The Treasure Principle, by Randy Alcorn, is a small gift book with loads of wisdom for Christians in process. Its subtitle says it all: Discovering the secret of joyful giving.

The foundation of our hidden treasure, says Alcorn, is in Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus says that earthly treasures won’t last, in contrast to our treasures in heaven. “All else pales in comparison to Him and the joy of knowing Him (Philippians 3:7-11),” says Alcorn. “A person, Jesus, is our first treasure. A place, heaven, is our second treasure. Possessions, eternal rewards, are our third treasure.”

The book names six keys to understanding the Treasure Principle, including that God owns everything and I am God’s money manager. My heart always goes where I put God’s money. Giving is the only antidote to materialism, inviting readers not to raise our standard of living but to raise our standard of giving. Heaven, not earth, is our home.

“As thunder follows lightning, giving follows grace,” says Alcorn. “When God’s grace touches you, you can’t help but respond with generous giving. And as the Macedonians knew, giving is simply the overflow of joy.”

The Treasure Principle  is full of Scripture texts about money and faith. It serves as a clear reminder to share what we’ve been given as we live for Christ.

Your partner in ministry,
Betsy Schwarzentraub