The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving Book

Okay, I read it. It disturbs me & I'm trying to figure out how to articulate why because there are a LOT of reviews out there saying this is an absolutely fantastic book on encouraging Christian giving, and tithing (ironically, the latter bothers the glowing reviewers, but not me). His Principles are:

Principle #1- God owns everything. I am His money manager.
Principle #2- My heart always goes where I put God's money.
Principle #3- Heaven, not Earth, is my home.
Principle #4- I should live for the line (eternity), not the dot(short life on earth).
Principle #5- Giving is the only antidote for materialism.
Principle #6- God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

Doesn't sound bad in & of itself. But I didn't care for what felt like to me, too much focus on our rewards in heaven. It felt like for me there was too much focus on the motive for giving being that we would receive rewards (treasure in heaven) for it (i.e., what we give here is sent ahead to become our treasure in heaven -- I always thought our treasure in heaven is our relationship with God. This just transposes materialism here for materialism in eternity). I feel our motive shouldn't be about getting, but about being so grateful for all He has done, and knowing it's often His way of providing for his children or drawing someone to himself for which we are led to give. I also believe Alcorn misinterprets scripture quite a bit, taking it out of context and making it say things it does not say per what I've learned from my pastors & classes in my church & my own reading.

Moreover, it disturbs me greatly that he did all he could to avoid a civil judgment against him, i.e., moving money into other's names and resigning his job so as not to get the paycheck at that point. And he touts his behavior in quitting his job and shirking his court-imposed debt as a good & honorable thing which taught him to live below his means (bear in mind he started off debt free - other than the judgment that he weaseled out of).

This book makes me vastly uncomfortable & I cannot recommend it to anyone.