7 lessons on giving I learned from Stanley Tam

The “be rich” life of Stanley Tam

Text Stanley

Get rich versus be rich

Paul on get rich - I Timothy 6: 9 - 10 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Jesus on get rich - Luke 12 You fool Rich towards Himself but not rich towards God

Paul on be rich - 2 Corinthians 9: 11 You will be made rich in every way SO THAT....

......you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

The be rich core God raises our income not so that we can raise our standard of living. He raises our income so that we can raise our level of giving.

Stanley’s metrics

1936 - Age 21 - Started a silver reclamation business

1940 - Age 25 - Made God his Senior Partner - 51% of the stock to a Foundation

Stanley’s Metrics

1940 - Gross $12,000 per year; Salary of $14 per week

1945 - Gross $150,000 per year

1955 - Opened US Plastics - $15,000 Gross

7 characteristics of Stanley’s be rich life of generosity

viewed giving as both obligation and opportunity

Obligation “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12: 48 Luke 12: 48 Luke 12: 48 Luke 12: 48 Luke 12: 48

Opportunity “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 Acts 20:35 Acts 20:35 Acts 20:35 Acts 20:35

“ Our Lord is not a blind man with a tin cup. Giving to his cause is an investment, not charity. His word says it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.”

understood God’s grace

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8: 11

true freedom

No one can serve two masters....you will hate the one and love the other....you cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6: 24 Matthew 6: 24 Matthew 6: 24

“ I have made millions but they have brought me no happiness.” John D. Rockefeller “ Millionaires seldom smile.” Carnegie “ I was happier when doing a mechanic’s job.” Henry Ford

abounding joy

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Corinthians 8: 2

Scrooge

real relationships

This isn’t so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you’re shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. 2 Corinthians 8: 13 - 14

eternal reward

Therefore do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth....but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6: 19 - 21

“ Christ here is teaching a most wonderful possibility - that of the transmutation of our earthly wealth into a store of higher and eternal values that will abide forever. What a staggering concept!”

life purpose

“ To me, making money is pointless unless one’s objective is to help others.”

7 be rich characteristics opportunity and oblgiation grace joy freedom relationships eternal reward life purpose

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment . Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, that they may take hold of life that is truly life . 2 Timothy 6: 17 - 19

Kingdom funding - from $12,000 gross in 1940 to over $100 million given to God’s work today.

The impact of Stanley’s be rich life of generosity

Kingdom harvest - in 1976 Stanley received over 700 letters per year from people indicating new professions of faith through literature that was included in company orders.

The impact of Stanley’s be rich life of generosity

Kingdom influence - other men and women in business following Stanley’s example.

“ I believe tenaciously in the possibility of a man linking his life to God. I believe this to be the only truly good life, the kind of life within the grasp of every man, if he will simply and honestly endeavor to meet God’s conditions.”