Principle gives not a little but a lot. So if you need a little motivation to give, let Randy Alcorn show you Jesus’ “treasure principle.” He explains that everything that we store up on Earth, we’ll lose, and everything we invest in Christ’s kingdom will accrue for us a thousand-fold dividend that we can enjoy for eternity.
The church needs more wise investors who give to bless and not to store up treasures on Earth. I strongly recommend the wise biblical counsel of Alcorn’s simple to read and life-transformational book as he unlocks Jesus’ “treasure principle.” May God bless us free us from the snare of materialism and raise up more saints who have a passion to meet needs now and who have an eye fixed on future glory. — R.S.
Imagine God personally setup a meeting with you and during the meeting entrusted you with assets to manage. This is the basic principle behind The Treasure Principle. It is a short little book, but is full of good perspective on what it means to be a money manager for God.
Rather than thinking of your money and assets as yours, Alcorn discusses a different concept of God owning it all. When you think of money/possessions, not to mention many other assets such as time and talents, it changes the way you make financial decisions. By praying about purchases, saving, or giving away money, a person can gain insight into how God would like the assets used.
Until a few years ago, I thought of myself as a relatively generous person but still thought of possessions and financial resources as my own. In changing to the perspective of being a steward of those assets, it really helps to keep in mind what is truly important and investing for eternal gain.
I really like the discussion Alcorn covers in talking about spending temporary resources for eternal purposes. Anything that is owned here on earth will eventually be left behind so there is wisdom in seeking out the eternal purposes to invest in.
For anyone wanting a quick read and a good Biblical perspective on being a financial steward of God, The Treasure Principle covers this nicely. — A.A.
The author’s treasure principle is that “You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead.” A Psalmist had something similar in mind when he wrote, “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him” (Psalm 49:16-17). What I appreciated about this book, which is not always the case with many Christian financial resources, is that it is balanced and biblically based. Unlike much of the prosperity teachings that are out there, the emphasis of this book is on giving to God and to others rather than on giving more in order to just get more. Imagine how much more effective the church would be, on the mission of Christ, if we grew in our giving and sacrifice? — J.F.
What a wonderful resource in talking about stewardship. Very insightful as to what God is calling us to do in our lives each day put in a way that truly makes perfect sense, yet we don’t do it. I felt it was a book that called me to be accountable. I really liked this book. — J.G.
This small volume is an excellent thought-provoking challenge for Christians to consider all that is “theirs” as a stewardship responsibility to the Lord. Our church recently coupled this book with Randy’s DVD series, The Theology of Money, in a 13-week study. I highly recommend this for the material-minded American church which has begun to lose its way. But be warned, what the author has to say may just shake you out of your spiritual complacency. — D.G.
Other than the Bible itself, few books have changed my actions as quickly as this outstanding little book. I read it aloud to my husband and together we made decisions about the money and possessions God has entrusted to our care. These choices have brought us great joy. — F.E.
This book was extremely thought provoking, and I would even say life changing. Reading The Treasure Principle helped me to have a eternal mindset and focus with regards to my money, time, talents, etc. It gave me a fresh perspective about my earthly possessions and future purchases. I read this book and then purchased several more to give out to everyone in our Bible study. I think every Christian should read this book. — L.J.
I read The Treasure Principle and my wife and I committed to giving 20% of our income for kingdom work above and beyond our tithes by the end of 2011. Over the past year we have added giving to Ligonier Ministries, a widow who does not make ends meet in our neighborhood, and another missionary couple.
God has been good to us, as I was out of work (except for some odd jobs, and my wife does not work) for 6 months last year. He had provided for all our needs, as my wife and I resolved in our hearts that we would not let His kingdom work suffer because we may. We paid our tithes first, our missionaries second, and our bills last. We never had a bill that went unpaid on time. — C.H., Pastor
Author Randy Alcorn delves into the mystery of the joy of giving. We live in a society that measures success on materialistic things. The more you have the more you want. The house is never big enough. The car is never good enough. If one is good, two is better, and three is best. None of this brings us happiness or satisfaction.
Alcorn explains where our true happiness and satisfaction comes from—God. We are to be good stewards of everything, including money. We have nothing without God, yet we claim it all as our own. We use the phrase, “I deserve,” when in actuality we deserve nothing. All we “have” belongs to God. He graciously allows us to work for Him. “We don’t own the store. We just work here.”
Alcorn presents his message is an easy-to-understand, simple manner. This should be required reading for all Christians. — D.G.
The first book I ever read of yours was The Treasure Principle. I thought it was excellent and it changed my perspective on money – only wished I’d read it in my 30’s. Thank you so much for your “true to the Bible” writings. — L.S.
As my husband and I have been addressing unemployment, reduced income, family budgeting, etc. over the last year I have wondered if we have enough money for what we need. We have continued to tithe, but there have been times when I have thought that instead of tithing, we could use that money for something else.
I wish I considered giving a “privilege to share in this service to the saints.” Instead, I think of it as a bill, an obligation. I know that I am blessed that I can write a check to tithe. I know that I will be fine with 90% of my income. I know there are people all over the world who are truly needy and that I have unspeakable wealth in comparison. I know I am among the “privileged” of the world. I wish I felt joy in giving. I know God will change my attitude in His timing.
All this was inspired by the book The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn — V.B.
Learn more about and purchase The Treasure Principle.
