Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 16

God with Us Is Exquisite Delight

Note from Randy: No preacher of God‘s Word speaks to me more powerfully than Charles Spurgeon. His are the words of an old friend, though sadly many of my other friends don’t yet know him. Many thanks to Geoffrey Chang for giving us Spurgeon's rich insights into Christ’s incarnation. May this excerpt from A Wondrous Mystery help you contemplate Immanuel, God with us!

…“God with us” is exquisite delight. “GOD with us”: all that “God” means, the Deity, the infinite Jehovah with us; this, this is worthy of the burst of mid-night song, when angels startled the shepherds with their carols, singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14). This was worthy of the foresight of seers and prophets, worthy of a new star in the heavens, worthy of the care which inspiration has manifested to pre-serve the record. This, too, was worthy of the martyr deaths of apostles and confessors who counted not their lives dear unto them for the sake of the incarnate God; and this, my brothers and sisters, is worthy at this day of your most earnest endeavors to spread the glad tidings, worthy of a holy life to illustrate its blessed influences, and worthy of a joyful death to prove its consoling power. Here is the first truth of our holy faith—“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).

He who was born at Bethlehem is God, and “God with us.” God—there lies the majesty; “God with us,” there lies the mercy. God—therein is glory; “God with us,” therein is grace. God alone might well strike us with terror; but “God with us” inspires us with hope and confidence.

Let us admire this truth: “God with us.” Let us stand at a reverent distance from it as Moses when he saw God in the bush stood a little back, and put his shoes from off his feet, feeling that the place on which he stood was holy ground. This is a wonderful fact, God the Infinite once dwelt in the frail body of a child, and tabernacled in the suffering form of a lowly man. “God was in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV). “He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7 KJV).

Observe the wonder of condescension contained in this fact, that God who made all things should assume the nature of one of his own creatures, that the self-existent should be united with the dependent and derived, and the Almighty linked with the feeble and mortal. In the case before us, the Lord descended to the very depth of humiliation, and entered into alliance with a nature which did not occupy the chief place in the scale of existence. It would have been great condescension for the infinite and incomprehensible Jehovah to have taken upon himself the nature of some noble spiritual being, such as a seraph or a cherub. The union of the divine with a created spirit would have been an unmeasurable stoop, but for God to be one with man is far more.

Excerpted from A Wondrous Mystery: Daily Advent Devotions by Charles H. Spurgeon © 2024 by editor Geoffrey Chang. Used with permission of New Growth Press. May not be reproduced without prior written permission. Available for purchase at newgrowthpress.com.

A Sober Reminder: the Same Sins Can Disqualify Believers at the Beginning of Life and Near the End

Note from Randy: Immediately after speaking at a pastors’ luncheon in Portland a few months ago, on the subject of sexual purity, I went to my car and turned on my phone, and the first thing I saw was an email about speaker and pastor Steve Lawson—yet another prominent Christian leader going down in flames and taking down his family with him. It’s so heartbreaking at every level to think that this relationship started when the woman was 25 and he was 68. Whatever it was, that relationship was going on when he spoke and taught at conferences, churches, and seminaries for the last five years.

There is a message here for all of us, whether we’re in ministry or not, about self-deception: imagining that we are smart enough to get away with things when we ultimately cannot get away with them EVER, because of our all-knowing God. (But also even on the human plane, anyone is a fool to think he can get away with something like this!)

It should make all of us examine our lives and say, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” What has happened to Steve is a severe warning to us all, and has made me more alert than ever.  May we truly take heed.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). God help us to examine carefully our thoughts and lives, the daily choices we make, and the little compromises that cumulatively become moral disasters. My thanks to Tim Challies for this article, which encourages us all to finish our race well, to God’s glory.

The Sins of the Elderly and the Sins of Youth

By Tim Challies

The news about Steve Lawson hit hard. It’s not that Steve and I have ever been particularly close. In fact, I can’t think of a time he and I interacted outside the context of a conference. But he has been a steady presence at events for as long as I have been attending them. I don’t know how many times he and I were on the same list of speakers, but I would guess at least a dozen. Many times I benefited from his teaching, preaching, and writing. Always I was glad to learn that he and I would be in the same place at the same time.

For those reasons, it was shocking to learn that his elders had determined he is no longer qualified to be a pastor and his ministry board that he is no longer qualified to be a teacher and preacher. When I heard the news I couldn’t quite believe it and hoped for a time that it would be shown to be false or proven to be an overreaction. Alas, it was not to be. I was grieved to learn he had committed the kind of actions that harm relationships, shame family, and bring reproach on the church. On a more personal level, I was alarmed to see that a man can proceed so far in life and ministry and still grow careless, or entitled, or whatever combination of factors led first to desires, then to actions, and then to consequences.

I think I sometimes believe that it is the purview of young men to fight the hardest fights and battle the deadliest enemies, the task of middle-aged men to mop up the last pockets of resistance, and the privilege of older men to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of obedience. That seems fair to me, that God would reward diligence in the early and middle years with ease in the later years.

