Giving Is the Good Life
Book Title: Giving is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy
Book Author: Randy Alcorn
ISBN: 9781496425935, 1496425936
Page count: 304
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Giving can be a paradoxical experience.
We’re often told that giving will ultimately bring us rewards,
yet at the moment, it can feel like we’re losing something without gaining anything in return.
This feeling is all too familiar.
However, despite the apparent contradictions surrounding giving, it can surely lead to a more fulfilling life.
Randy Alcorn’s book, “Giving Is The Good Life,” beautifully illustrates this concept.
I wholeheartedly agree with Alcorn’s depiction of giving as a path to purpose and joy.
In this review, we’ll delve deeper into the book to gain a deeper understanding of how giving can lead to a more meaningful life.
According to Randy Alcorn;
a common misconception about giving is that the money we donate to help those in need or to spread the gospel is lost forever.
We may hope that others will benefit, but we often feel that we won’t.
Sadly, we can even fall prey to the misconception that giving will deprive us of the good life.
However, as Alcorn points out, this notion is completely misguided.
Giving Is the Good Life
Jesus taught his disciples a profound truth: where they stored their treasures, their hearts would follow (Matthew 6:19-21).
Furthermore, He promised that God would reward them for helping the needy at the resurrection (Luke 14:14).
Building on these principles, Randy Alcorn emphasizes that our generosity creates a lasting connection between us, what we give, and whom we give to.
The Bible illustrates that anything entrusted to God’s hands becomes an eternal investment.
Notably, this investment yields benefits not only in the future but also in the present.
As Alcorn aptly notes, the good life is inextricably linked with generosity.
We live in a world that bombards us with a seductive message:
“Make lots of money and spend it on yourself, and you’ll be happy. That’s the good life.”
However, Randy Alcorn argues that this notion is fundamentally flawed.
In fact, it’s a lie.
Throughout Jesus’s ministry, He consistently challenged and reversed our conventional understanding of the good life.
As Jesus so aptly put it, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35).
Acts 20:35 KJV
[35] I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
https://bible.com/bible/1/act.20.35.KJV
Giving Is the Good Life
Randy Alcorn emphasizes that Jesus taught us a profound truth:
giving to help others brings more joy than clinging to our wealth.
Although it may seem counterintuitive,
Jesus revealed that true happiness and the greatest good are found in generosity, not in accumulating riches.
In essence, generosity is the good life!
As mentioned earlier, Randy Alcorn also acknowledges that the notion that giving away money and possessions leads to happiness seems paradoxical.
From a human perspective, it appears that spending money on ourselves is in our best interest – and to a certain extent, Alcorn agrees.
Our basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing, do require financial resources.
However, Alcorn argues that once these fundamental needs are met, wealth can become a hindrance rather than a help.
Randy Alcorn further shares a profound truth that can liberate us:
the pursuit of a lavish lifestyle and the good life, as defined by culture, can ultimately diminish us and lead us to miss out.
Deep within, we know this to be true: we can spend every last penny on ourselves,
even accumulating debt, and still end up empty and miserable.
In fact, if we desire to cultivate misery, embracing greed and stinginess is the perfect formula.
Randy Alcorn highlights that Jesus calls us to a radically different path.
Instead of prioritizing self-interest, Jesus wants us to demonstrate love by generously giving our time and resources to others.
At first glance, this may seem like a loss, rather than a gain.
Yet, as Alcorn explains, in God’s economy, this kind of generosity is precisely how we can experience true growth, enrichment, and expansion –
not just in our own lives, but also in advancing the kingdom.
Ultimately, Randy Alcorn’s “Giving Is the Good Life” invites readers on a joy-filled, open-handed adventure of following Jesus.
This journey brings lasting pleasure that transcends this life and echoes into eternity.
Following Jesus inherently requires sacrifice and generosity.
Similarly, genuine love for God is inextricably linked with extending life to others through selfless giving.
For inspiration to cultivate a more generous spirit,
I highly recommend reading this comprehensive book, which is thoughtfully divided into two parts.
Giving Is the Good Life
In Part 1 of “Giving Is the Good Life,”
Randy Alcorn delves into God’s definition of the good life, exploring Jesus’ promise to give us “life and life more abundantly” (John 10:10).
According to Alcorn, the first step toward experiencing this abundant life is clear: placing our trust in Christ.
This is where eternal life – the ultimate good life – begins.
As Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'” (John 7:37-38).
