The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books) [Hardcover]

Randy Alcorn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2005 | Series: LifeChange Books

Flip-Flop Your Concept of Giving!

Bestselling author Randy Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle in 2001. Now the revision to the compact, perennial bestseller includes a provocative new concluding chapter depicting God asking a believer questions about his stewardship over material resources. Readers are moved from the realms of thoughtful Bible exposition into the highly personal arena of everyday life. Because when Jesus told His followers to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” He intended that they discover an astounding secret: how joyful giving brings God maximum glory and His children maximum pleasure. Discover a joy more precious than gold!

Priceless treasure is within your reach. And with it, liberating joy.

In Randy Alcorn ’s The Treasure Principle, you’ll unearth a radical teaching of Jesus—a secret wrapped up in giving. Once you discover this secret, life will never look the same. And you won’t want it to!


“Supercharged with stunning, divine truth! Lightning struck over and over as I read it.”
John Piper , Senior Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church , Minneapolis

“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. Just what I needed!”
Hugh Maclellan , President, The Maclellan Foundation

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

Story Behind the Book
After years of writing and teaching on the theme “God owns everything,” in 1990 Randy Alcorn was sued by an abortion clinic (for peaceful, nonviolent intervention for the unborn). Suddenly he had to resign as a pastor and was restricted to making minimum wage. Legally unable to own anything, Randy gave all his book royalties to missions work and need-meeting ministries. He and his family have experienced the reality of The Treasure Principle—that God really does own everything, takes care of us, and graciously puts assets into our hands that we might have the joy and privilege of investing in what will last for eternity.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"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 fifteen percent 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.
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Review

"Supercharged with stunning, divine truth! Lightning struck over and over as I read it." -- John Piper, senior pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

"The Treasure Principle will change your life! This book is destined to become a classic." -- Howard Dayton, CEO Crown Financial Minstries --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books; Revised edition (September 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590525086
• ISBN-13: 978-1590525081
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.6 x 6.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Ethics
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Business
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Stewardship

More About the Author

Randy Alcorn is an author and the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching principles of God's Word and assisting the church in ministering to the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled, and unsupported people around the world. His ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity. He accomplishes this by analyzing, teaching, and applying the biblical truth.

Before starting EPM in 1990, Randy served as a pastor for fourteen years. He holds degrees in theology and biblical studies and has taught on the adjunct faculties of Multnomah University and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

Randy has written more than forty books, including the bestsellers Heaven, The Treasure Principle, and the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home. His books in print exceed five million and have been translated into over thirty languages. Randy has written for many magazines including EPM's quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives. He is active daily on Facebook and Twitter, has been a guest on more than 700 radio, television and online programs including Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, Revive Our Hearts, The Bible Answer Man, and The Resurgence.

Randy resides in Gresham, Oregon, with his wife, Nanci. They have two married daughters and are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research, and reading.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Packs a punch!, March 25, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books) (Hardcover)

-- Who wants to know why their giving doesn't work?
-- Why, when you give, is the joy not there?
-- Why, when the pastor does a series on giving at the beginning of the year is there a feeling that the church is trying to get into your wallet?
-- If we think about tithing, why is there endless debate on gross versus net?
-- Why, if we are trying to make prosperity giving work, do we feel fear that if we give, God won't give back in a large enough measure?

Dr. Alcorn deals with these questions and more in the delightful little book. This is a book for those who really want to understand God's perspective on giving. It is not "give and I'll bless you back," though He does say that He loves cheerful givers. It is not about the amount or percentage that we give. It is not about when or where we give. It is about our hearts and giving.

Are you willing to explore the thought, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt, nor thieves break through and steal"? The Treasure Principle drills down on this thought and other key verses that help the reader understand that God is concerned about what our focus and perspective are, not on how much money we give. He is concerned about where our hearts are--compared to where they should be--not where our pocketbook is. He is concerned about the treasures we are collecting--and where we are storing them.

Armchair Interviews says: This little book packs a punch, and it is backed by Dr. Alcorn's own experience of seeing The Treasure Principle at work in his life and the lives of those involved with his ministry.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Start for Giving, November 6, 2008

By 

Scandalous Sanity (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books) (Hardcover)

I got this book at a church. They were giving them away for free. I decided to read it, because I'm interested in giving and tithing. I have to be honest: I thought this was going to be another "Rich Christian" book, the kind that give you strategies for reducing debt, being a good steward, and investing responsibly in the stock market, giving a good portion of your profits to the local church.

I was wrong.

While there are some things about this book I don't agree with--at one point Alcorn says that financial stewardship is central to our spiritual lives(I'm paraphrasing)--the overall theme is actually pretty good. Almost two-thirds of the book is devoted to giving. But not just the usual give to your local church because you should type of giving. Alcorn calls Christians to give generously, until it hurts. He even gives an example from his own life which was quite impressive.

If you're looking for a book on giving, The Treasure Principle is a good place to start. It isn't a very deep work, but it is surprisingly refreshing in a world of "gimme, gimme" Christians.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true Life changing study, August 20, 2006

By 

Robert W. Fry (Pastor, Henderson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books) (Hardcover)

Hands down, this is one of the best studies ever done on the gift of giving. Randy Alcorn has done a surper job of taking a tough life issue and wraping it into a wonderful package. The treasure principle is simple: "You can't take it with you, but you can send it on ahead." This truth affects every aspect of our life as Christians.