I know better, of course, because I have read enough books by elderly saints to know that even the godliest among them must not yet coast and cannot yet rest from his labors. But perhaps I thought the sins of the later years would be more like foibles, that they would be the kind of embarrassing but understandable stumbles of the elderly. Maybe I thought the sins of old men were jokes that may no longer be deemed appropriate or the refusal to let go of leadership roles they have held for too long. Maybe I thought their temptations were a bit of obstinacy or a stubborn fixation on the old ways of doing things.

But now I know that the sins of the elderly can be the sins of youth, that the factors that commonly disqualify men at the beginning of a life can disqualify them near the end. It startles me. It scares me. It discourages me. Maybe it even makes me waver in my confidence that any of us can make it safely over the finish line—safely and without disgracing ourselves and, even worse, bringing reproach on our families, our churches, and our God.

I was in a small town in Romania last week to speak at a youth event. I was blessed to see hundreds of teens and young adults singing God’s praises, praying together, and eagerly listening to the Word. It seemed to be as far removed from North America as it could be. Yet even there young men came up to me to express their sorrow at the situation, to tell about their confusion at the downfall of a man they had so much admired, and to ask what could possibly have led him to do something so wrong. I had no answers for them but understood it as evidence of how wide the ripples extend when a man builds a ministry and then destroys it, when he gains a reputation and then shatters it. It was after speaking to these young men that I began to write down some thoughts about it all.

Yet despite all the sadness, I do see a few reasons to be hopeful.

First, I know it can seem at times like there is an epidemic of Christian leaders committing acts of immorality and destroying their ministries, but it is important to remember that there are far more who remain faithful to the end. In fact, part of what makes a situation like this so shocking is its rarity. I could name 100 pastors who ended their ministry well for every one I could name who did not.

Second, I was heartened to see the local church seemingly respond decisively and appropriately with conferences and para-church ministries alike following its lead. This is the way it should be, but rarely the way it actually is. I also appreciate that the local church was measured and discrete in the information it shared. I have a lot of sympathy and respect for the elders who had to attempt to say enough but not too much, to express the guilt of the one who committed the sin but perhaps also to protect those who were innocent or otherwise deserving of privacy.

Third, I was encouraged to hear other Christians expressing their determination to avoid such scandals in their own lives. This determination is not mere grit or legalistic tenacity, but a deeper dependence upon God and a deeper commitment to his means of grace. Many men and women alike have been reminded that sin and temptation will remain deadly foes until we are with Christ in glory. Over the past few days the words of “For All the Saints” have been often in my mind, including the ones that open it: “For all the saints who from their labors rest.” There will come a day when we rest from all of our labors and are declared saints triumphant. But until then, we are saints militant, battling deadly foes moment by moment and day by day all the way to heaven.

I hope and pray there are encouraging updates still to come—a local church that has been faithful in difficulty, a man who has received the Lord’s loving chastisement, a wider church that has faithfully interceded and pleaded for God’s mercy and, of course, forgiveness and healing for all harmed. Added to my prayers for all involved is that God will use this sad situation in the lives of many people to motivate them to pursue God more earnestly, to lay their sins and temptations before him more humbly, and to apply his promises more completely. May God grant this grace.

This article originally appeared on Challies.com , and is used with permission of the author.

What Are Treasures in Heaven?

A reader on my Facebook page asked this question about the nature of treasures in Heaven: “What does that even mean to ‘store your treasures in heaven’? What treasures are we storing up?!”

The Greek word translated “treasures” or “riches” in Matthew 6 normally means “accumulated wealth in the form of money, jewels, or other valuables.” That’s exactly what Christ’s disciples would have immediately thought of: tangible wealth, valuable assets, precious possessions.

It’s true that when Jesus speaks about “treasures in heaven,” we don’t know the exact form those treasures will take. Treasures in Heaven could be of material or spiritual nature, but either way they are real, meaningful rewards for God’s people who give generously.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us to transfer our wealth from one place to another. When we die, earthly treasure will no longer be ours, but wealth we’ve transferred to Heaven will remain ours forever.

God will also give us eternal rewards for doing good works (Ephesians 6:8; Romans 2:6, 10), persevering under persecution (Luke 6:22–23), showing compassion to the needy (Luke 14:13–14), and treating our enemies kindly (Luke 6:35).

We’re told that “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever” (Daniel 7:18, ESV). What is “the kingdom”? Earth. On the New Earth, God’s children will reign with Christ (Revelation 20:6). Faithful servants will be put “in charge of many things” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Scripture refers to five different crowns, which may or may not be literal but clearly represent ruling positions in God’s kingdom. Treasures in Heaven, then, will surely include the rewards of God entrusting His faithful children with positions of leadership in proportion to their service on Earth (Luke 19:12–19).

Once we grasp what Heaven really is and will be, we can begin to understand what Christ meant when He talked about storing up treasures there.

