Revised and Updated - Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving

I struggled to read this book but liked the heart of the book. I believe it was about learning to give in everything and every way. It opened my eyes to simple acts of giving. I have started giving not only of money but also from my back yard garden. Instead of growing just enough to feed my family a snack of veggies, I have started growing more than we eat and sometimes more than we can harvest. The effect is I have to give a lot away and it grows relationships with others in a positive way. This book inspired me to do that even though the book was hard to read. I still recommend that you read the book and try it.

This book is a life changer! Thankful that my Pastor preached 3 sermons from it. Helped me to understand I am Gods money manager, everything belongs to Him. I will use His money to influence His kingdom. I'm sending it forward ,being heaven minded. Life changer!

In 1993, after reading the scriptures about giving and depending on God to provide I decided to invest in His kingdom as much as 30% of my income, because I believed in His word about favor and supernatural provision. He has done more than I ever dreamed about in all aspects of my life. Last month, I ordered this little book because I heard wonders about it. The principles in this book came as one more revelation in the area of giving. My money has a mission. And I have acted in obedience already over what I just learned through Randy Alcorn's testimony. Worth every single minute of your time.

Required reading for church intern program. I agree with the review of Ashley Hodge on April 11, 2002, so no need to duplicate it here. It wasn't my favorite book, but it was acceptable. There can always be found aspects to criticize, but why?

Read the first edition years ago and my husband and I made some lifestyle changes as a result. We sold a more expensive house for a cheaper one, started giving more and buying less "stuff" for ourselves. We even adopted an orphan from China! We have been so blessed and can't imagine life without our little boy. Read this book!

Required reading for church intern program. I agree with the review of Ashley Hodge on April 11, 2002, so no need to duplicate it here. It wasn't my favorite book, but it was acceptable. There can always be found aspects to criticize, but why?

Read the first edition years ago and my husband and I made some lifestyle changes as a result. We sold a more expensive house for a cheaper one, started giving more and buying less "stuff" for ourselves. We even adopted an orphan from China! We have been so blessed and can't imagine life without our little boy. Read this book!

Ordered this for a small group bible study. Took me two orders to get the right thing. But besides that, my thinking (as well as the other three members of the group) and his doctorine did not align.

Each book gave me a clear understand of the subject matter. I have been made better from reading each book. My report I did for class was outstanding based on the grade I received. Thank you so much .

This is a short and personally challenging book. While Alcorn recommends Crown Financial Ministries for personal financial planning, he would differ from Larry Burkett and others by recommending saving less and giving more. He challenges the reader not to save up a nest egg as an inheritance, but rather to give that money away today. The book closes with "31 radical, liberating questions to ask God about your giving." It will help identify any idols in your life related to money, any places where you lack trust in God and harbor insecurities.

I have an issue with prescribing a 10 percent tithe as binding. I've listened to sermons and read books by scholars who argue that the OT is unclear, there were multiple tithes and offerings and what you gave was different depending on what your trade was-- ie: what you had. I've heard Thomas Schreiner and others preach that were at least three different "tithes." In any case, Alcorn thinks 10 percent is too little in the first place, the goal should be to give as much as possible. Give until it hurts, until it requires faith, because "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6).

Reformed-Baptist circles are rightly critical of word-faith prosperity gospel teachers for teaching miraculous blessings to the giver from giving. Alcorn basically prescribes the same action, but with a greater emphasis on the expectation that the blessing will go for the Kingdom and the glory to God. There are a lot of principles based on single verses, devoid of their context. In some cases they may be applied correctly, but in other places it strikes me as proof-texting. For that reason, the book maxes at four stars. It is definitely a book to be read with your family, friends, and church to help come to decisions about giving and such. It challenged me, personally.

Alcorn includes some autobiographical details about his life. How he was sued by a pro-choice group after protesting an abortion clinic and basically lost his right to earn anything above minimum wage. This was the catalyst for the book and explains why he is such a prolific writer.

Everyone wants money. Money is how we purchase things. It's why we have jobs... to get money to pay the bills and one day, hopefully, we won't have to work anymore.

What does God say about money? This is where people get defensive. If God demands we part with our money, does he want us to be poor? 

When it comes to God, money is a touchy subject for a lot of people. This is probably because what the Bible says about money and giving is often misinterpreted or misunderstood. One of the most misquoted scriptures is 1 Timothy 6:10. Often quoted as "Money is the root of all evil," what the passage actually says is, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." 

