The Treasure Principle
March 2019
You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead. "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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
— Matthew 6:19-21
by Brian Smith & Randy Alcorn
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Treasure Principle Keys:
- God owns everything. I’m His money manager. We are the managers of the assets God has entrusted—not given—to us. Pages 21-25 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1) “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,” declares the Lord Almighty. (Haggai 2:8) Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. (Deut. 8:18) You are not your own; you were bought at a price. (I Cor. 6:19-20)
- My heart always goes where I put God’s money. Watch what happens when you reallocate your money from temporal things to eternal things. Pages 42-45 "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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Mt. 6:19-21
- Heaven, not earth, is my home. We are citizens of “a better country—a heavenly one” Pages 46-48 (Hebrews 11:16) The Bible says we’re pilgrims, strangers, aliens on earth (Heb.11:13). We’re ambassadors representing our true country (2 Cor. 5:20). “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20). We’re citizens of “a better country—a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:16)
- I should live not for the dot but for the line. From the dot—our present life on earth—extends a line that goes on forever, which is eternity in heaven. Pages 49-55 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (I Tim. 6:17-19)
- Giving is the only antidote to materialism. Giving is a joyful surrender to a greater person and a greater agenda. It dethrones me and exalts Him. Pages 55-60 “As long as I still have something, I believe I own it. But when I give it away, I relinquish control, power, and prestige. At the moment of release the light turns on. The magic spell is broken. My mind clears. I recognize God as owner, myself as servant, and others as intended beneficiaries of what God has entrusted to me.”
- God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving. God gives us more money than we need so we can give—generously. Pages 73-78 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Cor. 9:10-11)