Years ago, I did a Q&A with Wayne Grudem at a theology conference. One of the questions we discussed was “What Is the Nature of Heavenly Treasures and Rewards?” (Wayne and his wife Margaret and I, as well as my friend Steve Keels, developed a wonderful friendship together at this conference. You will see the degree of my respect for Wayne Grudem when he compliments something I say, and I didn’t quite know what to do with it!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e31fHGD4IqU?si=XF-vDqZ4MWKPUTua

See also Will Our Relationships with Others in Heaven Be Part of Our Eternal Rewards? and The Treasure Principle. 

Does Scripture Show God Has Emotions?

I wrote about God’s emotions in my Happiness book, but recently ran across this past video, answering a question about whether God has emotions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLMs33O9hbA?si=fH02hMuAkXRob4kE

Some people suppose happiness is uniquely human, unrelated to God’s nature: as He gave us a body and hunger, which He doesn’t have, He gave us a capacity for happiness, which He also doesn’t have. I believe something radically different—that God wants us happy because He’s happy! He treasures His happiness and treasures us, and therefore He treasures our happiness! Old Testament professor Brent Strawn writes, “In the Bible, God is happy, and God’s happiness affects and infects the rest of the non-God world, humans included.” The last part of the sentence hinges on the first: if God isn’t happy, he has no happiness with which to “infect” us.

Scripture sometimes speaks of God in anthropomorphisms, meaning He’s described as if He has a human form. For example, the Bible talks about Him having a hand, a face, and eyes (see Exodus 7:5; Numbers 6:25; Psalm 34:15), even though He has no body (see John 4:24). Similarly, some speak of anthropopathisms, indicating that Scripture ascribes emotions to God to show He relates to humans, though He doesn’t really have emotions himself.

But we know that when Scripture speaks of God having eyes, it means that He sees, and the mention of His ears means that He hears our prayers. While God is not a physical being, He is a spiritual being, and He does have attributes of personhood. Passages that ascribe to Him emotional qualities He doesn’t have would mislead us.

God commands us not to “grieve” the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). God is said to be “angry” (Deuteronomy 1:37), “moved to pity” (Judges 2:18), and “pleased” (1 Kings 3:10).

This passage about God’s compassion contains a remarkable statement: “In all their distress he too was distressed” (Isaiah 63:9, NIV). A form of the same word is used to describe both Israel’s distress and His own. Yes, our distress can involve feelings God doesn’t have, such as helplessness or uncertainty. But clearly God intends us to see a similarity between our emotional distress and His. If God experiences the full range of non-sinful human emotion, as indicated by Scripture, it stands to reason that He would feel happiness, too.

Spurgeon explained:

We have been educated to the idea that the Lord is above emotions, either of sorrow or pleasure. That He cannot suffer, for instance, is always laid down as a self-evident postulate. . . . For my part, I rejoice to worship the living God, who, because He is living, does grieve and rejoice! . . . To look upon Him as utterly impassive and incapable of anything like emotion does not, to my mind, exalt the Lord, but rather brings Him down to be comparable to the gods of stone or wood which cannot sympathize with their worshippers.

Ellen Charry writes, “If the doctrine of God cannot countenance God’s emotional life, there is something wrong with the doctrine—it is not fully responsive to the fullness of the biblical witness.”

God feels love, compassion, anger, and happiness. He’s never overwhelmed by unsettling emotions, nor is He subject to distresses imposed by others. But He does feel His children’s suffering deeply.

If your human father said he loved you but never showed it through his emotions, would you believe him? If we think God has no emotions, it’s impossible to believe He delights in us or to feel His love. That’s one reason believing in God’s happiness can be a breakthrough for people in their love for Him.

How Embracing Gratitude Leads to Generosity

Note from Randy: This article is a great reminder that gratitude is key to living a generous life. (I know and appreciate the writer, Sharon Epps, who is president of Kingdom Advisors. I’ll be speaking at their annual event in February.)

If we understand what Scripture says about how giving touches lives for eternity, stores treasures for us in Heaven, and brings us great happiness here and now, we’ll realize there’s no greater privilege than to live lives of overflowing gratitude and joyful generosity. It’s a no-brainer.

May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, celebrating all Jesus has done for us!

Embracing Gratitude: The Key to Generosity

By Sharon Epps

“And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house...” - Deuteronomy 26:11

For years, I’ve worked with individuals, churches, and advisors with one key purpose in mind: to help people use their resources to further God’s Kingdom through generosity. One of the greatest joys I’ve experienced is witnessing those “Aha!” moments when others realize that generosity is born from gratitude—gratitude for the time, talents, and treasures God has given us.

Gratitude begins with recognizing that we are made in God's image. As His image bearers, we are hardwired with certain traits, and generosity is one of them. However, generosity becomes challenging when we aren’t grateful. First, we must be thankful for life itself, for our families and friends, and for the resources God has entrusted to us. Most importantly, we must be deeply grateful for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life so we could live with Him for eternity.