With faith in Christ as our foundation,
what practical steps can we then take to experience this abundant life, overflowing with vibrancy, satisfaction, and contentment?
This section provides valuable insights to help us discover the answer.
In Part 2 of “Giving Is the Good Life,” Randy Alcorn explores the twin realities of money, as outlined in 1 Timothy 6.
On one hand, the bad news is that when we prioritize loving and serving money,
it ultimately leads to destruction, robbing us of life and happiness.
On the other hand, the good news is that when we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over all things,
we’ll be motivated to steward our resources wisely, meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
As a result, we can expect a dual reward:
not only future blessings but also present-day contentment, purpose,
and what Scripture beautifully describes as “the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19).
Giving Is the Good Life
Below are 20 key takeaways from Randy Alcorn’s ‘Giving Is the Good Life’
- God takes our stinginess or generosity personally.
To give lavishly is to be rich towards Him; to hoard or spend on ourselves without regard for others is to be impoverished towards God.
- “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.” (Proverb 19:17)
- Any lifestyle that doesn’t align with God’s priorities and won’t hold up after death is not a good one—
no matter how glamorous or appealing or sensible it seems at the time.
- We don’t have to wait until we die to discover how we should have lived. God’s word tells us exactly how to prepare now for the afterlife.
- Materialists are self-destructive keepers.
Christ’s followers are self-enriching givers. Why? Because giving inevitably enlarges our hearts, lives, and capacity for Joy.
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The true good life doesn’t say no to wealth or pleasures.
Rather, it says yes to greater and lasting wealth and pleasures that are found when we cheerfully part with God’s money and possessions for others’ good and God’s glory.
- Aligning our identity with Christ’s death and resurrection gives us the power to live authentic, righteous, and beautiful lives so that
“Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life” (Roman 6:4).
- The Giving life is not about obligation or guilt or drudgery or merely surviving. It’s about life in abundance.
- A key way Satan tries to destroy us is by convincing us that money and possessions are the source of an abundant life.
- Materialism dresses the corpse and puts makeup on it, but it’s still dead.
Giving Is the Good Life
- The abundant life isn’t measured in gold dust or material goods.
It’s rooted in the precious fact that our Creator and Redeemer himself indwelling in us, lovingly imparts his delight-giving presence to us.
- God didn’t send a spokesperson, a prophet, or an angel to give us life, protection, provision, safety, and guidance.
He sent his son—his very best. He’s the only saviour and he freely offers all of himself to us.
- The good life in Christ is not only wonderful for those who live it; it is also a joy for those who behold it.
Generosity is just as contagious as materialism. However, it brings life instead of death.
- When we love God most, we will love others best. Love isn’t just something we display on a wall hanging; it is something we do.
- Part of the reward that awaits believers is in the afterlife.
But part of the reward is here and now, with the peace, contentment, and joy we receive as we learn to be like him in our giving.
- 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 realise there is no greater privilege than to live lives of overflowing love and joyful generosity.
- We don’t have to wait until we’re nearing the end of our lives to experience the joy of giving!
This is something that can be instilled in the hearts of our children and grandchildren from a young age.
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The greatest danger of wealth is the illusion that we don’t need God.
- Contentment is being satisfied in whose you are, who you are, and what you have.
Those who love and serve Jesus can truly be content. Those who love and serve money can never be.
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“Money can buy medicine, but not health.
Money can buy a house, but not a home.
And Money can buy companionship, but not friends.
Also, Money can buy entertainment, but not happiness.
And Money can buy food, but not an appetite.
Yes, Money can buy a bed, but not sleep.
And Money can buy a crucifix, but not a saviour.
Also, Money can buy the good life, but not eternal life.”
In short, money’s power is extremely limited and often deceitful.
Giving Is the Good Life
In conclusion,
remember that giving has the power to transform our lives, bringing glory to God and goodness to ourselves.
As you delve into the pages of “Giving Is The Good Life,” I hope your heart and mind will be opened to embracing a more generous lifestyle.
May we all strive to live each day in a way that earns us the ultimate commendation from our Lord:
“Well done, you good and faithful servant!…
You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!” (Matthew 25:21).
Our prayer is that this book will expand your vision of God and generosity, revealing a perspective that transcends this present life.
Ultimately, may you come to understand, more profoundly than ever, what the good life is truly all about.
Also Read: Money Won’t Make You Rich – Diademng
Giving Is the Good Life
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