I understand Scripture to teach that leaving instructions for what others are to do with our assets after we die does not equate with what we do with them while we’re alive. Hebrews 9:27 (NLT) says, “each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment.”  

Without a vision for giving as investing in eternity—and a sense that God’s purpose for prospering us is so we can help the church, aid the poor, and reach the lost—inheriting wealth could be a curse rather than a blessing.

I was on the Faith & Finance podcast with Rob West, talking about giving guidelines to fight materialism. 

If we understand what Scripture says about giving, we’ll realize there’s no greater privilege than to live lives of overflowing love and joyful generosity. It’s a no-brainer.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is freedom from materialism. How? By teaching them to be generous givers who know everything belongs not to them, but to God. 

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.

The hosts of the Generous Business Owner podcast talk with Randy Alcorn about his life, exploring his walk with Christ. They discuss the role giving has played in Randy’s faith, as well as the importance of giving for all believers. 

Deep down, we all know we can spend every last cent on ourselves and still end up miserable. What Jesus calls us to do is far more radical and satisfying: love others by giving away our money and time. That sounds like loss, not gain, right? Yet in God’s economy, that’s exactly how we expand and enhance our own lives.

I found out recently that Stanley Tam went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, April 16. At age 107! I will never forget talking with him at length on the phone when he was a mere 102.