Practical Ways to Grow in Gratitude

There are many practical ways to nurture gratitude. Start by expressing it to God in prayer. A personal practice that helped me during tough times was keeping a gratitude journal. Every night, I wrote down three things I was thankful for. It wasn’t always easy, but it was a healing process that allowed me to see God’s blessings more clearly.

I found encouragement in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

This verse helped me see that even in difficult times, gratitude can shift my perspective. When I recognize that everything I have comes from God, I can live open-handedly, trusting that He will provide.

Gratitude Fuels Generosity

Gratitude not only changes our perspective but also opens the door to generosity in ways beyond financial giving. For instance, when we’re thankful for our homes, we may feel more inclined to practice hospitality. When we appreciate the skills God has given us, we become more willing to use them to serve others. Gratitude helps us see that generosity encompasses much more than money.

As gratitude grows, so does humility. When we live with a grateful heart, we become more aware of the needs around us and are moved to help. Humility and gratitude go hand in hand, allowing us to put others’ needs before our own and live more generously.

Thanksgiving: An Opportunity for Gratitude and Generosity

With Thanksgiving around the corner, we have a perfect opportunity to focus on gratitude and express it through generosity. Here are some practical ways to make this Thanksgiving genuinely thankful:

Family Gratitude Discussions: Make a habit of having family discussions where everyone shares what they are thankful for—not just on Thanksgiving but throughout the year.
Thanksgiving Placemat Activity: Create construction paper placemats for each family member with their name at the top. During the meal, have everyone write why they are grateful for each person on their placemat.
Extend Generosity: Consider inviting a single parent and their children to your Thanksgiving meal or bring a turkey dinner to a neighbor in need. These small acts of kindness turn gratitude into action.

A Heart of Thankfulness

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, let’s remember that true gratitude leads to generosity.

Whether through family traditions or acts of kindness, we can show our thankfulness by blessing others. Let Ephesians 5:20 guide your heart this season:

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Let’s make this Thanksgiving a time of genuine thankfulness and generous giving.

This article originally appeared on Faith Fi , and is used with permission.

Expressing Gratitude Is a Holy Habit

Do we consistently acknowledge God to be the greatest source of our joy? Are we filled with discontentment over what we don’t have, rather than gratitude over what we do have? Do we thank God for problems we could have but don’t? (I have several medical problems, but I thank God every time I fill out a physician’s form and realize how few boxes I have to check on those pages of diseases and disorders!)

Luke tells of ten men whom Jesus healed of leprosy. Only one of them returned to say “Thank you.” Jesus asked the man a question that reflects the sadness God feels at our thanklessness: “What happened to the other nine that were also healed?” (see Luke 17:11-19).

Jesus then commended the only one who returned, saying, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19). This is an example of healing—far greater than physical healing—that only comes through gratitude for God’s countless kindnesses to us. (We’ll never exhaust them, but the more we count them, the more grateful we’ll be.)

G. K. Chesterton, one of the happiest and cleverest minds of the twentieth century, noted that children are grateful when their Christmas stockings are filled with candy or toys. But what about “the gift of two miraculous legs” inside our stockings? “We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?”

The custom of praying to thank God for each meal is a wonderful one. But why should we restrict this custom to meals? Why not thank God throughout the day for a hundred other things?

Chesterton wrote,

You say grace before meals. All right.

But I say grace before the play and the opera, And grace before the concert and the pantomime, And grace before I open a book,

And grace before sketching, . . . boxing, walking, playing, dancing; And grace before I dip the pen in the ink.

Encouragement for Those Entering the Holiday Gauntlet of Grief

Note from Randy: I remember when I took my first vacation without Nanci, just one of many moments and days of the firsts… eating a certain food she used to make, going to a restaurant she loved.  I’ve done vacations without her twice now. Once one of my daughters joined me for a week, and that was good. The holiday season is challenging: Christmas is the toughest, then Thanksgiving. Nanci’s birthday is four weeks before Christmas and that’s hard, too. And then there’s December 7, the anniversary of the day we met in 1968 as freshmen in high school, and it keeps going until Valentine’s Day and then March 28, the day of Nanci’s homegoing.

In this article, Clarrisa Moll, author of Beyond the Darkness, shares five tips for the holiday season for those who are grieving. (I quote Clarissa in my booklet Grieving with Hope, and appreciate her insights into grief. She has a new book out with her teen daughter, Hurt Help Hope: A Real Conversation about Teen Grief and Life after Loss.) She writes, “There is a joy to this season that death, trial, and suffering can never take away.” So true. Because of Jesus, we have a rock-solid hope. I believe that more than ever since Nanci entered His presence!

Entering the Gauntlet

5 Tips for preparing for a holiday season without your person

Before Rob died, I used to love November. I’d turn on the radio station as soon as they switched over to “All Christmas All The Time.” I made cutout cookies with my kids, letting them decorate in garish colors and designs to their hearts’ delight. I loved Advent, the season of waiting and anticipation and beginning the church’s greatest story.