Money itself is not evil. God doesn't want us not to have it, but he does command us to spend it in certain ways. It's not a matter of whether or not you want money. The real question is this: Do you want money more than you want God? 

In The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn explains what the Bible says about money and giving. He shows what joyful, Biblical giving looks like and what we get out of it by discussing six key points:
1) God owns everything. I'm his money manager.
2) My heart always goes where I put God's money.
3) Heaven and the future New Earth, not this fallen one, is my home.
4) I should live not for the dot (this short, present life), but for the line (eternity).
5) Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
6) God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

The book is short, but Alcorn does a great job of presenting the material. You will come away with a new, or better, understanding of what it means to give as a Christian.

I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

from the back cover: Jesus spent more time talking about money and possessions than about heaven and hell combined. But too often we've overlooked or misunderstood His most profound teaching on this topic from His words in Matthew 6.

Far from discouraging His followers from pursuing treasure, Jesus offers us life-changing investment advice. He actually wants us to store up treasure for ourselves -- just not here on earth. Instead He urges us to store our treasure in heaven, where they will await us, and last forever. We can't take it with us -- but we can send it on ahead!

When I saw this book was available for review, I snatched it up! I have enjoyed everything I have read by this author, and this book was no exception. Jam-packed with Scripture backing up his claims, Alcorn lays out the case for not hoarding our wealth here on earth. Rather we should use the resources God has blessed us with, and in so doing, send treasures ahead to heaven where we can enjoy them forever. The author does not have any problems with wealth; he just wants to encourage his readers to use their wealth to further God's kingdom. This short, little book will help you think about your possessions in a new way -- if you let it.

I want to thank Blogging for Books for my review copy of this book, but my opinions are my own.

The subject of money management is often considered taboo in local congregations. Simply put, many members do not want anyone putting limits on how their money should be spent. Perhaps some of this hesitation rises from the multitude of false teachers seeking to fleece the flock, but the true teaching of God's word must not be cast aside just to keep true churches from falsely being compared to those charlatans. Scripture has much to say on the subject of finances and it is the responsibility of all believers to seek it out. Within his book, The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secrets of Joyful Giving, author Randy Alcorn seeks to offer help for followers of Christ in this crucial area of life.

Beginning with the concept of treasure, readers are introduced to the overwhelming worth they possess in Jesus Christ. Understanding that every believer is made right with God and belongs to the kingdom of heaven, earthly treasures are shown to be small. It is this basic Biblical premise that serves as the foundation for both possessing and spending money. Recognizing that all possessions ultimately belong to the Lord, the author invites the people of God to consider how every dollar is being used. He shows that far too much money is spent on temporary items that decay while other uses hold eternal significance. As the chapters progress, a plan for spending is introduced that includes praying about a fixed income level at which to live and a found joy that comes from being God's instrument of giving.

The book serves as both a practical exposition of scripture's statements on money as a well as an implementation plan for putting it into practice. While refusing to be overly specific, the book challengers readers to think through the issues and arrive at a set plan for honoring God with finances. A question and answer section at the back of the book gives the particulars that will help the message of this little volume live on past its initial reading. In short, the book is a great resource for anyone desiring to know God's word of giving.

Few authors have written as clearly and insightfuly on the issue of money and possessions as Randy Alcorn. In this revised and updated of The Treasure Principle Randy Alcorn provides a look at the heart of biblical generosity. 

In seven short chapters Randy Alcorn cuts through so much of the cultural clutter that has clouded the church's understanding in regards to issues of money. In this book Alcorn makes clear that rather than money being something we accumulate and use for our own personal pleasure we are to leverage our financial resources for eternity.

This book is a classic that should be picked up and read. 

Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Through out the book Randy Alcorn teaches how to transfer our Earthly possessions and finances into tangible treasure stored up in Heaven with the reward beyond our imagination… A deep level of understanding and unveiled truth will light up in your life with these simple and life-changing truths about the personal finances. He will answer the simple question about why the more people have the less they are satisfied with their riches and wealth.

Why the Creator invested in us the finances? How is it important in the Eternal value? And how can we transfer the given abilities into God’s realm for glorious purposes?

Love the book… Now it’s important for me to make the principles in this book a lifestyle in my life, because I feel it’s the missing puzzle piece I was searching for.

