Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Randy Alcorn: The Treasure Principle, Pt. 1
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I'm going to be off the rest of the week, so today and tomorrow we'll hear parts 1 and 2 of a message from Randy Alcorn, the well-known Christian author. This message is based on Randy’s book, The Treasure Principle that he shared at a Crown pastors conference a few years ago. Randy says we’re living in the most affluent society the world has ever known. American Christians control 70% of the world’s Christian wealth. Th average American Christian gives 2.6% of hisr income. The average amount of giving by an adult in a Protestant church is $17 a week, which is $70 a month, or $840 a year. A full 96% of American Christians don’t tithe or give 10% of their income. God required three tithes of people in Israel. One was to be given every third year. The average person gave 23% of their income annually. Israel had a poor culture compared to America today. American Christians talk about being under grace instead of the law. But our grace giving is less than a fourth of what the average person in Israel gave under the law. Being under grace means we’ve experienced the redemptive work of Christ. Giving under grace should be higher than giving under the law. In 50 years, $100 trillion will pass from the older to the younger generation. If the current trend doesn’t change, means less of that money will go into God’s kingdom. Average Christian gives 30% less than the average churchgoer in 1933 during the Great Depression. That’s discouraging, but what’s encouraging is all the potential for growth in giving. Pastors can be part of changing the current trend by mentoring their church members and helping them understand the importance of this part of the Christian life. The lack of giving means people are experiencing a lack of joy, blessing, and grace. The biggest problem with the lack of giving isn’t the lack of funds available for God’s kingdom. My concern is that the lack of giving reflects a lack of experiencing God’s grace. When you experience God’s supernatural grace, you become a giver; it’s a natural response. When you realize what God has done for you in saving you from hell, you see it’s a privilege to give and participate in what God is doing. The purpose of advertising is to create perceived needs, to convince us that something being offered will satisfy. Studies show lottery winners aren’t that happy but people believe the world’s lie that money will make them happy. The more money you have, the more you want if you love money, you are never satisfied. Money will never satisfy. Th more you have, the more you have to worry about. You can’t take money with you when you die. The more money you have, the more you will leave behind. Jesus said not to store up treasures on Earth, because that treasure will be destroyed. It’s not the smart thing to do. Those treasures will never satisfy you and you’ll leave them behind when you die. The right thing and the smart thing is to store up treasure in heaven, treasure that can’t be destroyed in heaven. Treasure in heaven will give you joy now and will last forever. Jesus was making a common sense argument. You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead. You can’t earn your way to heaven, Jesus pays your way. But you can make choices in this life that have eternal benefits. Pastors do their church members a favor when they teach the whole counsel of God about giving. Paul talked about giving that could be credited to your account in heaven. Many people don’t understand the Biblical doctrine of eternal rewards. Here are the Six Keys to The Treasure Principle:
(Randy continues with the Six Keys to the Treasure Principle in tomorrow's message) *** Don't forget about the God Provides™ film tour coming to Atlanta Thursday, February 11 and Chattanooga, Thursday, February 18. I'll be teaching, too. These events are family friendly and free, so bring your children. We'll be showing Abraham and Isaac and the Widow and Oil films. You can register here. This is not a fundraising event and there's no charge to attend. I encourage you to see God as your provider during these difficult economic times. I hope you’ll make plans to be there if you live in those areas. If you do, please say hello and let me know you're a MoneyLife listener. |
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The Plans of TomorrowLife is fragile. Consider where you are investing your time and energies. |
Teaching God's People God's PrinciplesGod calls each of us to fill the gap in order to spread His Gospel to all parts of the world. |
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Finances and Your Relationship with GodThis generation’s greatest need is for God’s Word to be taught clearly and undiluted. The next greatest is for Christians to demonstrate that it works. |
God and MoneyOnce we understand how God uses money and why He chooses to use it in a particular way, we can better understand His directives regarding finances. |
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Other Resources: |
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Randy says that statistics show the younger the churchgoer, the less they give.
Most giving is done by those 55 and older.