How to Read The Treasure Principle

I’m working through The Treasure Principle for the third time. The first time was with my wife on our honeymoon six and a half years ago in Fiji. The second time was on a leather chair in my luxurious (relative to how the vast majority of the world has lived in the past and lives currently) house. This third time has mostly been in my spacious and warm, book-filled (the cost of which easily exceeds the annual income of literally billions in the world) office. Do I like this book? Love it! Does it make me uncomfortable? Absolutely! Have I made any progress in applying its truth to my life? Maybe a little, and by God’s grace I’ll take a few more steps of obedience this third time through!

Why all the personal details? Well, I guess I would like to promote some measure of transparency regarding an issue that is taboo in most churches, including our own, namely, money and possessions. When I read through this book I’m reminded of the radical, lose-your-life-to-save-it call to discipleship that Jesus issues to all, and when I consider my life, I’m reminded that I have a long way to go. In fact, it seems that I’m closer to the beginning of my journey than the end. I’m also made freshly aware of the fact that I’m in desperate need of grace, grace to deliver me from the wrath I deserve on account of loving gifts more than the Giver, and grace to free me daily from the grip of materialism. Apart from Jesus’ blood-bought grace, there’s no hope of either of these things happening in my life (or yours)!

I realize that this book is likely to make you uncomfortable. Join the club. It might even incite some defensiveness, and this is where we need to be careful. To the degree that this book accurately reflects the truth of Scripture, we need to measure our lives against the book’s message - not the other way around (i.e., measuring the book against the way we prefer to live our lives). There’s a verse I need to hear when I’m challenged with Scripture’s counter-cultural, not-so-North-American commands: James 1:19-20, which reads, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.” 

We usually think of these verses as good counsel for our interpersonal relationships, and good counsel it is when applied to that context. But James seems to be talking about our response to God’s word (read the following verses). This means that we’re to humbly listen before we pridefully object. So, here’s how I’m praying for you and for me as we read through this book together: “Oh, Lord, give us ears to hear. Help us to hold our objection-filled tongues long enough to hear from You. If there’s anger, let it be at our own sin, and produce in us the kind of righteousness that You require and delight in. Loosen our grip on our stuff as we cling more tightly to You, the ultimate Treasure. Let it be grace, not guilt, that compels us to obedience. Have Your way with us since we are not our own, for we’ve been bought at a price, an incredibly high price.”