And then death arrived, and every November announced my least favorite season of all. Suddenly, in ways I’d never realized, the holidays meant a kind of togetherness I could no longer access, a kind of joy now snuffed out by sorrow. Rob and I had never been big on holiday traditions, but now I couldn’t even walk into Target without feeling the ache of sadness rise up inside my chest. Just keep your eye on March, I told myself. When Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, my birthday, and Valentine’s Day would be over. When the gauntlet of holidays would open up into the spacious nothingness of an ordinary month. I suspect as the calendar has turned to November, you’ve begun to feel similarly.

Over the last five years, I’ve slowly rebuilt a love for November. It’s been hard-won, a love that acknowledges the complexity of deep grief alongside the very real joy of a Christchild in a manger. I’ve come to see that acknowledging Rob at the holidays allows me an intimacy of remembrance that, while bittersweet, keeps me close to him in a season where he feels so far away. As I reflect on what I’ve learned, here are five things I’d encourage you to consider as you look ahead to your own gauntlet of holidays. There is no fool-proof or perfect way to face the days that lie ahead, but you too can build rhythms that support and comfort you as you face the holidays without your person.

1. Plan ahead. As an exercise of the mind and heart, take a few minutes and write down a plan for the holiday that approaches. Who do you want to be with you? Where do you want to be? What would you like to do and how? We often feel powerless before the rush of holiday scheduling, but even jotting down a few notes can give you a sense of agency. You don’t need to approach the holidays blind.

2. Hold your plans loosely. If your plan is a blank slate, be aware that you might change your mind and want to be around people when the day arrives. If your plan is to visit with family or friends, only make commitments that you know would understand if you need to bow out. As you mentally and socially “enforce” flexibility, you offer yourself the space to adjust your pace according to the needs of your body, mind or heart.

3. Focus on your body first. When our feelings start to get big, the first things that usually disappear are our self-care routines. We eat poorly, sleep poorly, and move about frantically (or find that a physical heaviness keeps us from any action at all). In preparation for the holidays, be intentional now about caring for your body first. Avoid alcohol, too much caffeine or sugar — we know the emotional swings all three can bring even on our best days! Block out space in your calendar for rest and/or exercise.

4. Phone a friend. Friends and family are understandably busy during the holidays. (You once were too, and you loved it — even if it was crazy.) Grieving folks can feel left behind in the hubbub of everybody else’s busyness and excitement, so make a proactive effort now to connect with a friend who can offer a lifeline text or call when you need it. Not sure who to ask? Be honest, straightforward and simple. I anticipate the holidays being hard this year. Would you be willing and available to be my phone-a-friend if I start to struggle or need a word of encouragement? All it takes is one friend to send you a funny meme on Thanksgiving or an encouraging email to wake up to on Christmas morning. One relationship in a time of stress can make all the difference.

5. Forecast joy. I’ve heard from so many grieving folks that the trappings of Christmas mean little to them now, but the story of Jesus’ birth has grown exponentially in meaning since their person died.

The truth is … Thanksgiving is about acknowledging God as the Great Provider. Christmas is about acknowledging Jesus as the Prince of Peace and Conqueror of sin and death. New Year’s Day reminds us that the Spirit goes before us to order all our days in wisdom and loving kindness. Valentine’s Day reminds us that we are the Beloved — now and forever. There is a joy to this season that death, trial, and suffering can never take away. And if you can forecast disaster (and heaven knows we do that enough!), you have the same power to forecast that deep abiding, soul-feeding joy as well.

Forecasting joy is a discipline of the heart. It requires that we acknowledge all of the world’s deep darkness and hold it honestly. And, in that trembling hand, joy sits with its little light, reminding us that we still see through a glass darkly, this world is not our home, salvation is now nearer than when we first believed.

This article originally appeared on Clarissa’s Substack, and is used with permission.

For Richer, for Poorer: How to Steward Money in Marriage

Were you to survey married couples about their money-management goals, most answers would focus on some form of financial success. Most people strive to accumulate better houses, nicer cars, more toys, and bigger retirement accounts. But when it comes to the dream of financial prosperity and security, we should ask, “Whose dream is it?” It may be the American dream—but is it the dream of the risen Jesus? And since what glorifies him is also for our good, is it a dream that’s ultimately in the best interests of our family?

The process of discovering God’s countercultural will about money and possessions can both excite and liberate. For my late wife, Nanci, and me, our growth in financial stewardship paralleled our spiritual growth. In fact, it propelled it. We learned about faith, grace, commitment, generosity, and God’s provision. We had challenging giving discussions that ultimately strengthened our marriage and bonded us around the common goal of investing in eternity.

Using the word makarios, which means “happy-making,” Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35 GNT). Nanci and I found that happiness, not duty, permeates a God-honoring theology of money. When grace-saturated, kingdom-minded disciples use God’s money and possessions, we fulfill the first and second greatest commandments. We store up treasures in heaven and “take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19).

The following principles can help you and your spouse develop a lifestyle of good stewardship that will yield dividends, now and forever.

