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Princples of Giving
Why did Jesus put such an emphasis on money and possessions? Because there’s a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.
“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).
When 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.
“Christ, the ultimate investment counselor, says, “Don’t ask how your investment will be paying off in just thirty years. Ask how it will be paying off in thirty million years.”
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).
God owns everything. We are just his money managers. Your heart always goes where you put God’s money.
“Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). We’re citizens of a better country a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). Heaven, not earth, is your home. Focus on storing your wealth in heavenly things. Giving doesn’t strip me of my vested interests; rather, it shifts my vested interests from earth to heaven from myself to God. Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.” God’s children give to Him first, not last.
It’s much easier to live on 90 percent or 50 percent or 10 percent of your income inside the will of God than it is to live on 100 percent outside it. God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving. “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little” (2 Corinthians 8:14-15). Why does God give some of His children more than they need and others less than they need? So that He may use His children to help one another. Ask yourself, five minutes after I die, what will I wish I would have given away while I still had the chance?
My Giving Covenant
I affirm God’s full ownership of me and everything entrusted to me.
I set aside the firstfruits at least 10 percent of every wage and gift I receive as holy and belonging exclusively to the Lord.
Out of the remaining treasures God entrusts to me, I seek to make generous freewill gifts.
I ask God to teach me to give sacrificially to His purposes, including helping the poor and reaching the lost.
Recognizing that I cannot take earthly treasures from this world, I determine to lay them up as heavenly treasures for Christ’s glory and the eternal good of others and myself.
I ask God to show me how to lead others to the present joy and future reward of the Treasure Principle. | 
