Customer Reviews

The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is fantastic. It is concise, motivational, and profound. I read it the first time and thought it was great, and then went back and took notes for a second reading and thought it was even better. This would be a great book to study with a small group or just discussing as a book club with friends.

Alcorn does a great job of using illustrations and stories to motivate believers to think "eternally" about every giving, saving and spending decision. This is the heart of true stewardship.

The main principles of the book are important to memorize and carry them on our hearts:

Principle #1- God owns everything. I am His money manager.
Principle #2- My heart always goes where I put God's money.
Principle #3- Heaven, not Earth, is my home.
Principle #4- I should live for the line (eternity), not the dot(short life on earth).
Principle #5- Giving is the only antidote for materialism.
Principle #6- God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

I highly recommend this great book. The only drawback in my opinion is his focus on tithing and using Malachi 3:8-10 as a verse to support his belief that tithing still applies.

He makes compelling arguments for teaching tithing as a starting point (Christians give on average 2-3 percent of their income), but I believe the "Church" abuses this doctrine in most cases. The bigger message is stewardship. If believers understand that... the tithe is totally inapplicable. I agree with his heart on this issue, but disagree with his belief that the tithe should be taught.

But that is a minor deal in the overall scheme of things. The book is a treasure that I will pass out to friends, family and re-read many times until these principles are lived out in my own life.

Ashley Hodge, CFP
Southlake, TX

If you are passionate about making your life count for eternity, it is essential that you read "The Treasure Principle." This book will teach you how to eternally invest your financial resources. Contrary to the health, wealth, and prosperity movement, Alcorn will challenge and motivate you from the Bible to use your money for the advancement of God's kingdom. Since we can't take any of our financial resources with us once we die, Alcorn encourages us to "send our money ahead" for the pure joy that comes from giving and also so that we will experience great rewards in eternity.

Because I'm a busy pastor and have much to read, I typically skim books but I couldn't do so with this book. Randy Alcorn is a life-changing writer who pierces my heart with his every word. When Alcorn writes, there are no singles; every sentence is a Home Run! This forces me to be an expectant reader and to discard my highlighter because everything should be highlighted. If you care about your eternal home, spend your money wisely and buy this book!

Established Christians should already understand the truths brought forth in this small (92 page) book, but unfortunately, too many either do not or do not practice the truths they know. New Christians often have never heard the principles listed. Too many churches are too quiet on the subject of money. This book will make an excellent teaching tool for confirmation classes, discipleship groups, and home Bible studies.

This book does not cost much, will help Christians grow, and could help strengthen the church. The book is filled with pithy quotes like this one, "It's increasingly common for Christians to ask one another the tough questions: How is your marriage? Have you been spending time in the Word? How are you doing in terms of sexual purity? Have you been sharing your faith? but how often do we ask, 'How much are you giving to the Lord?' or 'have you been robbing God?' or 'Are you winning the battle against materialism?'" (p.81).

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because it didn't present any information that was new to me.

The Treasure Principle is concise and convicting. Alcorn shows that Jesus Christ, not money, is the greatest Treasure in the universe, and points the way toward a Biblical perspective on money and possessions. John Piper describes the book--and its benefits--better than I can:

"Books don't change people; sentences do. That's all we remember. And there are so many sentences in this book super-charged with stunning divine truth that readers who aren't changed would have to be sleep-reading. Mark Twain said the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug. Well, lightning was striking over and over as I read. Best of all Jesus gets his due. He is the greatest Treasure. Randy Alcorn (again!) gets the greatest things right. And lives that way too." -- John Piper, Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

Wow! Should be required reading in our churches! Mr. Alcorn does not mince words here. The book lays out the clear teachings of Christ that we should not accumulate treasures here and now, but should "send them ahead" for use in advancing the Kingdom of the Gospel. This is a radical principle that should revolutionize each Christian family's finances and view of money and time. The author also includes examples of "excellent givers" who not just give a lot of money away, but who prayerfully and thoughtfully target their gifts with diligence to match the diligence of those who watch the stock market. Also abounds with examples in history of those who used the treasures they were entrusted with wisely to advance the kingdom, not pad their nests. No manipulation or guilt trips here, just solid teaching that followers of Christ should consider!

Randy Alcorn does an amazing job in this book of pulling together many different verses in the Bible that talk about money and making the whole issue of money, giving, and tithing a whole lot clearer.

The foundation of the book is this little truth: "You can't take it with you--but you can send it on ahead." That's what Alcorn calls the Treasure Principle. He bases it on what Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-20: "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."

Alcorn gives six keys to the Treasure Principle. They're a good condensed summary of his book:

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 [life on earth] but for the line [eternity/life in heaven].
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.

I really appreciated his emphasis on eternity. He points out that we so often spend all of our energy gaining treasures for the here and now, forgetting that they're going to be lost in eternity: "[W]hen Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it's not just because wealth might be lost; it's because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions."

The book is very readable, and can easily be finished in an hour and a half. I'd very highly recommend it for anyone. I've already bought multiple copies to give away.

As a Christian leader, I can say that I wish every believer could read this book. It is an excellent work regarding how we are to view money in this day when the pull of the culture toward material things is so strong. Alcorn helps you see that our treasure is waiting for us when we leave this place and we really don't need to be so consumed with the temporary things of this world. Our mission is to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Gene Jennings, Author of Timely Words

I imagine that it must be difficult to pack a paradigm for living and condense it into a brief, 97-page book. However Randy Alcorn, parish pastor and founder of Eternal Perspectives Ministries, does an excellent job condensing his worldview to the degree that he "breaks it down" into six "keys" and provides many memorable statements that tend to churn continually in the readers' head.

The dominant view among Christians is one of "this is MY money/house/stuff and I'm going to give a little back to the Lord." Alcorn disagrees, instead arguing that "It's all God's stuff and He has asked you to manage it for him, so start using it to promote God's interest in the world." He makes the case for his worldview using Scripture, analogy, personal experience, and other well-written examples. Jargon, complex theological/philosophical words, and the like are not found in this book, but Alcorn does an excellent job talking with the reader on his level. Both Alcorn's faith in God and his love for his fellow man shine through in the narrative.

This book is highly recommended. I am confident that, no matter what amount of money you do or do not donate to you local church, this book will challenge you to change not just you giving habits, but the entire rationalle behind your giving--but not in a "guilt-trip" sort of way, but rather in a loving, pastoral way.

The Treasure Principle has been very helpful in personal study and application of giving principles. I have enjoyed paraphrasing and assimilating the principles and phrases into my personal vernacular to help others with stewardship issues. A crisp and clever ordering of biblical principles that speak to earnest hearts.

If you're looking for a feel-good, warm-fuzzy book, you may not want to purchase this one. It is a book that will challenge and change you. You may believe you are a generous and joyful giver, totally committed to God, but after reading this book, you may have to rethink that self-assessment. If you are sincerely looking for a deeper relationship with God and you aren't afraid of a deeper level of commitment, you WILL BE a changed person--for the better--after reading The Treasure Principle.

And, no, I'm NOT a pastor, and I've bought 20 copies to share with friends who are on the same path I am. (See the ONE really negative evaluation in the "other" section entitled, "Nothing but Money-Grubbing Propaganda," April 22, 2004.) And I didn't find it money-grubbing at all. I found it life-changing. I'm sorry the "be-rater" didn't. I'm so glad another non-pastor shared the book with me!