The “be rich” life of Stanley Tam

Text

Stanley

Get rich versus be rich

Paul on get rich - I Timothy 6: 9 - 10 Paul on get rich - I Timothy 6: 9 - 10

People who want to get rich fall into People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and that plunge men into ruin and destruction. destruction.

Jesus on get rich - Luke 12

You fool

Rich towards Himself but not rich towards God

Paul on be rich - 2 Corinthians 9: Paul on be rich - 2 Corinthians 9: 1111

You will be made rich in every way You will be made rich in every way SO THAT....SO THAT....

......you can be generous on ......you can be generous on every occasion, and through every occasion, and through us your generosity will result us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.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 viewed giving as both obligation and opportunityobligation 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

Opportunity

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

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.”

understoodunderstood God’s grace God’s grace

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

2 Corinthians 8: 112 Corinthians 8: 11

true true freedomfreedom

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

Matthew 6: 24Matthew 6: 24

““I have made millions but they have I have made millions but they have brought me no happiness.” John D. brought me no happiness.” John D. RockefellerRockefeller

““Millionaires seldom smile.” CarnegieMillionaires seldom smile.” Carnegie

““I was happier when doing a I was happier when doing a mechanic’s job.” Henry Fordmechanic’s job.” Henry Ford

abounding abounding joyjoy

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

2 Corinthians 8: 22 Corinthians 8: 2

ScroogeScrooge

real real relationshipsrelationships

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

2 Corinthians 8: 13 - 2 Corinthians 8: 13 - 1414

eternal eternal rewardreward

Therefore do not store up for Therefore do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth....but yourselves treasure on earth....but store up for yourselvesstore up for yourselves treasures in treasures in heaven. heaven.

Matthew 6: Matthew 6: 19 - 2119 - 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 life purposepurpose

“To me, making money is pointless unless one’s objective

is to help others.”

7 be rich characteristicsopportunity and oblgiation

gracejoy

freedomrelationships

eternal rewardlife purpose

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

2 Timothy 6: 2 Timothy 6: 17 - 1917 - 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

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.”