1. Recognize the dangers of a possessions-centered life.

Although there is nothing inherently wrong with money, something is desperately wrong with devotion to money. “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare. . . . For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:9–10).

Understanding the dangers of materialism can liberate us to experience the joys of Christ-centered stewardship. Jesus speaks of the “deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19). The psalmist warns, “Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them” (Psalm 62:10 NIV). None of us is immune to the value-changing nature of wealth.

Things have mass, mass exerts gravity, and gravity holds us in orbit around the things we accumulate. A friend told me that when he and his wife were first married, they spent their time taking walks, playing games, and reading together. They were content. Later, as their income rose, they found themselves trapped by shifting priorities. Little by little, money and possessions took precedence over God, church, and meaningful time together.

Studies and anecdotal evidence have shown a connection between an increase in income and marital infidelity, since having access to more money can provide greater temptation and opportunity to sin. Of course, the point is not the income itself, but the lifestyle it underwrites. A Christian can make a million dollars a year, give generously, live modestly, and avoid much of that added temptation to immorality. It is not how much we make that matters. It is how much we keep.

How can we recognize if we are falling into materialism’s trap? “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Jesus is saying, “Show me your bank statement, your credit card statement, and your receipts, and I’ll show you where your heart is.” What we do with our money is an inarguable statement of our values.

God declares, “Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine” (Job 41:11). God’s ownership of everything provides the foundation of a biblical theology of money and the antidote to materialism. Acutely aware of the fact that what we have is God’s and not ours, faithful money-managing stewards regularly consult him to implement his biblical investment priorities.

2. Make generous giving a priority.

I encourage you to commit to giving regularly to your local church and, above and beyond that, to missions and other ministries. Begin by setting an amount to give — I recommend not less than 10 percent — and stick with it so you honor God with your firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9). If you want him to bless your family’s finances, don’t place yourself under the curse of disobedience.

As thunder follows lightning, giving follows grace (2 Corinthians 8:1–2). If God’s grace touches you, you can’t help but give generously! Then, when God entrusts you with more, remind yourselves why: “So that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV). (Contrary to the health-and-wealth gospel, God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving.)

If you have not been in the habit of giving, it can be challenging to begin. However, I ask people, “If you got a 10 percent pay cut, would you die?” Of course not! God is big enough to take care of you if you step out in faith and return to him what is his in the first place. (Even though I think in most cases people really can afford to give away ten percent, obviously if you believe it is impossible for you to do so or your children would go hungry if you did, then by all means feed your family and God will be pleased if you do. I am just encouraging you to take an honest look at whether you are spending money on non-necessities that you could have given away without inflicting suffering on your family.)

What if you and your spouse are not on the same page about giving? I learned over the years that my desire to give sacrificially could sometimes feel insensitive to Nanci. When I learned to be more generous with her (and our daughters), Nanci no longer felt that giving to kingdom causes competed with our family’s needs. Through many conversations, she learned to find increasing joy in giving, and I learned to find increasing joy in growing together and leading—but not pushing or pulling. We were holding hands, even if sometimes one of us was a step ahead. (As the years went by, the one ahead was increasingly her.)

Of course, God wants us to do many good things with money that do not involve giving. We must provide for our family’s basic material needs, for example (1 Timothy 5:8). But these good things are only a beginning. The money God entrusts to us is eternal investment capital. Every day is an opportunity to buy up more shares in his kingdom!

3. Set a budget so you can spend and save wisely.

Since the long-term consequences are severe when a couple disagrees about money, I can’t stress enough the importance of discussing financial matters. Start by making a careful record of spending so you can find out where your money is currently going. Then determine where it should be going. This will become the basis for your budget. (When I was a pastor, I met with families who followed a budget and did fine on a meager income. I met with others who made much more and were regularly in financial crisis.)

For some, the most practical way to budget is the envelope system. When paychecks are cashed, the cash goes into envelopes designated for giving, housing, food, gas, utilities, entertainment, clothing, saving, and so on. If nothing is left in the entertainment envelope halfway through the month, no more movies or eating out. If we overspend in one area, we must underspend elsewhere to compensate. The envelope system may seem antiquated, but it teaches us that resources are limited, which is an invaluable lesson.

What is the right balance between how much we give, use for needs and wants, and save? I believe the tension reflected in that question is healthy. We can prayerfully seek God’s guidance, determined to follow his lead as best as we can discern it.

Jesus tells us, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [what you eat, drink, and wear] will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33 NIV). Unlike the pagans who “run after all these things” and “worry about tomorrow,” believers can trust God (Matthew 6:25–34). If we believe that God can create us, redeem us, and bring us through death to spend eternity with him, we can take him at his word when he says he will provide for our material needs.

4. Avoid debt, except in rare instances.

The choice to live under debt (except in manageable amounts, such as with a mortgage payment well within your means) is ultimately deadening to the soul and to a marriage. It is always unwise to live above your income. It will invariably produce conflict in your marriage.