The Treasure Principle does deal directly with the aspect of tithing and giving of your finances in respect with what scripture has to say on it. The author gives a few examples of his own life in this respect, which is helpful to me as a reader. I'm familiar with what the Bible has to say about a "cheerful giver", and know that is the person God wants me to be. I also know that my "treasures" are in heaven - those "treasures" being the fruit of my relationship with God. The premise is that all earthly "treasures" will pass away with time, or be left behind when we die. The "treasures" we store in heaven are those that matter. A fair book about the importance of giving, and focusing on God and not earthly things.

For some time I have been blessed and challenged by the writing of Randy Alcorn. The Treasure Principle is no exception.

Subtitled, "Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving," the Treasure Principle examines the heart of giving and generosity. The Treasure Principle is simple and familiar: "You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead."

While noting that there are numerous Biblical examples that illustrate the relation of our spiritual life and money, Alcorn avoids a legalistic attitude and focuses on giving that is motivated by love and grace.

The book articulates six Treasure Principle Keys:

#1 God owns everything. I'm His money manager.

#2 My heart always goes where I put God's money.

#3 Heaven, not earth, is my home.

#4 I should live not for the dot but for the line (not for the temporal, but the eternal).

#5 Giving is the only antidote to materialism.

#6 God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but to raise my standard of giving.

This is a short book (can be read in one or two sittings) and, while it is not groundbreaking, I found it to be an excellent presentation of a often twisted and misunderstood subject. With it's small size, it would make a great gift for friends, graduates, etc.

Some of the quotes I noted in this book . . .

The joy of surrendering lesser treasures to find greater ones."

We're most like God when we're giving.

Tithing isn't the ceiling of giving; it's the floor. It's not the finish line of giving; it's just the starting blocks.

Five minutes after we die, we'll know exactly how we should have lived.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Manipulative and dishonest book to get Christians to tithe (give minimum 10% of income to the church). See the page images I scanned.

Most megachurches have gotten around the tithe by saying, "one should give at least 10% - that is the minimum one can do for Jesus who gave for me, 100%". To me, this is adding to God's Word. Both in Revelation and Deuteronomy, there are stern warnings against adding to the Bible.
I believe that the Holy Spirit said in 1 Cor 9, "whatever he has decided in his heart" because the leaders should have secular jobs and our giving is primarily to help the poor.
In the Bible, Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead (Acts 4) for lying to the Holy Spirit because they loved money.
Why is it that pastors and Bible teachers today are able to get away scot-free with blatantly lying about tithing and giving?

It grieves me that millions of Christians who are ignorant and trusting these pastors on what the Bible says on this topic (just like I used to be), are taken advantage of. This reminds me of the Money Changers in the Temple that Jesus drove out, calling them thieves.

I read this quote somewhere, "the Greeks turned church into a philosophy, the Romans turned church into a hierarchy, the Americas turned church into a business". Exactly.

This book was given to me by Rick Wager, one of the pastors in a Chicago area megachurch, The Chapel, because I disagreed with their stance on tithing.
They pressure their members "to give at least 10% of one's income to God".
Of course, "giving to God" in their eyes, means giving to their church.

I encourage you to read Russ Kelly's PhD thesis book, "Should the Church teach Tithing".
I tossed the book in the trash.

Randy Alcorn is probably thee author today on Christian giving for the average person.

Some people have said:
-This book is the main book or source for the Stewardship movement.
-This is Randy Alcorn's life message.
-It has been called "must read" for the Christian who wants to honor God with their whole life.
And all those things are true.

This book is a shortened version of "Managing God's Money." and the longer form yet is "Money, Possessions, and Eternity." But this book is well written and gets to the heart of Jesus' words on where your money, trust and your worth/identity really are.

The book follows a pattern to look at the Bible's wisdom on money through several principles. The main principle is "God owns everything; I'm his money manager", and "My heart goes where I put God's money."

The rest of the book is diving into the principle of the treasure and the verse "where your money is your heart follows."

Randy is also the real deal. If you don't know his story it really plays into why his voice is powerful in this message. As a young pastor Randy lost a lawsuit (somehow from picketing an abortion clinic) and consequentially not being able to own assets above a set amount. So in essence he couldn't own assets. I think that voice really brings a unique perspective to this discussion about who owns it all anyway.