Live Simply, Give Generously with Randy Alcorn
Description
Living simply isn’t about deprivation—it’s about freedom. And that freedom can unleash extraordinary generosity.
God calls us to live with eternity in mind—not clinging to possessions but using what we have for His Kingdom. Randy Alcorn joins us today to talk about how we can loosen our grip on earthly things to open our hands to eternal impact.
Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM) and the New York Times Bestselling author of more than 60 books, including Heaven, Money, Possessions, and Eternity, The Treasure Principle, and Giving Is the Good Life. His books have been translated into over 70 languages and have sold more than 10 million copies.
Simplicity That Leads to Generosity
You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Live simply, that others may simply live.” It’s a short sentence with a world of meaning behind it—and one that feels increasingly relevant today.
Everywhere we look, we see need. It’s been that way ever since sin entered the world, but now the sheer scale is staggering—billions of people living in poverty, lacking food, clean water, or access to opportunity. When we consider this, it should be shocking to see how much of a difference it would make if those of us who follow Jesus simply chose to live on less—so that we could give more.
This isn’t about rejecting good gifts or living in asceticism. It’s about reordering our priorities so that what God provides doesn’t end with us. Living simply creates margin. And that margin can fuel generosity that transforms lives, both now and for eternity.
Some people hear “simplicity” and think of minimalism for its own sake—going off the grid, cutting out every comfort, or proudly living with as little as possible. But simplicity by itself accomplishes very little.
You could live the simplest life imaginable, and still not help anyone. The goal isn’t simplicity—it’s purposeful simplicity that opens the door to generous living.
If God blesses you with wealth, there’s no shame in that. In fact, that’s a great opportunity. The question isn’t how much do you have?—but what are you doing with what you have? Go ahead and earn well, but then invest it in God’s Kingdom. Use what He’s entrusted to you to love Him and to love others.
That’s where simplicity finds its true purpose—in freeing you to give more boldly, more joyfully, and more eternally.
Seeing Life Through the Lens of Eternity
When Jesus said, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” He wasn’t speaking in riddles. He was revealing a reality that reshapes everything we own. But if we have no concept of Heaven—if we’re not eager for the life to come—then treasures in Heaven won’t mean much to us.
Scripture promises that God will one day bring Heaven down to Earth—the new Earth, a renewed creation where righteousness dwells. That’s our forever home. That’s the world we were made for.
When we live in light of that eternal perspective, it changes how we view possessions today. Why cling to what’s temporary when you can invest in what lasts forever? The things of this world fade—but what’s given to God’s purposes endures.
For many of us, money and possessions have enormous mass. But when we give generously, we shift our center of gravity from earth to eternity. We begin to orbit around God’s Kingdom rather than our own comfort. That’s freedom.
Becoming God’s Delivery System
Everything we have comes from God—and it’s meant to flow through us, not stop with us. I like to say we’re not buckets, we’re pipelines. God’s resources are meant to move through our lives to accomplish His purposes.
If the FedEx driver delivered a package to himself instead of the intended recipient, we’d say he misunderstood his job. And yet, that’s what many of us do with God’s provision. We assume it’s all for us when in reality, we’re the delivery system for His grace.
The Bible says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) Faithful stewards don’t hoard. They pass along what belongs to the true Owner.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “God owns it all.” But do we live like it’s true? If we really believe that everything we have belongs to Him, then generosity isn’t a burden—it’s obedience.
That changes how we think about earning, saving, and spending. It means asking, “Lord, what do You want us to do with Your money?” That’s stewardship in its purest form—managing God’s resources for God’s glory.
Living for the Kingdom, Not the Dream
The Bible doesn’t pit generosity against joy. In fact, they belong together. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6 that God gives us all things richly to enjoy, even as he warns us about materialism.
God delights in our joy. He gives good gifts. But He also invites us to hold them loosely. Take that vacation. Enjoy a good meal. But let gratitude and generosity flow together.
Living simply doesn’t mean rejecting enjoyment. It means finding joy in what pleases God most—seeing our resources advance His Kingdom and bless others in His name.
It’s easy to justify excess when someone else always seems to have more. But if we’re not careful, we can baptize greed in the name of the American dream.
God calls us to something far richer—a life rooted in gratitude, freedom, and Kingdom purpose. Living simply and giving generously keeps our hearts anchored in eternity and our hands open to bless others.
That’s not loss. That’s joy. That’s freedom. That’s treasure that lasts forever.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:
- I’m 72 years old, still teaching at a state school, and I’d like to resume making payments on my student loans. They’ve been in deferment, so I haven’t been able to make my regular $100-a-month payments. Is there any way I can make those payments? I’ve been told my loans won’t qualify for forgiveness until I start paying on them.
- My husband and I are 55 and 56, and we own a business along with several rental properties. We have about $500,000 we’d like to invest, and we’re considering a hybrid life insurance policy with a benefit access rider for long-term care. We’d put in about $155,000 for a guaranteed $250,000 death benefit each, for a total of $500,000, plus any growth. What do you think about that kind of approach?
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