Trust means believing God will take care of our needs. When we go into debt, however, we usually do so to obtain wants, not needs. So the Bible cautions us against debt. The ESV translates the beginning of Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything.” This would appear to prohibit debt. The NIV reads, “Let no debt remain outstanding.” This would allow debt, if paid off as soon as possible.

Not all debt is the same, however. I’m sympathetic to those in situations where, after prayer and evaluation, debt seems the only alternative. In such cases, nothing is wiser than giving first to God, cutting back expenditures, and systematically paying off debt as aggressively as possible.

Some consider mortgages an exception to avoiding debt, and a case can be made for borrowing to buy a reasonably priced house instead of renting. Unfortunately, many aspiring homeowners buy a house outside their budget. A couple I know assumed a large mortgage that depended on both of their incomes. When the wife became pregnant, they realized that to keep the house, they would have to violate their convictions against leaving their child in a day-care center while the mother worked.

What about credit cards? Some use them for convenience, paying off the amount owed on every statement to avoid interest. Nanci and I did this. This approach has advantages, but it also has drawbacks. The very convenience of having a credit card is often a liability—and constitutes temptation. Here are some prudent guidelines:

Never use credit cards for anything except budgeted purchases.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
The first month you have a credit card bill you cannot pay in full, destroy the card, pay it off, and don’t get another one.

5. Enjoy life to God’s glory.

As believers in a materialistic culture, we should embrace lifestyles that free up money to further the progress of the gospel. And yet, the answer is not asceticism, believing that money and possessions are inherently evil. Our God is a lavish giver (Romans 8:32). He provides pleasures and comforts he desires us to enjoy: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Over the years, Nanci and I spent reasonable amounts of money on vacations that served to renew us. Even when our girls were small, we would have a date night, believing one of the best things we could do for our children was to maintain a strong marriage. (Make it a priority to date your spouse. Put it in your schedule and budget!)

Scripture says we are to put our hope not in material things but “in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17 NIV). That means we shouldn’t feel guilty for enjoying his provisions! God does not expect his followers to live like prisoners in a cell, never feasting or celebrating life. He entrusts us with money to care for our needs and the needs of others, but also so we can take pleasure in the life he has given us.

Invest in Eternity—Together

Many Christians store up their treasures on earth. They end up backing into eternity, heading away from their treasures. Christ calls us to turn it around—to store up our treasures in heaven. That way, every day moves us closer to our Treasure.

In her last years, Nanci and I reflected on the ways, by God’s grace, we had invested in eternity and served the Lord Jesus together. What lay behind us was meaningful, but what awaited us on death’s other side was what we spent our lives preparing for.

Shortly before she died, I was holding Nanci’s hand, and she said, with a smile and tears, “Randy, thank you for my life.” I replied, also crying, “Nanci, thank you for my life.” God had used us to grow each other spiritually and make us better followers of Jesus. We certainly didn’t do everything right, but with God’s help, we sought to store up far greater treasures in heaven than on earth.

I encourage you to put Christ in the center of your marriage and finances. You will never regret it. The eternal payoffs will forever bring you joy and your Savior glory!

Several years ago, I had the privilege of doing a Q&A with Wayne Grudem at a conference. One of the questions I was asked was how I would counsel a young couple about financial matters. At the end, Wayne shares a lesson he and Margaret learned about finances and obeying God:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzzzOKaV5b8?si=wqwmtNrNeFNz_GSC

For more on this topic, see Managing God’s Money and The Treasure Principle. And for a deeper dive into how God views money, see Money, Possessions, and Eternity.

When I Write About Abortion or Sexual Purity, What About…?

I shared this on my Facebook page:

The Bible clearly teaches that God’s very best for our lives involves our purity and obedience to Him. This includes forsaking all sexual sins—heterosexual and homosexual—outside of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. If this message is “hate speech,” then the Bible is hate speech, and no one can preach the whole Bible without being guilty of hate speech. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NIV).

 A reader wrote this comment:

Focusing on sex and abortion are fair game because they are discussed in the Bible.

Randy, you know that most of your followers, who tend to be older and white, will be very happy with a post like this. Many will click 'like' or 'love,' and go on with their day, probably spending most or all of it relating only with their 'tribe.'

Why don't we *also* discuss why so many conservative Christians focus almost exclusively on issues like sex and abortion? While ignoring things like feeding the poor, loving our enemies, etc.? Is it because condemning sex and abortion doesn't really ask much of older, white Christians (or "cultural evangelicals"), while doing the other things might be more of a challenge?

There are more and more stories on social media of teachers at Christian schools being attacked by supposedly Christian parents for doing things like teaching the Beatitudes and other teachings of Jesus. In some cases, the parents believe their partisan politics are being attacked when the teacher is reading straight from the Gospels. This suggests the parents are, at the least, placing politics above Jesus. Something worth discussing.

You are a wonderful author. Back around 2002, God used your book Dominion to change my life. I know it's tempting to just sit back and enjoy smooth sailing, but why not use your platform to challenge your followers to read the Bible more, and to think?

One of our EPM staff said this in reply:

If you’ve followed Randy’s page and blog for long, you know his heart is always to encourage believers to read the Bible more and apply its truths to their lives. (For example, see this post). The vast majority of Randy’s posts have nothing to do with sex or abortion. But because those are two topics that Randy has written about in his books, and because God cares about unborn children and cares about sexual purity and addresses it in His Word, they are topics that Randy does address on his page from time to time, too. We are called to share the full counsel of God (Acts 2:27).

Our ministry gives away 100% of the royalties from Randy’s books; some go to pro-life causes, but the vast majority goes to care for already born children and people, including to relief ministries providing practical needs. We will always encourage people to give and help a wide variety of ministries meeting people’s needs (see this list). For example, Randy has addressed the needs of persecuted believers in various places and encouraged people to find ways to help them. (This blog encouraged people to get involved in caring for the needy in this communities.)

Do the vast majority of Christians really not care about the needy, and do nothing to care for them? Certainly, that’s the line we’re told from the secular world. But when we look closer and move past the stereotypes, we find there are countless believers involved with all sorts of ministries across the country and around the world. Yes, some support these ministries financially and don’t do as much hands-on work, for various reasons. But they are still a vital part of caring for the needy. Now, are there Christians who talk about these topics online but do nothing to help actual people, through serving or giving? Yes, of course. That’s always been true. But to characterize all believers as not caring for the needy is simply untrue.

Let’s “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Yes, sometimes that will involve addressing tough topics like sexual purity and abortion. But may we always point each other back to God’s Word and to our wonderful Savior. We are seeking to do that in our content, and will continue to do so with God’s help. The Lord bless you.

Out of curiosity, I asked our staff how much money our ministry has given in 2024 (so far) to different categories of ministries, through what we call special funds:

Missions Fund—Evangelizing and discipling the world's unreached. ($72,158)

Relief Fund—Helping in Christ's name the world's unfed, unclothed, unsheltered, and genuinely poor. ($44,000)

Persecuted Church Fund— Aiding Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith. ($4,746)

Pro-life Fund—Intervening, with truth and compassion, for unborn babies and their mothers. ($12,000)

Disabilities Fund— Assisting those who are disabled through worthy disability ministries. ($2,500)

Family Fund—Promoting the family's cause and helping specific needy families through established reputable organizations. ($13,535)

Legal Defense Fund—Assisting those in legal difficulty because they are upholding biblical principles. ($450)

Salt and Light Fund—Promoting truth, moral sanity, justice, and compassion in a post-Christian society. ($11,838)

Racial Unity Fund— Fostering interracial understanding, partnership, and unity in the Body of Christ. ($1,225)

Clearly, prolife causes are just one of the areas that EPM supports. Of course, I would never apologize for even a dime of what we give to pro-life ministries or causes. However, my point is that we are not a one-issue ministry and have never been. Similarly, over the years, some people have thought I talk too much about social justice issues and not enough about missions, not realizing how much EPM gives substantially to missions and crisis and development aid. I’m not trying to be defensive; I simply wish to clarify that we give to a wide and diverse range of causes that we believe are close to God’s heart.

This reader’s comment also reminded me of whataboutism. It’s a common logical fallacy that doesn’t refute what’s being said but gives the illusion it does through ad hominem attacks and claims of hypocrisy or lack of love. Here’s how one website describes it:

Whataboutism, also called whataboutery, is a logical fallacy and rhetorical technique in which people respond to a difficult concern or question with a counter-accusation in order to divert attention to a different topic.

As the name suggests, it’s characterized by the phrase “what about…?”, which would be followed by an issue that may be only remotely related to the original one.

It’s typically used when one is charged with a harmful accusation regarding their past actions; one counters the charge by bringing up something negative about the opposing side and thus attempts to downplay the magnitude of their own actions.

It is classified as a variant of the tu quoque fallacy, but it’s also closely related to the red herring fallacy.

How God Can Use an Online Article to Further His Kingdom

I’ve written a number of online articles over the years for Desiring God, and some for The Gospel Coalition. Sometimes I’ve wondered how much difference they might be making, compared to the books I write. I found this video interesting and touching, showing how God can use one article to a great end—in this case, starting a quality Christian school in the inner city:

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fthegospelcoalition%2Fvideos%2F1447130702824071%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0

This reminds me of what John Piper says: “Books don’t change people, paragraphs do — sometimes sentences. …Paragraphs find their way to us through books, and they often gain their peculiar power because of the context they have in the book. But the point remains: One sentence or paragraph may lodge itself so powerfully in our mind that its effect is enormous when all else is forgotten.”

Here are a few articles from The Gospel Coalition related to our ministry or my books:

Randy Alcorn Opens Up about His Depression

What’s Your Theology of Money (in 200 Words or Less)?

Randy Alcorn on Calvinists, Arminians, and Everything In Between

Embracing the Holy Tension Between God’s Sovereignty and Human Choice

Start Giving Before You Inherit